Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 149, Wednesday 17 April 2013
From NZ media this week
Assaults at hospitals increase job stress
Wellington region hospital employees are being assaulted by patients at a rate of more than one a day, with most of the attacks occurring in mental health services.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8545499/Assaults-at-hospitals-increase-job-stress
'Insidious' medical workplace bullying studied
Workplace bullying affects a quarter of Australian medical professionals and similar "insidious" levels are likely to be occurring in New Zealand, says a researcher.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876971
Bullying in hospitals needs 'drastic action'
Bullying at Waikato's hospitals could be far worse than what has been reported and drastic action needs to be taken now to investigate, health officials have been told.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8540852/Bullying-in-hospitals-needs-drastic-action
Colourful launch to College of Health
Massey’s aspiration to become internationally known for its focus on preventing illness and promoting wellbeing was colourfully expressed at the official launch to its new College of Health.
http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=EFAAE28B-042C-637D-9DA2-E2956F82E16E
K2 drug sold to mental patients
Christchurch police say they have had strong words with the owners of a dairy that allegedly sold synthetic cannabis to patients from a nearby mental health hospital.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8547488/K2-drug-sold-to-mental-patients
Patient locked out of hospital
Miscommunication, confusion and delays - including a locked hospital door - surrounding ambulance and hospital care of a critically ill woman did not contribute to her death, a coroner has found.
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/patient-locked-out-of-hospital/1822433/
New resources to assist health care professionals to overcome barriers in managing Sexually Transmitted Infections
The changing scene of sexual activity means STIs are no longer the domain of youth. They occur across all ages, from young to old. STIs have always suffered from a negative social stigma and the fact that many STIs are very common and readily treatable does not seem to diminish the negative impact for patients being told they have an STI. Research shows health professionals also find these barriers difficult to navigate, which may unwittingly lead to worse outcomes for patients.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00057/new-resources-to-assist-health-care-professionals-with-stis.htm
Collaboration Key to Breast Screening Success for Pacific
Source: http://www.healthstarpacific.co.nz/
Pacific women are amongst the 600 women dying of breast cancer in New Zealand every year, where early detection is the best protection.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00055/collaboration-key-to-breast-screening-success-for-pacific.htm
NZ won't be 'punishing' unvaccinated kids
Doctors say parents need education and persuasion, Elton Smallman reports.The Australian medical community is taking a hard line on unvaccinated children, calling for them to stay away from school and have anti-immunisation groups punished, but New Zealand doctors are taking a cautious approach.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8553669/NZ-won-t-be-punishing-unvaccinated-kids
More health and diabetes checks recommended
Health Minister Tony Ryall says anyone from their mid to late 30s should talk to their GP or nurse about a heart and diabetes check.
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2013/april-2013/15/more-health-and-diabetes-checks-recommended.aspx
Abortion clinic nurse targeted
Auckland police are investigating an attack on an abortion clinic after one of the nurses who worked there had her car's fuel line cut.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/abortion-clinic-nurse-targeted-5401739
DHB specific
Ryder's medical files spied on
Four clinicians who inappropriately accessed bashed cricket star Jesse Ryder's medical records in the days after his Christchurch attack are now under investigation by the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB).
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8545410/Ryders-medical-files-spied-on
Govt to close all NZ hospital kitchens
The Government plans to close all hospital kitchens across New Zealand and outsource the making of hospital meals, which will cost 1300 jobs nationwide.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876642
Wellington hospital cooking jobs on the line
One hundred hospital cooks in the Wellington region face losing their jobs if a proposal to shift food production to other areas goes ahead.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8534831/Wellington-hospital-cooking-jobs-on-the-line
Ryall: Hospital meal quality paramount
The Government is refusing to say how many jobs could be lost in a proposed overhaul of the provision of hospital meals that would save up to $175 million over 15 years.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876821
Hospital food could be up to a week old
Patients could be fed week-old food under Government plans for hospitals, leaked documents have revealed
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8540379/Hospital-food-could-be-up-to-a-week-old
Hospital laundries also facing overhaul
Hospital laundry services will be overhauled along with production of patient meals in a bid to save millions of dollars, and job losses are not being ruled out.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876960
News backs Taranaki health project
The Taranaki Daily News has been unveiled as the latest partner for the Taranaki Health Foundation.The foundation aims to raise money to support the province's health services on the back of what has been tagged a "one in 50 year" rebuild at New Plymouth's Base Hospital.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8549944/News-backs-Taranaki-health-project
Hospital smokers moved on
Smokers spotted taking a puff within Taranaki Base Hospital grounds are being shown the door.On February 1, all Taranaki District Health Board sites - inside and out - became smokefree.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8540916/Hospital-smokers-moved-on
Public health
Asthma kills 130 Kiwis a year
More people are admitted to hospital because of asthma when electricity prices increase, new research shows
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8526873/Asthma-kills-130-Kiwis-a-year
ESR Scientists Monitoring For New Strain Of Avian Influenza A(H7N9)
ESR Scientists at the World Health Organisation National Influenza Centre (WHO NIC) in Wellington are able to test for the new A(H7N9) strain of influenza virus, which has been identified in China.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00028/esr-scientists-monitoring-for-new-strain-of-avian-influenza.htm
Chch hepatitis cluster 'confined'
Health authorities are confident a cluster of hepatitis A cases in Christchurch is confined to one family, but they say the cases show how difficult life is for those living in poor-quality and overcrowded house after the earthquakes.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8528107/Chch-hepatitis-cluster-confined
Preschoolers vaccinated against hepatitis A after diagnosis
More than 150 children, relatives and staff at a Christchurch preschool have been given hepatitis A vaccines today after a child was diagnosed with the infectious disease.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10877247
Woman's death a grim flu reminder
Influenza has claimed the life of a Canterbury woman two months before the annual flu season is set to strike.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8545418/Womans-death-a-grim-flu-reminder
Blood pressure surge 'alarming'
Fatal heart attacks likely to rise when linked with risks such as the obesity epidemic, warn researchers.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10877548
Aftershock of depression, anger still felt
The resilience of Cantabrians is under threat as anger, depression, poor health, grief, financial issues, alcohol, smoking and frustrations towards the powers that be continue to plague the earthquake-hit city, new research shows.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/8549926/Aftershock-of-depression-anger-still-felt
Teens avoid harm from relaxed booze laws
Lowering the drinking age to 18 has not led to more binge-drinking or alcohol-related road accidents among young people, researchers have found.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8529563/Teens-avoid-harm-from-relaxed-booze-laws?cid=edm:stuff:dailyheadlines
Social health
Social And Economic Costs Of Not Reducing Child Poverty
The social and economic consequences of not taking action to reduce child poverty in New Zealand are too costly to everyone, according to the NZ College of Public Health Medicine.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00034/social-and-economic-costs-of-not-reducing-child-poverty.htm
NZ children score poorly in UNICEF report
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of children not in any form of education, training or employment in the developed world, and scored relatively poorly in other measures of child wellbeing in a UNICEF report, released today.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876626
Increased electricity prices = increased asthma hospital admissions
A University of Canterbury study has highlighted a significant relationship between the lack of home heating and asthma hospital admissions. The study shows a clear correlation between school holidays and asthma hospital admissions.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00049/increased-electricity-pricesmore-asthma-hospital-admissions.htm
International media
Taking nurses beyond the basics
Nurses across the United States are throwing their support behind state legislation that would allow nonphysician providers to practice independently of physicians, thereby helping fill voids left by the physician shortage.
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/taking-nurses-beyond-basics/2013-03-31
Assaults in nursing homes go unreported
Aged care experts believe hundreds of assaults in Australia's 2000 nursing homes are going unreported because they are committed by violent dementia patients.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3735328.htm
ANA says Obama's budget would strengthen nursing
The American Nurses Association expressed its support for President Obama’s budget, released Wednesday, for including “vital investments that strengthen the nation’s healthcare system,” according to a news release.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20130410/NATIONAL02/104150029
Nurses claim victory over wage-fixing in New York, Michigan
Nurses at five hospitals have won their case in a class-action lawsuit against wage-fixing in Troy, N.Y., according to The Record.
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/nurses-claim-victory-over-wage-fixing-new-york-michigan/2013-04-09
Unseen and online: What are the limits for patient care?
With telemedicine expanding, doctors and others are puzzling out if there are acceptable substitutes for an in-person medical visit.
http://www.amednews.com/article/20130408/business/130409955/2/
Turning medical jargon into plain language
Jana Uryasz, a registered nurse, often acts as a go-between for patients and doctors by translating medical jargon into plain language for instructional documents.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/turning-medical-jargon-into-plain-language/2013/04/05/3a248fb2-9e37-11e2-a2db-efc5298a95e1_story.html
Forty fold increase in Portuguese nurses registering in the UK
The number of Portuguese nurses arriving and registering for work in the United Kingdom has experienced a forty fold increase over the last six years to become the second largest nationality in terms of new registrations according to statistics from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
http://theportugalnews.com/news/forty-fold-increase-in-portuguese-nurses-registering-in-the-uk/28209
Online resources
The Substance Abuse and Mental health Service Administration (US) have produced a number of bi-lingual brochures that may be helpful to some, These brochures are available for downloading from the websites given below
Aging, Medicine and Alcohol
Bilingual Chinese and English Brochure
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Aging-Medicines-and-Alcohol-Chinese-version-/SMA12-3619CHINESE?WT.ac=EB_20130411_SMA12-3619CHINESE
Aging, Medicine and Alcohol
Bilingual Korean and English Brochure
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Aging-Medicines-and-Alcohol-Korean-version-/SMA12-3619KOREAN?WT.ac=EB_20130411_SMA12-3619KOREAN
Aging, Medicine and Alcohol
Bilingual Russian and English Brochure
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Aging-Medicines-and-Alcohol-Russian-version-/SMA12-3619RUSSIAN?WT.ac=EB_20130411_SMA12-3619RUSSIAN
Aging, Medicine and Alcohol
Bilingual Vietnamese and English Brochure
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Aging-Medicines-and-Alcohol-Vietnamese-version-/SMA12-3619VIETNAMESE?WT.ac=EB_20130411_SMA12-3619VIETNAMESE
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 16 April 2013
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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