Welcome to the College of Nurses Aotearoa News Update.
No. 329 21 December 2016
NATIONAL NEWS
Nurses make first prescriptions after law change
For the first time in New Zealand, registered nurses can now prescribe medicine to patients.
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Government leaves nursing graduates languishing again
In response to the November figures of graduate nursing placements via the ACE scheme, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation once again calls for sufficient funding to ensure all graduates have the guarantee of a nursing placement that includes further training and mentoring support.
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A life time of knowledge and laughter for nurse
Laughter is the key to a long career in nursing for Hawke's Bay woman Cath Hellyer who began work five decades ago.
On Thursday Hellyer celebrated her 50th year working for different iterations of Hawke's Bay District Health Board with no plans to leave the job just yet.
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Funding lagging behind as demand for IVF grows
More and more prospective parents are seeking taxpayer-funded fertility help, but funding simply isn't meeting demand.
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Funding extended for Pacific health projects
Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced extended funding to continue projects which are already improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific people.
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AGED CARE
Health and independence highlighted in ageing population - report
Health, independence and caregiving in advanced age are investigated in a major report released today that will assist policy and services on the health care impacts of population ageing in New Zealand.
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DHBs
Hospital staff have more than two years of outstanding annual leave
Some Palmerston North Hospital staff have more than two years of leave built up – a problem that is going to cost millions to resolve.
MidCentral District Health Board officials are scratching their heads about how to fix an issue expected to cost up to $6.7 million, if they want to resolve it inside 12 months.
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MENTAL HEALTH
Youth mental health project evaluation reports released
The Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project (YMHP) has resulted in positive changes, better outcomes and improvements to service delivery for young people in New Zealand. More than 180,000 young people have been reached and more services and resources are now available to identify, support and treat youth with mild to moderate mental health issues.
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OBESITY
Advice on weight management for children and teenagers now available
The Clinical Guidelines for Weight Management in New Zealand Children and Young People have been updated to highlight the importance of sleep and the ongoing need to monitor children’s growth.
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Sleep guidelines aim to reduce obesity
Up to one in three New Zealand toddlers aren't getting enough sleep - a problem that can contribute to weight problems, including obesity.
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PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Chronic GP shortages across the country to worsen when aging doctors retire
Dr Paula Hyde and Dr Lewis Arundell are Fairlie's only GPs, and it's been that way for the last 21 years.
Within 10 years, the husband and wife team would like to be retired, but they fear no one will take over their demanding practice, which serves around 2600 patients and demands a complex combination of skills.
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PUBLIC HEALTH
Syphilis cases spike in Auckland
The number of syphilis cases in Auckland hit its highest level in recent decades in 2015, in line with a trend in developed countries.
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New legislation on notification and management of infectious diseases
New infectious disease notification and management legislation is coming into force on 4 January 2017.
As well as updating the Health Act 1956 and replacing the Health (Infectious and Notifiable Disease) Regulations and Schedules, it:
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SOCIAL HEALTH
National study finds 'staggering' Maori and Pacific problem gambling rates
Maori and Pacific adults are five to eight times more likely to become problem gamblers than other New Zealanders, a new study has found.
The Ministry of Health followed 3000 randomly selected people over a two-year period and recorded how many of them developed clinical gambling problems.
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Leaky homes saga: older homeowners hurting, research finds
Older people stuck in leaky homes have been especially vulnerable to health problems and financial stress that has come with the saga, a new study finds.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Advanced practice nurses can answer healthcare shortage
Each day, thousands of Texas patients see a healthcare provider for services ranging from the common cold or flu to delivering a new baby to geriatric care to mental health services.
Read more here:
Fresh ideas badly needed to solve nursing shortage - as patients suffer
Cancelled operations, rolling theatre closures and scores of beds lying idle are some of the hidden effects of the shortage of nurses in our hospitals.
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WORKPLACE
Reimplementing bedside shift report at a community hospital
Bedside shift report aids in the development of employee teamwork, ownership, and accountability, and has been shown to increase nurse satisfaction.1 It allows for the rapid determination of a patient's condition, surroundings, and treatment, which facilitates identification of medication errors, prevents patient falls, and provides the opportunity for nurses to recognize a change in a patient's clinical status.2 Moving shift report to the bedside promotes effective communication between patients and caregivers through transparency and open dialogue. Promotion of patient involvement in their own care plan enforces self-efficacy and adherence to treatment.
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WELLBEING
Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for coping
Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and hurt your health. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off stress and depression.
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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Cancer Nurse Coordinator Initiative Evaluation Final Report 2016
The Cancer Nurse Coordinator Initiative (CNCI) was established in 2012 when the Government provided additional funding to establish 40 new nursing roles. The purpose of these roles was to provide better care coordination for people newly diagnosed with cancer as they enter the health system for their treatment.
This final evaluation report shows that the CNCI has:
improved access and timeliness of access to diagnostic and treatment services for patients
improved patient experience through diagnosis and initiation of treatment
identified areas for improvement in care coordination and the patient pathway.
The evaluation also showed that while the CNCI targets those with complex needs, Māori and Pacific people are not accessing the service to expected levels. Identifying and removing barriers that are preventing Māori and Pacific peoples benefitting from more coordinated cancer care should be a focus for DHBs as the service and workforce evolves.
The final report should be read alongside the 2015 Annual Report which outlines the findings in more detail.
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Framework for Psychosocial Support in Emergencies
The Ministry of Health is the agency responsible for coordinating the provision of psychosocial support at the national level. New Zealand communities are exposed to a broad range of hazards – that is, potential or existing conditions that may harm people and damage property or the social, economic, cultural and natural environments. Many people affected by an emergency will experience some level of distress though for most this is manageable. Understanding how people behave and their mental health needs before, during and after major incidents is of great importance when planning for disasters.
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The Prevention and Management of Abuse: Guide for Services funded by Disability Support Services
This guide has been developed to provide clear and effective guidance to safeguard the disabled people who receive support funded by Disability Support Services.
Safeguarding disabled people involves preventing abuse, creating a better understanding of signs that abuse is occurring and developing appropriate and responsive systems to deal with incidents of abuse.
It is essential that disability support service providers understand the known risks and indicators of abuse.
Read more here
The above information has been collated for the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Inc by Linda Stopforth, SNIPS and is provided on a weekly basis. It is current as at Tuesday 20 December 2016
If you have any feedback about content - what parts are most useful or what you would like added - please email admin@nurse.org.nz
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