Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 151, Wednesday 1 May 2013
From NZ media this week
Cancer patients benefit from dedicated nurses
The Government is placing special nurses into DHBs to be dedicated nurse coordinators guiding cancer patients through their treatment and follow up care, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cancer-patients-benefit-dedicated-nurses
'Calculator' used in transplant decisions
A lack of kidney donors has forced specialists to introduce a "mortality calculator" that will bump people off the transplant list if they don't meet certain criteria.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8605259/Calculator-used-in-transplant-decisions?cid=edm:stuff:dailyheadlines
Births, deaths and marriages up for debate
LABOUR MP Maryan Street, however, has got a fight on her hands with attempts to legalise euthanasia. It's a touchy subject and one that hasn't made much ground internationally with just a handful of countries legalising it.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8605183/Births-deaths-and-marriages-up-for-debate
Voluntary Bonding open for new graduates and GP trainees
The 2013 Voluntary Bonding Scheme opens today says Health Minister Tony Ryall.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/voluntary-bonding-open-new-graduates-and-gp-trainees
Drive to clear up kids' skin infections
Children suffering from scabies and head lice are the focus of a Wellington health scheme being piloted next month. School nurses will be able to prescribe medicine and approach family homes to try to stop the spread of skin infections under the Regional Public Health programme
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8606891/Drive-to-clear-up-kids-skin-infections
DHB specific
$2m to Improve Elective Services at Counties Manukau DHB
Minister of Health Hon Tony Ryall announced today a $2 million funding boost to further improve elective services at Counties Manukau DHB.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/2m-improve-elective-services-counties-manukau-dhb
Waipareira and Waitemata DHB join forces
The colocation of Waitemata District Health Board Services to Waipareira’s Whanau Centre shows how government and non-government agencies can work together to do what’s best for the community.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00109/waipareira-and-waitemata-dhb-join-forces.htm
Preventing Falls In Hospital a Waikato Goal
Preventing falls in hospital is the business for everyone involved in health.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00100/preventing-falls-in-hospital-a-waikato-goal.htm
Shake-up of hospitals' food and linen likely
Waikato hospital bosses have been considering changes to the way food is provided for a year.It was revealed this month that jobs nationwide could be on the line and foods kept chilled for up to a week before being reheated as the Government moves to contract out catering at DHBs.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8588519/Shake-up-of-hospitals-food-and-linen-likely
Cancer nurse on wishlist
Nelson still does not have a new dedicated cancer nurse, despite Health Minister Tony Ryall announced funding for the position last August.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8604178/Cancer-nurse-on-wishlist
New computer system gets health board nod
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board will spend more than $1 million on a new computer system that will allow regional sharing of radiographic images, despite facing a $3m budget deficit.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8601003/New-computer-system-gets-health-board-nod
Ryder privacy breach: Staff disciplined
Two West Coast District Health Board staff members who accessed Black Cap Jesse Ryder's patient files inappropriately have been subject to a disciplinary process
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10879341
Timaru hospital action 'shocking'
Sam Bugler went to Timaru Hospital in an ambulance with no money, no shoes and what he later learned were three slipped discs in his back.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8603026/Timaru-hospital-action-shocking
Public health
Health check: State of our health
How much fruit we eat, how often we exercise, how many of us smoke - the Ministry of Health checks it all in five-yearly national health surveys. Now it has published selected regional statistics. Health reporter Martin Johnston looks at how adults from different areas measure up against each other.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10879439
Health check: South Auckland obesity sparks healthy-eating call
The rapid increase in obesity in South Auckland shows the need for healthy-eating programmes to be re-introduced, a diabetes expert says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10879441
Waikato: New Zealand's chubby heartland
As a region the Waikato has never been bigger.While people are managing to give up smoking and drink less, latest figures show more than a third of the region's population is obese.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8588545/Waikato-New-Zealands-chubby-heartland
Weighing up cost of fatty food culture
Obesity is killing fat New Zealanders and bleeding the health sector of millions of dollars. But last year nearly 400 Kiwis received publicly funded weight-loss surgery in an effort to trim waistlines and improve people's lives. Teuila Fuatai investigates our growing weight woes and the potential benefits of bariatric surgery.
http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/weighing-up-cost-of-fatty-food-culture/1840362/
Flu Warning
The influenza season is heading to New Zealand and the NZ College of Public Health Medicine is warning people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00095/flu-warning.htm
Killer Chinese bird flu could threaten NZ - expert
A new killer strain of bird flu terrorising China could pose a risk to New Zealand, a flu expert said today.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10879759
More than a million Kiwis immunised against the flu
Just over one million New Zealanders have had a flu vaccination so far this year - 250,000 more than the same time last year and 350,000 more than in 2009.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/more-million-kiwis-immunised-against-flu/5/153703
'Killer flu' fears spark rush for vaccinations
Kiwis are flocking to get immunised against a "killer flu" strain in unprecedented numbers this flu season.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8607164/Killer-flu-fears-spark-rush-for-vaccinations
Immunisation schemes 'saving Kiwi children'
Thousands of Kiwi children have been saved from deadly diseases by national immunisation programmes.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8607090/Immunisation-schemes-saving-Kiwi-children
Social health
Exclusion from society 'still experienced' by those with mental illness
"Too often, those of us living with mental health problems are still held back. We all need to learn from successful programmes around the world that have been led by people with lived experience of mental health problems," says Liz Sayce, OBE.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/exclusion-society-still-experienced-those-mental-illness/5/153752
Work and management
Employment relations changes 'another blow for workers'
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says the changes to employment law announced today will be bad news for workers and the economy.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/employment-relations-changes-another-blow-workers/5/153741
Pay gap between men and women slowly widening
Equity group says almost $4 an hour average gulf across all sectors reflection of shift to part-time roles
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10880050
HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS
Workplace stress is a serious subject. According to a survey from the American Psychological Association, more than one third of American workers experience chronic work stress — and this is costing American businessesbillions of dollars a year in lost work hours and medical bills. More importantly, all this worrying at work can have serious consequences for our quality of life — not only at the office, but everywhere else as well. So how do we regain our sanity and take back our lives?
http://greatist.com/happiness/manage-workplace-office-stress
International media
Northern Ireland nurses still being told not to raise concerns
The Royal College of Nursing [RCN] has said that some of its members are working in "a culture of fear and intimidation".
http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/northern_ireland/nurses_still_being_told_not_to_raise_concerns
Better support is needed for whistleblowers, say 60% of nurses in Scotland
Six out of 10 nurses (60%) in Scotland believe that better support is needed for whistleblowers, according to a survey conducted for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The poll – conducted by ICM* – also revealed that just 30% of those surveyed believe their workplace has a good culture, where staff are listened to and concerns acted upon.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/scotland/better_support_is_needed_for_whistleblowers,_say_60_of_nurses_in_scotland
NHS 'culture of fear' stops nurses raising patient safety concerns
Survey by Royal College of Nursing shows that when staff come forward as whistleblowers they are intimidated to keep them quiet
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/23/nhs-culture-fear-stops-nurses
Action needed to combat unsafe staffing levels, warns RCN
Nine out of ten nurses in Scotland (90%) believe that staffing levels are not always adequate to provide safe patient care, according to a new survey carried out by ICM on behalf of the Royal College of Nursing. And over a quarter (27%) of nurses in Scotland think that staffing levels are rarely or never safe.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/scotland/action_needed_to_combat_unsafe_staffing_levels,_warns_rcn
Shortage of hospital beds and staff 'forcing patients to sleep in corridors'
Peter Carter, RCN chief, says NHS is under colossal strain and derides plan for would-be nurses to work as nursing auxiliaries
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/22/shortage-beds-staff-sleeping-corridors
Cameron and Hunt hit back at RCN over nurse training reforms
PM and health secretary reject criticism of plan to make new recruits start careers as healthcare assistants
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/22/cameron-hunt-rcn-nurse-training
HHS unveils standards for languages, cultures
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday released updated standards on providing cultural and language-appropriate healthcare services.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/other/295933-hhs-unveils-standards-for-languages-cultures
FDA Highlights Mattress Cover Infection Risk
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a Safety Communication notifying healthcare providers of the risk of infection from worn medical bed mattress covers.
http://www.beckersasc.com/asc-quality-infection-control/fda-highlights-mattress-cover-infection-risk.html
Can we keep up with the demand for urgent and emergency care?
the urgent and emergency care system is under severe pressure. Performance on a number of important indicators, including the four-hour wait and ambulance handover targets, is heading in the wrong direction. Demand is growing and calls for work to be shifted out of hospital look oddly out of line with a system that cannot even constrain, let alone reduce, the rate of increase in many places. Our recent study for NHS South of England raises some questions about the management of urgent and emergency care and identifies some important lessons.
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2013/04/can-we-keep-demand-urgent-and-emergency-care
Plan for rural Victorian nurses to perform X-rays
Victoria could follow in the footsteps of other Australian states where nurses at small rural hospitals receive training to perform X-rays.
http://www.ncah.com.au/news-events/plan-for-rural-victorian-nurses-to-perform-rays/1742/
Top 10 ways to improve patient safety now
A comprehensive evidence review narrows the field of targets to prevent harm. These are things hospitals should be doing to protect patients.
http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/profession/130419969/4/
Articles of interest
WHÄNAU- CENTRED HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY IN NEW ZEALANDThe challenges to, and opportunities for, innovationAmohia Boulton*Jennifer Tamehana†Tula Brannelly‡This paper traces the emergence of Mäori health service provision and the whänau ora philosophythat became the cornerstone of Mäori health policy in the early 2000s. It discusses theimplications for Mäori health and social service providers of the latest iteration of the whänauora approach to social service delivery, as outlined in the Whänau Ora Taskforce Report of 2010.
http://journal.mai.ac.nz/sites/default/files/articles/Vol%202%20(1)%20024%20Boulton.pdf
Changing Tides: Improving Outcomes Through Mentorship on All Levels of Nursing
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
June 2010
Volume 33 Number 2
Pages 163 - 174
Critical care nursing is one of the most stressful specialties in the nursing profession. The demands of the specialty can lead to frustration and burnout at very high rates. High-quality, effective mentorship can be a valuable tool in recruiting and retaining nurses for these areas as well as improving their sense of job satisfaction. However, it must be understood that effective mentorship begins with the organizational culture and must have organizational buy-in to be successful. Also, because of the nursing shortage and high turnover in the critical care units, new graduates are frequently hired into these areas. Mentorship for these new nurses is crucial to their success and retention as a new employee. If we do not foster growth and development of young nurses, they may flounder, become extremely frustrated, and seek out new alternative employment settings. Mentoring new graduates may begin as early as their first exposure to critical care nursing in their undergraduate nursing program as it did for this author (T.K.R.). My critical care nurse faculty is the reason I entered critical care nursing and is now the reason that I have branched into education. The information in this article is not only pertinent to those working in critical care; it can be utilized and explored on all levels of nursing. Through effective mentorship, we can positively impact our healthcare organizations; improve job satisfaction; and promote professional development and empowerment in students, new graduates, staff nurses, educators, nurse leaders, and nurse faculty. Most importantly, mentoring can result in improved nursing care, high-quality healthcare, and improved patient outcomes.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/CEArticle?an=00002727-201004000-00008&Journal_ID=54003&Issue_ID=990119&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=NursingCenter%20eNews&utm_campaign=NC%20eNews:%20%20April%202013,%20Issue%202
Social media and Website of interest
Mental health foundation
What we do
The Mental Health Foundation is creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing. We work to influence individuals, whanau, organisations and communities to improve and sustain their mental health and reach their full potential.We're not a counselling or advice service, but our Resource & Information Service is happy to point you in the right direction to find help.
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/5-Home
EBN Twitter Journal Club – How to participate
Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) has recently launched its Twitter Journal Club and would like to invite all nurses to participate.
Every month two interesting articles with questions will be posted on the EBN blog thereafter a discussion will take place on Twitter using #ebnjc
http://blogs.bmj.com/ebn/ebn-twitter-journal-club/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7547&utm_content=Journals%20at%20BMJ%3A%20April%202013%20newsletter&utm_term=Find%20out%20more&utm_source=Adestra_BMJ%20Journals
Online resources
About BMJ Open
Aims and scope
BMJ Open is an online, open access medical journal, dedicated to publishing research from all disciplines and therapeutic areas.
The journal publishes all research study types, from study protocols to phase I trials to meta-analyses, including small and specialist studies.
Publishing procedures are built around fully open peer review and continuous publication, publishing research online as soon as the article is ready. BMJ Open aims to promote transparency in the publication process by publishing reviewer reports and previous versions of manuscripts as prepublication histories.
Authors are asked to pay article-processing charges on acceptance; the ability to pay does not influence editorial decisions
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/site/about/
Professional development
Whakawhetu & TAHA Conferences
Thursday 20 & Friday 21 June 2013
Ko Awatea, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland.
Welcome to our First Māori and Pacific maternal and infant health forum which will be held on 20 & 21 June 2013 at Ko Awatea in the heart of South Auckland. We hope that you join us for this momentous occasion.Whakawhetu and TAHA have partnered to provide back to back conferences that aim to inspire further development and on-going action to improve health outcomes for Māori and Pacific pregnancies and babies.For more information and to Register follow this link:
http://www.whakawhetu.co.nz/conference-2013.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 1 May 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
For more up to date news and information follow SNIPS at:
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