Based on data gathered from registered nurses at two hospitals, this research examined the extent to which empathy variables contributed to nursing stress and occupational commitment. The empathy variables examined were emotional contagion (i.e. sharing the emotions of patients), empathic concern (i.e. being concerned for patients) and communicative effectiveness (i.e. effectively communicating with patients and their families). Nursing stress was explored through the variables of depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the combination of the three emotional communication variables explained significant proportions of the variance in all three of the stress variables, as well as occupational commitment. The analyses further revealed that a lack of empathic concern and poor communicative responsiveness accounted for significant proportions of the variance in depersonalization. Lack of empathic concern, poor communicative responsiveness and high emotional contagion significantly contributed to reduced personal accomplishment. Emotional contagion explained a significant proportion of the variance in emotional exhaustion. Emotional contagion also significantly reduced occupational commitment. The findings are discussed in terms of nursing education and administration.

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This paper studies scheme structure and information concerning rehabilitation outcome for claimants under the NSW Motor Accidents Scheme and the NSW Workers' Compensation Scheme. It argues that to ensure effective rehabilitation there is a need for consistent, national accident schemes which provide services regardless of fault. In general, health outcomes will be improved if dispute resolution and estimation of level of disability occur in a context which avoids adversarialism. On the other hand, negligence could best be punished and compensation provided to victims as a result of prosecution for breach of duty of care under the relevant protective legislation. Other vital elements in injury prevention and rehabilitation are more effective risk management, worker representation and information provision at the workplace level. Comparable performance measures for rehabilitation and other service providers are also necessary for the attainment of quality management and evidence-based medicine.

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Within the labour market, female employees are over-represented in particular industries and occupations. They tend to receive lower pay than male workers and