Welcome to the
College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 193 Wednesday 12 March 2014
From NZ media this week
Otago prison nurses at leading edge
Otago prison nurses are the first in the country to gain
extra credentials in primary mental health.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/294369/otago-prison-nurses-leading-edge
New government funding helps local nurse to
pursue her dream
New graduate nurse Esther Allington (27) has landed her
dream job thanks to new Government funding.
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2014/march-2014/10/new-government-funding-helps-local-nurse-to-pursue-her-dream.aspx
Nurse staffing worry
The nurses' union is disappointed the Southern District
Health Board's answer to fears Dunedin is in the midst of a nursing staffing
crisis is to set up a working party, rather than hire more nurses.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/293946/nurse-staffing-worry
Nurses to release evidence of crisis
The nurses' union will take a ''strategic approach'' to
releasing information about conditions in Dunedin and Wakari hospitals in its
attempts to persuade the health board to hire more staff.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/294022/nurses-release-evidence-crisis
Patient harm concerns denied by SDHB
Details have emerged from a nurses' meeting about concerns
a lack of staff in Dunedin Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (Nicu) could
be harming patients.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/294244/patient-harm-concerns-denied-sdhb
Questions over nursing levels
Concern health heads are ''robbing Nurse Betty to pay Dr
Ropata'' by skimping on nurse budgets has been raised by a Southern District
Health Board member.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/294237/questions-over-nursing
Medical education makes
leap forward
The Medical
Council is implementing changes to doctor’s training and education that will
improve patient safety and the performance of doctors.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1403/S00013/medical-education-makes-leap-forward.htm
Stethoscopes more dirty than hands - study
Not just cold, but dirty: Stethoscopes carry more bugs than
doctors' hands, a new study shows.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/9789445/Stethoscopes-more-dirty-than-hands-study
Silicone dressing prevents
skin reactions during radiation
Severe skin
reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying a thin
transparent silicone dressing to the skin from the first day of treatment,
according to clinical research from New Zealand.
http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/silicone-dressing-prevents-skin-reactions-during-radiation/article/336568/
Taumarunui adopts integrated health care
model
New model fosters working
partnerships amongst healthcare services and providers
A new integrated health
services model adopted by health professionals will strengthen effective and
sustainable health services in Taumarunui, says Waikato District Health Board
(DHB) chief operating officer Jan Adams.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1403/S00012/taumarunui-adopts-integrated-health-care-model.htm
Govt considers making pregnancy checks a
national priority
The Government will consider making 10-week
checks for pregnant women a national priority in response to a wide-ranging
inquiry into improving children's health.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11215217
Response to health report criticised
The Government has missed an opportunity to tackle high rates
of child abuse with a half-hearted response to a parliamentary report, critics
say.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/9800331/Response-to-health-report-criticised
Aged care
Assessment tool enhances the aged care
experience
With the support of MidCentral District Health
Board, aged residential care providers are rolling out a clinical comprehensive
assessment tool (interRAI) as part of a nationwide move to improve the
assessment experience for older people
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/assessment-tool-enhances-aged-care-experience/5/183265
DHBs and Primary Health
Care
A 'tsunami' of knee replacements predicted
New Zealand faces a ''tsunami of knee
replacements'' in the coming years, placing even more pressure on health
services, a Dunedin academic says.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/294201/tsunami-knee-replacements-predicted
Health system 'under stress'
The
Southern District Health Board has been the focus of close attention this week,
with concerns expressed across the health sector about the population-based
funding model, staffing levels, ageing infrastructure at Dunedin Hospital, the
recent IT outage, and proposed cuts to mental health beds. The Star chief
reporter Brenda Harwood examines the issues.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/294203/system-under-stress
Public health
Dr Net gives answers to ailing Kiwis
Study finds many of us
are using the internet to diagnose illnesses instead of going to the doctor.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=11213900
Slash sugar intake, says WHO
The daily allowance for a person's sugar intake
should be halved to six teaspoons, the World Health Organisation said
yesterday.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11215343
Alarm bells for flabby farmers
New Zealand's dairy farmers
once bulked out the All Blacks' forward pack or nipped around their opponents
in the back line.
They were the cream of the
country's physical crop and the envy of lesser beings living in town. But in
the modern world a different picture is emerging.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/9800592/Alarm-bells-for-flabby-farmers
Four restrained after taking new, dangerous
drug
Four men had to be restrained at a party in
Christchurch after taking a new and dangerous drug with the nickname N-Bomb.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11216785
International media
Should New York allow nurse practitioners to
break free from doctors? (video)
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Nurse practitioners and doctors are waging
a turf war in New York at a time when there's not enough doctors to take care
of the growing number of patients getting health coverage through Obamacare.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/ny_nurse_practitioners_seek_more_independence_amid_growing_doctor_shortage.html
Should nurse practitioners break free from
physicians? The rest of the story (Commentary)
I was very concerned to read "Should New York allow nurse practitioners to break free from doctors?", which portrays of a "turf war"
between nurse practitioners and doctors.
http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/should_nurse_practitioners_break_free_from_physicians_the_rest_of_the_story_comm.html
Why nurse practitioners want more freedom
Syracuse, N.Y. -- There are more than 16,000 nurse
practitioners in New York - 1,131 of them in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and
Madison counties.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/most_central_new_york_nurse_practitioners_work_in_doctors_practices_hospitals_an.html
Nurses Can Perform Colonoscopies As Well As
Docs
Colonoscopy quality and
safety are comparable for nurse and physician endoscopy trainees, according to
a study published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and
Hepatology.
http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/44941
Fla.
bill addresses low nursing school test scores
TALLAHASSEE
-- Plummeting test scores among Florida nursing school graduates has
prompted some legislators to propose a bill that would tighten the
qualifications for nursing programs.
The drop in
test scores has been linked to bills passed in 2009 and 2010 that permitted
trade schools and colleges to open nursing programs without approval of the
state’s Board of Nursing. Those bills, sponsored by Sen. Denise Grimsley, were
seen as a way to deal with a statewide nursing shortage and usurped the power
of the 13-member board, which for years was charged with the review and
approval of nursing programs.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/05/3975767/fla-bill-addresses-low-nursing.html
Government
announces apprentice plan to boost nursing careers
Healthcare assistants already working in
hospitals will be able to skip the traditional degree route and train on the
job to become a nurse under a new initiative, it has been announced.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5068601.article?referrer=e1
Minimum staffing levels for nurses?
AMs have
allowed plans for a law requiring minimum staffing levels for nurses in Welsh
hospitals to be brought forward for closer scrutiny.
Welsh Liberal
Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said the legislation could "revolutionise
healthcare" in Wales.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/wales-26369504
Health and wellness
Positive health technique for
stressed nurses found
Within the health care industry and beyond, daily exposure to
stress can lead to negative consequences for employees both on and off the job
– from apathy and burnout to physical illness or mental impairments. New
research suggests the implementation of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
(MBSR) program can reduce employee stress and burnout. In the study, a sample
of 41 female nurses from a large healthcare company participated in an 8 week
scheduled course of guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices,
facilitated group discussion, stretching and yoga, work and home assignments,
and individually tailored instruction and support. Results showed
statistical improvement in both overall health and wellness of the nurses at
each point of intervention.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140303103746.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fliving_well+%28Living+Well+News+--+ScienceDaily%29
Full
article at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15555240.2013.779518
Coping with stress: can mindfulness help?
Dealing with
human suffering and an exhausting schedule often leaves many development
workers burnt out. This simple meditation technique could help
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/mar/06/mindfulness-prevent-stress-burnout
Articles of interest
Comparing nursing handover and
documentation: forming one set of patient information
Aim
The aim of this study was
to explore the potential for one set of patient information for nursing
handover and documentation.
Background
Communication of patient
information requires two processes in nursing: a verbal summary of the
patients' care and another report within the nursing notes, creating
duplication.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/inr.12072/pdf
A literature review of the Dutch debate
on the nurse practitioner role: efficiency vs. professional development
To explore the debate on
the development of the nurse practitioner profession in the Netherlands.
Background
In the Netherlands, the
positives and negatives of nurse practitioners working in the medical domain
have been debated since the role was introduced in 1997. The outcome of the
debate is crucial for nurse practitioners' professional development and society's
justification of their tasks.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/inr.12071/pdf
Improving access to
the Work and Income Disability Allowance for food
Wellington Regional Public Health have recently released a
discussion paper on 'Work and Income Disability Allowance (for food) -
opportunities to improve access'.
The Work and Income Disability Allowance can provide an
important source of additional income to support people on low income to access
healthier foods. Regional Public Health has identified a number of
barriers to accessing this allowance which are outlined in this paper.
http://www.rph.org.nz/content/0a5ebf9f-15b3-45b0-ba41-f715da9ba6f7.cmr
From the Ministry of
Health
Regional results from the
2011-2013 New Zealand Health Survey
Overview
These data tables give
regional estimates for 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) and 12 Public Health
Units (PHUs) for both adults and children. Where available, time trends from
2006/07 are also presented allowing comparisons to be made over time.
These regional results are
based on data from the 2011/12 and 2012/13 New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS).
By pooling two years of data the Ministry of Health has been able to
provide results for all DHBs in New Zealand, however the sample size for some
of the smaller DHBs remains relatively small. This can mean the results for
smaller DHBs have a large margin of error (95% confidence interval) and need to
be used with caution. For example, the results for the West Coast DHB are based
on survey responses from around 400 adults and 100 children. Furthermore, when
looking at the “Results by Indicator” table, the prevalence of hazardous
drinking in the Wairarapa DHB for example is estimated to be 16.2%, with a 95%
confidence interval of 10.8% to 22.8%. A wide confidence interval like this
suggests that the result should be taken as indicative.
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/regional-results-2011-2013-new-zealand-health-survey
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 11 March 2014
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