Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 142, Wednesday 27 February 2013
From NZ media this week
Plunket pleased to see infant death figures at all time low
New Zealand’s largest provider of services to support the well-being of children under five welcomes the release of figures showing the number of infant deaths at record lows.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1302/S00056/plunket-pleased-to-see-infant-death-figures-at-all-time-low.htm
Encouraging Outcome for Māori Babies
Whakawhetu, New Zealand’s leading Māori organisation for sudden infant death prevention, welcomes the release of figures showing the number of Māori infant deaths at record lows.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1302/S00060/encouraging-outcome-for-maori-babies.htm
Hearing retests for 1500 Hawke's Bay children
ore than 1500 children will be recalled to have their hearing checked after it was found they were incorrectly screened in Hawke's Bay.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8331109/Hearing-retests-for-1500-Hawkes-Bay-children
Voluntary code for infant formula revised
Changes have been made to how infant formula can be distributed in disasters in a revised voluntary code of practice launched today.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10866834
Minister schooled on cancer unit
Health Minister Tony Ryall visited Tauranga Hospital this morning to meet the new Cancer Unit coordinators appointed to improve the quality and speed of cancer treatment in the region.
http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/39392-minister-schooled-on-cancer-unit.html
Hospitals spend thousands on alternative treatments
Yoga, pet and music therapy are being offered at public hospitals, with one district health board spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on alternative treatments for mental health patients
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8344215/Hospitals-spend-thousands-on-alternative-treatments
Nurse uses excessive force on elderly mental health patient
A nurse who manhandled an elderly mental health patient after she smeared faeces over herself faces disciplinary action by authorities.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867683
DHB specific
DHB decision-making in times of scarcity and its impact on services
In mid 2012 Professor Don Matheson was asked by a community group to assist them in understanding why the primary health care service they were using was having its funding reduced.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1302/S00074/dhb-decision-making-in-times-of-scarcity-and-its-impact.htm
Laundry staff hang out for DHB answer
Laundry staff at Wellington Hospital fear for their jobs as the board considers outsourcing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8345720/Laundry-staff-hang-out-for-DHB-answer
DHB to chase after funds
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board will look to recover at least half of the $150,000 owed to it by the defunct Te Rapuora Trust
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8339026/DHB-to-chase-after-funds
Public health
Alarm at Kronic suicide link
The possible health risks of long-term use of synthetic cannabis have begun to emerge - with the risk of suicide and self-harm in users alarming health professionals.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10866933
Whooping costs hospital $334k
A whooping cough epidemic sweeping the country has cost Christchurch Hospital $334,000.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8337015/Whooping-costs-hospital-334k
Whooping cough epidemic spreads
More than half the number of whooping cough cases in Western Bay of Plenty have involved adults who have unwittingly helped spread the disease to epidemic proportions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867716
Meters 'fine' diabetics told
Diabetics are urged not to worry if their new blood-glucose meters have a reading that differs by 20 per cent from their old meters.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/8350240/Meters-fine-diabetics-told
International media
Girl burst into flames from olive oil, hand sanitiser and static electricity mix (USA)
The fire that left an 11-year-old cancer survivor with third-degree burns after she burst into flames in an Oregon Hospital was caused by a combustible mix of olive oil, static electricity and hand sanitiser.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10866875
Davis & Elkins College nursing classes focus on client education (USA)
Among all the programs at Davis & Elkins College, perhaps none are better suited to the topic of heart health than the nursing program.
http://www.theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/559379/Davis---Elkins-College-nursing-classes-focus-on-client-education.html?nav=5014
Remote nurses to transfer for training (Aus)
Nurses in remote parts of New South Wales could soon be rotated to bigger centres like Broken Hill on regular short-term training secondments.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-19/remote-nurses-to-transfer-for-training/4526298
Nurses union wants better country ratios (Aus)
The nurses union is pushing for more pay and better nurse-to-patient ratios at far west hospitals.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-14/nurses-union-wants-better-country-ratios/4518146
Mich. hospital, nurses settle discrimination suit
Mich. hospital, nurses settle lawsuit claiming facility honored man's race-based request
DETROIT (AP) -- A Michigan hospital has settled a lawsuit that accused it of agreeing to a man's request that no black nurses care for his newborn.
http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/mich-hospital-nurses-settle-discrimination-002319680.html
Articles of interest
iNURSE: Tablet Technology for Nurses
AJN, American Journal of Nursing
September 2012
Volume 112 Number 9
Pages 59 – 64
A guided tour of uses, potential uses, and pitfalls, plus a closer look at two leading contenders.
http://email.lww.com/t?r=1483&c=3459665&l=59027&ctl=4609278:A34F527A63C4C1A047CE0054B2585BE1D7FC46C6A110684B&
Reflective Learning, Reflective Practice, and Metacognition: The Importance in Nursing EducationJournal for Nurses in Professional Development -Featured Journal
February 2013
Volume 29 Number 1
Pages 46 - 48Lately, I have been thinking a lot about reflection[horizontal ellipsis]no pun intended. I have been thinking about how reflective learning, reflective practice, and metacognition are essential in improving professional practice.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/JournalArticle?Article_ID=1494593&Journal_ID=54029&Issue_ID=1494473
A qualitative evaluation of New Zealand consumers perceptions of general practice nurses
Elizabeth J Halcomb, Kath Peters and Deborah Davies
BMC Family Practice 2013, 14:26 doi:10.1186/1471-2296-14-26
Published: 22 February 2013
Abstract (provisional)An important consideration in health service delivery is ensuring that services meet consumer needs and that consumers are satisfied with service delivery. Patient satisfaction can impact on compliance with suggested treatments and therefore impact on health outcomes. Comparatively few studies have explored consumer satisfaction with nurses in general practice.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2296-14-26.pdf
New publications
Dementia guide: commitment to the care of people with dementia in hospital settings (PDF 552.8 KB)
Publication code: 004235
Publication date: 9 October 2012
ISBN:
Abstract:Dementia is a challenge for hospitals. Surveys show that around a quarter of hospital beds are occupied by somebody with dementia; a figure which increases in older people and individuals with a superimposed delirium. This important resource supports the further implementation of the RCN’s five principles for improving the quality of care for people with dementia and enabling the best possible support for their carers. This guide supplements the RCN’s film: Dementia: Commitment to the care of people with dementia in hospital settings.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/480269/004235.pdf
Palliative care for children and young people (PDF 731.8 KB)
Publication code: 004328
Publication date: 26 November 2012
ISBN:
Abstract:Across the UK, there are a small number of children and young people who require palliative care, beginning at the time of diagnosis of a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Because of the diversity of conditions and individual needs, specialist care provision is required in the home, hospital and hospice. Therefore specific competences are required for the nursing and support staff who will work closely with families and other care providers to ensure the best possible quality of life for the child/young person and support for their family. This framework supports the delivery of high quality, evidence-based care by nurses and health care support workers involved in the care of children and young people requiring palliative care.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/488991/004_328.pdf
Management of lower bowel dysfunction, including DRE and DRF (PDF 665.5 KB)
Publication code: 003 226
Publication date: 15 November 2012
ISBN: 978-1-908782-19-9
Abstract:Bowel care is of paramount importance for the quality of life of patients and this new edition provides a review of lower bowel dysfunction in adults, digital rectal examination (DRE) and guidance on the digital removal of faeces (DRF). It aims to help nurses understand the functions of the bowel and the need for appropriate assessment. It provides guidance on how nurses can positively help patients with bowel disorders and maps out the wide range of skills required for specific aspects of bowel care, while helping to facilitate best practice. This publication is supported by Coloplast and Skills for Health.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/157363/003226.pdf
Online resources
Preventing Falls in Hospitals: A Toolkit for Improving Quality of Care
Each year, somewhere between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people in the United States fall in the hospital. A fall may result in fractures, lacerations, or internal bleeding, leading to increased health care utilization. Research shows that close to one-third of falls can be prevented. Fall prevention involves managing a patient's underlying fall risk factors and optimizing the hospital's physical design and environment. This toolkit focuses on overcoming the challenges associated with developing, implementing, and sustaining a fall prevention program.
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/ltc/fallpxtoolkit/index.html
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 Wednesday 27 February 2013
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