Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 160, Wednesday 3 July 2013
From NZ media this week
50 new dedicated cancer nurses link up to support patients
Health Minister Tony Ryall has today welcomed four more cancer care nurses appointed as part of the Government's $4 million a year programme to give cancer patients in every district health board dedicated support and coordinated care.
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2013/june-2013/28/50-new-dedicated-cancer-nurses-link-up-to-support-patients.aspx
Anna earns top nursing qualification
After 13 years of hard work and commitment, Anna Reed has reached the highest nursing qualification available - a nurse practitioner.
http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/anna-earns-top-nursing-qualification/1923646/
Test if child will grow out of asthma: Kiwi first
Parents whose children suffer from asthma may soon be able to predict whether they will be afflicted by the respiratory condition for the rest of their lives.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10893536
Medsafe Warns of the Dangers of Purchasing Medicines over the Internet
Medsafe is warning about the dangers of buying medicines online following a joint Medsafe and Customs crackdown on substandard, illegal or counterfeit medicines.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00134/dangers-of-purchasing-medicines-over-the-internet.htm
Community-based primary health care research collaboration between New Zealand and Canadian researchers
The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) has announced funding for a research collaboration in which New Zealand and Canadian researchers will work together to explore ways to better care for older people with high health needs in the community.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00126/health-care-research-collaboration-between-nz-and-canada.htm
A healthy rural community for the wealth of the nation
Key health issues facing rural communities were identified and prioritised at the inaugural council meeting of the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (RHĀNZ), held in Auckland last week.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00116/a-healthy-rural-community-for-the-wealth-of-the-nation.htm
Patients face grilling on violence
A programme to tackle the 2400 incidents of family violence every year in Manawatu will meet the issue head on. Hospital patients - especially in the emergency department - should expect to be asked questions about family violence so that more victims can get suppor
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/8861504/Patients-face-grilling-on-violence
Alarm as cervical screening rates drop
Poor rates for cervical screening in Wanganui are due to women missing appointments to have the tests done
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/alarm-as-cervical-screening-rates-drop/1927371/
DHB specific
Waikato DHB to Introduce Internationally Recognised Ward-Round Regime
As part of an ongoing commitment to patient safety, Waikato DHB will soon implement the internationally recognised ‘Intentional Rounding' process to improve consistency in the way nurses carry out their care regimes.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00139/dhb-introducing-internationally-recognised-ward-round-regime.htm
Tairawhiti DHB makes falls awareness fun
Health care workers at Tairawhiti District Health Board (DHB) have found novel ways to raise awareness of falls among staff, patients and visitors.
http://www.open.hqsc.govt.nz/news-and-events-2/news/970/
South Canty docs say no to flu jab
Only a third of its doctors and nurses have been flu vaccinated, South Canterbury District Health Board figures show.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/8856880/South-Canty-docs-say-no-to-flu-jab
Health staff not scrubbing up
Southern District Health Board staff don't wash their hands enough, figures show.A quarterly performance survey released by the Health Quality and Safety Commission this week shows staff in the southern health board are falling short of minimum requirements for hand hygiene.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/8856706/Health-staff-not-scrubbing-up
Hospital's hand hygiene below par
Good hand hygiene comes up short at Timaru Hospital but falls risk assessments and use of perioperative checklists have come up trumps, according to a health report.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/8852053/Hospitals-hand-hygiene-below-par
Poor documentation blamed for elderly patient's death
Poor documentation and communication are believed to have led to a 75-year old patient's death in Whangarei Hospital.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10894144
DHB cops blame for man's death
Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill found the failures of orthopaedic and nursing teams were directly attributable to the Northland District Health Board.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8863897/DHB-cops-blame-for-mans-death
Medicines standardised across hospitals
A new uniform hospital medication list will mean patients will have access to the same medication, no matter where they are in the country.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8862654/Medicines-standardised-across-hospitals
DHB 'on the mend' but still on watch list
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board's financial performance has been assessed as "deteriorating" by the National Health Board, but DHB chief executive Chris Fleming says it is on the mend.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8843495/DHB-on-the-mend-but-still-on-watch-list
New health data will help drive improvements in patient safety
The publication of new health data will encourage district health boards (DHBs) to consistently put in place steps to improve patient safety, says Professor Alan Merry, Chair of the Health Quality & Safety Commission.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00117/new-health-data-will-help-improve-patient-safety.htm
Overdose inquiry: Hospital's procedures criticised
A teenage girl who died after a massive antidepressant overdose was not admitted to Hutt Hospital's intensive care unit because of a "culture of coping" among hospital staff.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893189
Hospital staff member denies mocking patient
A hospital staff member has denied pretending to play a violin when she met a victim of botched surgery in a Greymouth supermarket.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893157
West Coast GP shortages prompt new regime
As Buller and Reefton again face GP shortages, the West Coast District Health Board has employed a Christchurch-based company to help manage its GP practices.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893154
Public health
GPs brace for flu onslaught
Waikato medical professionals are gearing up for a big influx of patients, as the cold snap that has gripped the region exploits the population's already weakened resistance to germs.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8841266/GPs-brace-for-flu-onslaught
Rush for jabs as flu like illness shows sharp rise
The number of flu vaccinations doled out in Wairarapa has shot up as residents prepare for the impending flu season, a local health professional says.
http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/rush-for-jabs-as-flu-like-illness-shows-sharp-rise/1923647/
Whooping cough rates still high
Partners of pregnant women and others living in the same household are now eligible for a free pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination in Waikato as public health officials try to get on top of the epidemic.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00137/whooping-cough-rates-still-high.htm
Bugs spread by hospital gloves
Gloves used in hospital wards are often contaminated with bacteria before coming into contact with patients, a University of Otago study has found.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10894106
More Maori immunised
Maori children are being immunised at a higher rate than Pakeha, according to figures released by the Whanganui District Health Board.
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/more-maori-immunised/1927373/
Most expectant parents plan to immunise baby
The Growing up in New Zealand study shows nearly all babies received their six week and three month vaccinations, protecting them from childhood diseases like whooping cough.
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2013/july-2013/01/most-expectant-parents-plan-to-immunise-baby.aspx
Christian community hits West Coast vaccination rates
The Ministry of Health says it will not adjust immunisation targets for the West Coast, even though the ever-growing Gloriavale Christian Community refuses to immunise its children.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10894104
Ethanol 'akin to asbestos in cancer stakes'
New Zealand's excessive drinking culture is causing cancers with abysmally low survival rates, oncology experts say.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8862098/Ethanol-akin-to-asbestos-in-cancer-stakes
UC researcher produces film to help fight diabetes among Maori
A University of Canterbury (UC) researcher has worked with the Maori community in a bid to fight Type 2 diabetes which is a serious health problem for Maori.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00140/uc-researcher-produces-film-to-help-fight-diabetes-among-mao.htm
Altered drugs 'place lives in danger'
Synthetic cannabis manufacturers are putting lives in danger as they tweak products to get around bans, a forensic scientist says
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8865265/Altered-drugs-place-lives-in-danger
Social health
Call to monitor elderly living alone
A Blenheim real estate agent has urged people to look out for their elderly neighbours this winter after she called police to the house of an 84-year-old man with "four days of newspapers" in his letter box.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8861487/Call-to-monitor-elderly-living-alone
Winter cruel for those on tight budgets
'Power is not a luxury, it's a necessity'
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8846557/Winter-cruel-for-those-on-tight-budgets
Study reveals link between asthma and damp homes
The world's largest-ever study on the link between damp homes and respiratory illness has prompted calls for the Government to do more to fix the problem.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10893343
The grim truth about elder abuse
In the '70s it may have been flippantly referred to as "granny bashing" but these days the acceptable term is "elder abuse". According to the Ministry of Social Development's "Elder abuse and/or neglect" literature review, "Elder abuse or neglect can be either an act of commission, in which case it is abusive, or an act of omission, in which case it is neglectful, and may be either intentional or unintentional.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10891632
Concerns over mice risk for kids due to cold snap
A rodent problem in the Far North has compounded concerns for poorer families amid the cold snap, as some children are having to sleep on flimsy mattresses on floors instead of beds.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892828
Horror living conditions in cot death house
A harrowing description of dire living conditions in a Bay of Plenty house where a suspected cot death occurred has been given during a coroner's inquest.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8839639/Horror-living-conditions-in-cot-death-house
Family violence report released
Following a review of family violence deaths, the Family Violence Death Review Committee (FVDRC) is recommending developing a multi-agency case management process for high-risk cases of family violence.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00131/family-violence-report-released.htm
New campaign: For every child a healthy home
Guests at a cross-party breakfast of MPs, officials and community representatives in Parliament this morning, were told there is abundant evidence that the market has failed to deliver the quality or quantity of houses New Zealand needs and there should be cross-party work on a Warrant of Fitness for housing.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00127/new-campaign-for-every-child-a-healthy-home.htm
Work and management
Cultural Fit in the Workplace: How Personality Affects Hiring and Teamwork
People differ in their personalities, attitudes, and values, and an understanding of our individual personality is profoundly important in maximizing our happiness and productivity at work.
http://www.ere.net/2013/06/21/cultural-fit-in-the-workplace-how-personality-affects-hiring-and-teamwork/
Do You Lead With Your Head, Your Heart or Your Hands?
Do you lead with your head, your heart or your hands? One business experts explains these three leadership styles and helps executives take steps to strengthen their leadership styles.
http://ehstoday.com/safety/do-you-lead-your-head-your-heart-or-your-hands?page=1
Mental health
Mental Health Screening Tool improves prisoners’ care
It's one year since Corrections introduced a new screening tool to identify prisoners’ mental health needs, leading to improvements in their care.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1306/S00125/mental-health-screening-tool-improves-prisoners-care.htm
High K2 use rate among psych unit patients
One in every eight patients admitted to an acute psychiatric unit had been using the synthetic cannabis K2, an audit published today has found.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893455
Govt will pay to shift mentally ill into work
Mentally ill people will be moved off state-funded benefits and into work using private employment agencies who will earn hefty fees for the service.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893823
Thousands of residents still being treated for post-quake stress
Young people are easily getting jobs on the Canterbury rebuild, but thousands of residents are still being treated for post-earthquake stress, the latest Canterbury Wellbeing Index data reveals.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893133
International media
Fired nurse says United Hospital trauma care endangers patients
A nurse who worked for United Hospital in St. Paul claimed Thursday that she was fired after she reported shortcomings in the hospital's trauma program that endangered patients.
http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_23504756/fired-nurse-says-united-hospital-trauma-care-endangers
Nursing Programs’ Capacity Improving, Students More Diverse, NLN Survey Finds
A long-standing issue of unmet demand for seats in U.S. nursing schools appears to be easing, according to the newly-released National League for Nursing (NLN) Annual Survey of Schools of Nursing. Respondents indicated that education capacity is expanding, with shorter waiting lists for entry into nursing programs.
http://www.nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/more-news/Nursing-Programs-Capacity-Improving-Students-More-Diverse-NLN-Survey-Finds_41479.aspx
CYP nurses urged to raise staffing level concerns
The Royal College of Nursing has called on individual children’s nurses to raise their concerns about safe staffing and skill mix as it sets out minimum staffing levels of registered nurses required for providing health services for babies, children and young people. The RCN says these standards are the minimum essential requirements to deliver safe care.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/uk/cyp_services_raise_staffing_levels_concerns
Public health RNs satisfied, but face challenges
A new report details the significant challenges facing the public health nursing workforce.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20130627/NATIONAL02/107080009
Nurses on police patrols to deal with mental health cases
Nurses are to go on patrol with four police forces across England to improve responses to mental health emergencies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23074602?utm_source=Media+Digest&utm_campaign=a412769007-MHTP-27%2F06%2F13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dbf1146ae7-a412769007-33612197
ANA Unveils National Standards for Safe Patient Handling and Mobility to Spur Commitment to Culture of Safety
ANA unveiled national standards for safe patient handling and mobility that are designed to infuse a stronger culture of safety in health care work environments and provide a universal foundation for policies, practices, regulations and legislation to protect patients and health care workers from injury.
http://lists.ana.org/t/843764/502851/9180/29/
Needlestick and sharps injuries bid goes to parliament
The fight for legislation that would force every Australian hospital to introduce safety-engineered medical devices (SEMDs) in a bid to reduce Australia’s needlestick and sharps injuries has gone to Federal Parliament.
http://www.ncah.com.au/news-events/needlestick-and-sharps-injuries-bid-goes-to-parliament/1812/
Duty of candour: supporting nursing students in practice
A support service at the University of Southampton has found students have an important role in improving the quality of care
http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/jun/25/duty-of-candour-supporting-students
The move into midwifery prescribing
Recent changes to the way maternity services are provided in Australia have opened the doors to midwives being able to prescribe PBS medicines. As Karen Keast discovered, midwives are heading back to university to gain the necessary qualification in droves.
http://www.ncah.com.au/careers/the-move-into-midwifery-prescribing/1811/
Work and management
Note to Managers: Positivity Matters
Those who lead or manage others have the unique potential to serve as an energizing force within organizations today. With their position and collected experience, they have the ability to influence not only what transpires within our work lives, but how we process those moments. A leader's view of a challenging situation, including the psychological vantage point or "mindset" they bring to bear upon a problem, can affect how we move forward
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130620130134-128811924-note-to-managers-positivity-matters
Articles of interest
Advances in endometriosis treatment
Endometriosis is a common problem characterized by abdominal pain, back pain, pain with intercourse, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and infertility. The cause of endometriosis is not well understood, but advances in treatment have been made. Primary care clinicians are uniquely situated to improve patient outcomes by making informed treatment decisions.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/Static-Pages/Advances-in-endometriosis-treatment
Online resources
Patient Notification ToolkitToolkit
Contents
Developing Documents for a Patient Notification
Planning Media and Communication Strategies
Establishing Communication Resources
Best Practices in Conducting Patient Notifications
Word on the Scope/ Acknowledgement
Additional Resources
A Guide to Assist Health Departments and Healthcare Facilities with Conducting a Patient Notification Following Identification of an Infection Control Lapse or Disease Transmission
http://www.cdc.gov/injectionsafety/pntoolkit/index.html
SANE Bereavement Guidelines
Best practice in support of family and friends of people with mental illness who have died by suicideThese Guidelines will help your service develop and implement a bereavement policy that will lead to improved support for familyand friends when someone with a mental illness dies by suicide.
http://www.sane.org/images/stories/Projects/1202_proj_bereavgl.pdf
Preventing falls in hospitals - a tool kit for improving quality of care
Fall prevention requires an interdisciplinary approach to care. Some parts of fall prevention care are highly routine; other aspects must be tailored to each patient‘s specific risk profile. No clinician working alone, regardless of how talented, can prevent all falls. Rather, fall prevention requires the active engagement of many individuals, including the multiple disciplines and teams involved in caring for the patient. To accomplish this coordination, high-quality prevention requires an organizational culture and operational practices that promote teamwork and communication, as well as individual expertise. Fall prevention activities also need to be balanced with other considerations, such as minimizing restraints and maintaining patients‘ mobility, to provide the best possible care to the patient. Therefore, improvement in fall prevention requires a system focus to make needed changes.
http://www.hqsc.govt.nz/publications-and-resources/publication/986/
Reports online
Becoming a Culturally Competent Health Care Organization
It is imperative hospitals and health care systems not only understand the diverse patients and communities they serve but the benefits of becoming a culturally competent
organization. This guide describes the benefits, steps and educational techniques of becoming a culturally competent health care organization
http://www.hpoe.org/resources/hpoehretaha-guides/1395
Defining staffing levels for children's and young people's services (PDF 350.2 KB)
Children’s services are becoming increasingly complex, encompassing general and specialist care provision across an age spectrum that extends from neonates to adolescents and young adults. This RCN guidance, which was first produced in 2003 as a result of a Delphi study, has been revised to encompass additional areas of children’s and young people’s services, drawing upon evidence, best practice and the professional judgement of a wide range of practitioners and children’s nurse leaders. The guidance and standards apply to all areas in which infants, children and young people receive care, as well as across all types of services and provision commissioned by the NHS including the acute and community, as well as third sector and independent sector providers. The standards are the minimum essential requirements for all providers of services for babies, children and young people.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/78592/002172.pdf
A background report on nurse staffing in children's and young people's health care. (PDF 280.5 KB)
This background report was commissioned by the RCN to contribute to the updating of the RCN publication: Defining staffing levels for children and young people’s services: RCN guidance for clinical professionals and service managers, first published in 2003 and updated in 2012/2013 (publication code 002 172). The report provides a review of available literature relating to staffing child health services from across the UK and evidence from discussion with senior children’s nurses working across a range of general and specialist services in England. Analysis of this evidence has highlighted gaps in the literature and led to a number of recommendations to be included in future guidance.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/527272/004369.pdf
Patient safety – handover of care between primary and acute care
Policy review and analysis
The paper includes an international and national literature review and analysis on transitions of care, including the clinical handover of care, between primary / community-based and acute care sectors. This data and evidence are reported and analysed in the context of current and future health care reforms underway in Australia. The aim is to provide an assessment of opportunities for improvements in transitions of care that will result in reduced mortality and morbidity, fewer opportunities for medical errors, improved health outcomes, greater stakeholder involvement, and reduced healthcare costs. The paper makes recommendations about potential policies and strategies and how these might be implemented to improve patient safety during transitions of care.
http://leadclinicians.health.gov.au/internet/lcg/publishing.nsf/Content/0BC80B14F241017BCA257A590021F2E8/$File/Transitions%20of%20Care%20report%20FINAL%207May13.pdf
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 2 July 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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