Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 86 – 4 January 2012
From NZ media this week
New Zealanders recognised for Pacific links in New Years Honours list
A number of New Zealanders with close links to the Pacific have been recognised among this years New Years Honours recipients.They include Eseta Fifita Finau and Professor Tony Angelo, who have been made Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65319
Southern-names-make-honours-list
A passion for helping the community has also earned Invercargill rural nurse Kirsty Murrell-McMillan an honour – she has also been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to nursing.
http://bit.ly/weYLDS
Rural-nurses-cover-remote-regions
When Kirsty Murrell-McMillan found out she had been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit she thought it was a joke. http://bit.ly/vDUpaj
World cup and quakes cause drop in suicide rate
Suicides almost ceased during the Rugby World Cup, in a phenomenon linked to that seen in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes, the London bombings and the September 11 attacks.
http://bit.ly/vfv5rj
Record number of prescriptions dished out
Christchurch's killer quake gave a jolt to the country's nerves, with doctors issuing a record number of sedatives and other pills to calm mental anguish.
http://bit.ly/wo6xCH
British Honours recipient challenges abortion laws
A Wellingtonian lauded in Britain's New Year honours list has called for a closer look at New Zealand's abortion laws.
http://bit.ly/se8ucU
Kids missing hospital dates
Children are missing out on important hospital appointments, according to information from a transport trial.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10774764
Nurse struck off for multiple offences
A Dunedin registered nurse has been struck off following his conviction earlier this year on four counts of causing loss by deception and one of theft during his employment as manager of the Koputai Lodge.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/192173/nurse-struck-multiple-offences
Nurse found guilty of misconduct with patient
A Christchurch nurse who bought a patient an ice-cream and accessed her clinical file has been found guilty of professional misconduct.
http://bit.ly/zGDUak
Nurse-turnover-at-14-8pc
About 40 nurses a year quit their jobs at Wairau Hospital in Blenheim, the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board says. http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/6177201/Nurse-turnover-at-14-8pc
Govt looks to private sector for Christchurch hospitals rebuild
The Government is looking into ways the private sector could help pay the $600 million cost of rebuilding Christchurch's hospitals.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10774881
No place for the private sector in public hospitals
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) urges Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) not to review the research and decline the option offered by Minister of Health Tony Ryall to rebuild Christchurch and Burwood hospitals using public-private partnerships (PPPs).
http://bit.ly/tQrmKm
Quake-tested graduates shine
“I saw people my age die that day and nothing in my training prepared me for that.”
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=News&idArticle=22867
edicines Bill prompts prescribing consultation in new year
The introduction of the Medicines Amendment Bill 2011 is prompting a consultation document to be released on extended nurse prescribing in the new year.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=News&idArticle=22866
Health workers ready to work with whanau
Graduates of a regional training programme for Maori health workers in Te Tau Ihu are raring to go, ready to share their knowledge with others in the sector.
http://bit.ly/rI6H5j
International media
How one woman is trying to change native people’s health care experience
The crisis in Attawapiskat has left many Canadians feeling confused and dismayed about how such poor living conditions could exist in this country. It has also raised questions about broader relationships with aboriginal people across the country and about how to prevent similar problems from recurring.
http://bit.ly/sDJCGm
New 'productive' tool launched to help practice nurses streamline care
Practice nurses are being urged to take control of improving efficiency in their work environment, under the latest programme in the “productive” series.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5039338.article?referrer=e68
Overseas nurses show interest in Fiji
Overseas nurses are showing interest in working in Fiji.
http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=42491
Practice nurses have 'vital' role in identifying at risk migrants
The Health Protection Agency has called on practice nurses and other primary care practitioners to identify migrants who may be at risk from infectious disease.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5039682.article?referrer=e10
Vaccine side effects top of nurses' concerns about flu jab
Concerns about side effects and efficacy remain the two most frequent reasons for nurses refusing the flu vaccine, according to researchers.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5039337.article?referrer=e1
Spanish and Portuguese nurses fill the gaps in the NHS
Nurses are quitting crisis-hit Spain and Portugal for the UK, in search of better jobs and training opportunities
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/20/nurses-spain-portugal-fill-gap-in-nhs
Patients at risk despite changes to EU rules on doctors, say regulators
Fury at European commission's plans that would allow EU doctors to register in UK without tests on English or skills
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/20/eu-doctors-rules-gmc-tests
Nurses from EU could be subject to extra checks
The European Union is considering a “warning system” for overseas health workers who have been struck off or suspended, and greater language tests.
http://mail.nursingtimes.net/a/hBO8cWSB7gYBnB8VhXWNshWWRik/new2
Curbs on nurse migration have not had 'anticipated effect'
Tightening UK immigration restrictions for overseas nurses have not led to the planned benefits for their home countries, according to researchers.
http://bit.ly/tjWVfR
AACN calls for expanding visitation rights in ICU
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has issued an alert touting the importance of expanding the presence and participation in ICU settings of patients' family members and friends.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20111221/NATIONAL02/112260006/1003
Recession Takes Bite Out of Nation's Public Health Nursing Infrastructure
Budget cuts are latest challenge to public health nurses at a time when the sick, the poor, the elderly and the underserved are relying on their services.
http://www.rwjf.org/humancapital/product.jsp?id=73642
Nurse practitioners don't improve readmissions
Although adding a nurse practitioner (NP) to a care team can improve the discharge process, it doesn't decrease patient readmissions, according to a study published in this month's Journal of Hospital Medicine.
http://bit.ly/v15tYz
Oz’s first shopping mall NP clinic
Australia’s first private stand-alone, nurse practitioner-led clinic was recently launched in a Brisbane shopping mall. Linda Belardi, editor of Australian Nursing Review, speaks to the lead NP for SmartClinics.
http://bit.ly/AxgvSj
Surgery complications down with better teamwork
Reuters Health) - Hospitals that introduced a program to boost communication and teamwork among doctors and nurses saw a decrease in surgery-related complications, according to a new study.
http://reut.rs/v5EECa
Home visits give nursing students real-life experience, perspective
For the last visit with her patient, nursing student Megan Byrd brought with her a blood pressure cuff, a digital thermometer and a kitten.
http://trib.in/tPyqSD
New Approach To Nursing Education Gives Students The Chance To 'Live Like A Nurse'
Since they were pre-teens, Kathrine McKay and Kathryn Lito had aspirations of pursuing a nursing career. So when they applied to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Nursing, they decided to take an accelerated approach to their education with the new Pacesetters program.
http://mnt.to/l/43Mf
Deal: NJ Nurses Can Skip Aiding Hospital Abortions
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Twelve nurses who sued one of the state’s largest hospitals after claiming they were forced to assist in abortions over their religious and moral objections reached a deal Thursday with their employer in federal court.http://bit.ly/wDMyXJ Cost of rising emergency dementia admissions revealedThere has been a 12% growth over five years in the number of people with dementia admitted to hospital as an emergency, according to a report published this week.
http://mail.nursingtimes.net/a/hBO$C0GB7gYBnB8VhFxNshWWRlP/op3
Nursing care standards report unveiled
A report by Birmingham University’s Health Services Management Centre has urged for senior nurses to be given greater leadership responsibility in order to improve acute nursing care standards.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5039564.article?referrer=e1
Vaccine side effects top of nurses' concerns about flu jab
Concerns about side effects and efficacy remain the two most frequent reasons for nurses refusing the flu vaccine, according to researchers.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5039337.article?referrer=e3
Public health news
Flare-up of whooping cough on rise
A Nelson man still recovering from whooping cough is encouraging people to see their doctor early if they have a bad cough, especially if they have young children in their house.
http://bit.ly/wO1F8D
Whooping cough cases double
Cases of whooping cough have almost doubled in Auckland since November.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6175135/Whooping-cough-cases-double
Elderly drinkers become growing issue
Elderly people drinking to excess is an increasing problem in New Zealand, despite most people perceiving heavy drinking as a youth issue.
http://bit.ly/w1BYaZ
Survey shows Kiwis in denial on booze: lobby
Only 15 per cent of us admit to drinking too much, and beer pips white wine as the favourite Kiwi summer tipple, a poll has found.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10775850
Reporting reminder for doctors
Doctor have been reminded about their legal duty to report suspected notifiable diseases in order to help health services respond to possible disease outbreaks.
http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/otago/192925/reporting-reminder-doctors
Spending on measles vaccine almost doubles
Spending by the Ministry of Health on measles vaccine has almost doubled this year.
http://bit.ly/ybxsP3
Articles of interest
Grade 1 Pressure Ulcers: We Only See What We Know
Advances in Skin & Wound Care: December 2011 - Volume 24 - Issue 12 - p 544The long-held clinical beliefs about grade 1 PrUs have been the source of review, criticism, and discourse for more than a generation. For many of us who have been taught that PrUs follow a certain trajectory, which can be visualized and furthermore be graded, the article by Sibbald et al gives us a powerful reason to think about how we formulate our clinical beliefs.
http://bit.ly/tweaYB
EMR development...Always be prepared
Nursing Management
December 2011
Volume 42 Number 12
Pages 24 - 27Implementing an electronic medical record (EMR) system offers countless benefits: major healthcare savings, reduced medical errors, improved quality of healthcare, and improved health.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=1266777
Benign Neglect Imperils Children After a Disaster
Judy Bezon describes the necessity for more attention to be provided to the needs of children following a disaster. The author discusses ways to address the gaps in preparedness, response, and recovery programs that put children at risk.
http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dialogue/Dialogue_vol8_issue2.pdf
Reports online
Issue 17: Implementing the IOM Future of Nursing Report: Part II
The Potential of Interprofessional Collaborative Care to Improve Safety and Quality
http://www.rwjf.org/humancapital/product.jsp?id=73585
Continuing professional development opportunities
Right to Health Workshops
The Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand (HPF), University of Otago WellingtonPublic Health Summer School, and the Centre for Development Studies, University ofAuckland are working together to have Paul Hunt, world expert on the right to health,teach two workshops in New Zealand in February 2012.Professor Paul Hunt, a New Zealander based at Essex University, UK,is one of the world’s leading experts on the right to health. He spent six yearsas the UN Special Rapporteur (expert) on the Right to Health.
WELLINGTON WORKSHOP:14-15 February 2012,
Wellington Public Health Summer School
www.otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/publichealth/summerschool
AUCKLAND WORKSHOP:22-23 February 2012
www.hauora.co.nz
For more details about the Auckland workshop, please contact:Dr Ieti Lima and Dr Alison Blaiklock, Health Promotion Forum – 09 531 5500or Dr Carmel Williams - 021 708 396
Updated information will be posted on HPF website www.hauora.co.nz
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 3 January 2011.
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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