Primary Health Nursing Network

The Primary Health Nursing Network is one forum where a range of primary health nurses can share their expertise and thoughts with colleagues from around the country. A key purpose of the network is to share information and stimulate discussion, and to provide a source of expertise for commenting on submissions and relevant professional issues.

► Primary Health Nursing an Update
Background reading

► Primary Health Network
History of the this Network

This Network is facilitated by Angela Bates

Qualification:
RN RM RHV BA (Hons) MA, Msc

Angela is currently employed in Wellington as Primary Health Care Nurse Specialist working in a variety of settings. She believes that every individual has the right to high quality care regardless of their situation or where they live.
She is passionate about reducing inequalities in health and improving access to health care for vulnerable populations.
In February 2010 Angela has as well been elected to the ► Board of the College.

If you would like to be a participant of the Primary Health Nursing Network, please make yourself known to Angela Bates E-mail: ► angelabates@xtra.co.nz

Further Reading

May 2010
► Pinnacle General Practice Workfoce Report
Pinnacle General Practice workforce report will be of particular interest to those working in General Practice.

April 2010
► Practice Nurse cost benefit analysis: Report to the Ministry of Health (PDF1.2mb))
This report is an interesting document which looks at the financial benefits of PHO and general practices employing nurses.It is prepared by LECG a global expert service firm.

Oct 2009
The Journal of Primary Health Care has many relevant papers with growing numbers written by nurses. For example in Sept issue http://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/jphc-september-2009/:

► What makes Care Plus effective in a provincial Primary Health Organisation? Perceptions of primary care workers
Kyle Eggleton, Tim Kenealy

► Barriers to accessing specialist care for older people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rural New Zealand
Michelle Hopley, Margaret Horsburgh, Kathy Peri

► Cardiovascular risk assessment: Audit findings from a nurse clinic—a quality improvement initiative
Sarah Waldron, Margaret Horsburgh

► Why don’t patients with diagnosed diabetes attend a free ‘Get Checked’ annual review?
Tesa Porter, Clem Le Lièvre, Ross Lawrenson

November 2007
► Primary Healthcare Update
An update on the ongoing processes related to revising the recommendations of Investing in Health (Moh, 2003) and the re-establishment of the Primary Health Care Nursing Expert Advisory Group to the Ministry of Health.

September 2007
► Investing in Health 2007
An update on the 2003 Ministry of Health document ►

August 2007
► Primary Healthcare Group Update
Brief report on the ongoing processes related to revising the recommendations of Investing in Health (Moh, 2003)

August 2007
► Primary Health Nursing in an Ideal World
Information management is critical in this day and age of rapidly multiplying information.  However, actions resulting from haphazard utilisation of information can erode the trust of individuals who depend on this system to provide primary health care.  In this situation a nurse skilled in informatics would be able to prevent such programming errors.

August 2007
► Report on Investing in Health
An update on the recommendation of the 2003 MoH document. On 6 March 2007, a strategy group comprising representatives from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and the College of Nurses Aotearoa met to review the recommendations. From this workshop, the group then developed the draft document Investing in Health.. The document was released for consultation and a total of 81 submissions were received on the revised recommendations.

July 2007
From Learning into Practice: A Reflective Process
This session focused on family violence, in particular the welfare of children and their families.  The session was presented in a non-judgemental way that showed a real passion and concern for not only children and young people, but also their families. 

July 2007
► Audit report of the NZ Diabetes "Get Checked Program" (PDF 1MB)
The “Get Checked” programme gives people diagnosed with diabetes access to free annual health checks. These checks ensure that key tests (which assist in identifying diabetes complications early) have been completed for the year and treatment can be planned for the year ahead. The data collected from the programme is also important for providing care and for planning diabetes services.

March 2007
► Expert Advisory Group on Primary Health Care Nursing
Comparative listing of different recommendations

March 2007
► Investing in Health - Update on a Workshop
The purpose of the workshop was to come together to formulate a strategic plan. Jenny Carryer, Executive Director of the College and Chiquita Hansen, Chairperson PHC Nurses Council NZNO co-facilitated this workshop. The MOH was represented and have demonstrated commitment to this work.

April 2006
► Leading for Outcomes - A Framework for Holistic Care - Mark Jones & Richard McLachlan
By and large, nurses have based their practice on principles which acknowledge the importance of considering the needs of a recipient of their care in the context of their place in society. The so-called 'social determinants of health' extend to cover not only the situation of an individual as single citizen, but to their situation in a family and community, and so far as the effects of employment and environment might have on health and well-being. Maori philosophy in particular reminds us of the significance of Whanau and the relationship between mind, body, and spirit in the maintenance of a healthy disposition. Much of this is encapsulated in the notion of 'holistic' nursing care.

Novemeber 2005
► The Problem with Needs Based Health Policy - Dr Denise Wilson
The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Helen Clark, has indicated that the next term will be about 'smart' policies, the exact nature of these policies and their influence on health is yet to be determined. It is, however, worth examining the 'needs based' versus 'race based' dialogue that emerged on the political landscape pre-election.

July 2005
► Report as Member of the Primary Health Care Strategy and PHO Implementation Taskforce
The Taskforce has been working on developing a picture of primary health care in 2010 as an internal working document which can be shared with the organisations represented on the Taskforce. In this context the document serves only to identify major issues and scenarios needing wider discussion and deliberation before such advice can be given.

2005
► The primary health strategy: Time for a stock take.
All New Zealanders are theoretically enrolled in a PHO or at least have had the opportunity to do so. So where .

2005
► School Nurses and Primary Health Care
The Primary Health Care Strategy has provided an opportunity for nurses to seek new ways to provide best practice to the communities in which they work. One such area is in the delivery of adolescent health care and this is particularly relevant to school nurses.

2004
► Infection Control & Prevention
Recent changes in the healthcare sector have resulted in a more effective framework for infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities. However, this brings with it a number of challenges including resourcing and capacity of the current workforce.

2004
► National Clinical Action Plan for Emerging Infectious Diseases
January 2004 saw the Ministry of Health release a discussion document on the National Clinical Action Plan for Emerging Infectious Diseases. The following outlines the responsibilities, for the health sector, to deal with infections that are highly contagious.

2004
► Primary Health Care Nursing Expert Advisory Group
This information is provided for all primary health nurses and any others who may not be familiar with the existence and work of the nursing expert advisory group to the Ministry of Health.

2003
► Practice Nursing - A PHO Salaried Model
The introduction of PHOs has seen the enhancement and development of the practice nursing (PN) roll with the introduction of capitation and new projects under SIA, Health Promotion and Care Plus. Primary care is now seen as a more attractive career path for nurses wanting to work to improve the health status of their enrolled populations.

2001
► The Nursing Answer to Inequalities in Primary Health Care
The key goal of this primary health care nursing strategy is to provide the platform for an efficient and equitable delivery of primary health care nursing in community settings. Mindful of the need for a cost effective and well co-ordinated service, nurses working in this sector often experience a sense of frustration when their patients have unmet or poorly met needs.