From NZ media this week
Honours-and-accolades-for-bays-residents
Dr Margaret Horsburgh
Dr Margaret Horsburgh has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to health.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/5114004/Honours-and-accolades-for-bays-residents
Funding-recommendation-for-medical-trials
A parliamentary inquiry has recommended specific funding for medical trials and a streamlined ethics process in order to increase the value of such trials to the economy.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5115116/Funding-recommendation-for-medical-trials
Diploma opens opportunities in health care
An enrolled nursing diploma qualification will start at Whanganui Ucol for the first time on August 1.
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/local/news/diploma-opens-opportunities-in-health-care/3954996/
Consumer NZ: Be careful what you say to GP
Consumer Magazine is advising people to be careful what they say to their GP after one man was refused cover for mental illness.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731124&ref=nzwchron
First Telehealth pilot reports back
Telehealth monitors could be an exciting new tool in the nursing toolbox, says nurse Josephine Davis-Wheaton, following the country’s first pilot of telehealth technology.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=News&idArticle=21150
Emergency-staff-sick-of-abusive-drunks
A deluge of abusive drunks is straining Wellington Hospital's emergency department and demoralising staff to such an extent that at least one doctor considering leaving her job.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/5124928/Emergency-staff-sick-of-abusive-drunks
Shocking world of our student drunks
Nearly a third of university drinkers have passed out while boozing in the past six months - and many say vomiting does not stop them continuing a binge.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731303
Nurse's affair with patient's husband
A nurse who had an affair with the husband of a severely disabled patient has escaped suspension.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731589
Career-risk-warning-for-nurses-over-affairs
Nurses have been warned not to enter into sexual relationships with the spouse or partner of a patient unless they are prepared to give up their nursing career. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/5130033/Career-risk-warning-for-nurses-over-affairs
Suicide Prevention Group Calls for Royal Commission
CASPER (Community Action on Suicide Prevention Education & Research) is renewing its calls for a Royal Commission into youth suicide in New Zealand. New Zealand has the highest rate of youth suicide in the OECD, twice the rate of the US and Australia
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1106/S00050/suicide-prevention-group-calls-for-royal-commission.htm
Appointment of Chief Medical Officer
From Kevin Woods, Director-General of Health I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Don Mackie as the Ministry of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, and head of the Ministry’s recently established Clinical Leadership, Protection and Regulation Business Unit - CLPR.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1106/S00045/appointment-of-chief-medical-officer.htm
District nurses can meet future health challenges
New Zealand’s 1400 strong district nursing workforce has an extensive range of qualifications and skills, has adapted well to changes in the health system and is well placed to meet the challenges facing the health sector in the future, according to just released Ministry of Health-supported researc...
http://bit.ly/j6BVfj
Pharmac-The-politics-of-playing-god
As New Zealand enters free-trade negotiations involving the United States, our drug-buying agency, Pharmac, is in the gun. The US wants major reforms to Pharmac's drug-buying monopoly. Nikki Macdonald investigates what Pharmac does and the potentially life-and-death decisions it makes.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/features/5131037/Pharmac-The-politics-of-playing-god
From international media sources
Advanced Practice Nurses Can Help Lead Transitional Care
A review of existing transitional health programs found "a robust body of evidence" that they improve health outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions. The paper, which appears in Health Affairs, also said that nurses, often with advanced degrees, are key players in that success. "All nine interventions that showed any positive impact on readmissions relied on nurses as the clinical leader of manager care," wrote Mary Naylor, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20110601/NATIONAL02/106060020/-1/frontpage
NMC to bring education quality monitoring 'in house'
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has announced that a contract with a consultancy firm to monitor the quality of nursing and midwifery programmes will not be renewed.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5030743.article?referrer=e10
With nurse shortage looming, America needs shot in the arm
The bad economy temporarily dampened the nurse shortage during the past few years, but schools say they are having trouble training enough students to fill a projected shortage as the health care law expands access to care, baby boomers age and older professionals retire. Robert Rosseter of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing says there are plenty of students who are qualified and want to become nurses, but schools lack the faculty to teach them.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/6/with-nurse-shortage-looming-america-needs-shot-in-/
Nurse Training for Recognizing Domestic Violence Needed
Tina Bloom, a nursing educator at the University of Missouri, wrote in the Western Journal of Nursing Research that health care providers should learn how to recognize signs of domestic violence and refer victims to community resources. "Health care providers are not well trained to routinely screen or recognize the signs of domestic violence. ... We need to engage with current students, our future health care providers, to bring this issue to the forefront," Bloom said
http://news.nurse.com/article/20110608/NATIONAL02/106200005/-1/frontpage
Are Frontline Nurses Prepared For Alcohol-related Cases?Nurses are often on the frontline when patients are brought into hospital with alcohol-related illnesses or injuries but how prepared are they for dealing with cases of this kind?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/227635.php
Adverse events less likely with patients involved in self-care
Patients have a more favourable impression of their care and are less likely to suffer an adverse incident if they are involved in their care, a study has found.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5030979.article?referrer=e1
London nursing entry requirments not linked to course quality
Entry requirements for adult nursing courses in London appear to bear little relation to their quality, according to the latest performance ratings.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5030651.article?referrer=e1
Investing in primary care nurses improves practice clinical quality
GP practices that employ more nurses and invest strongly in their training and education tend to provide better care, according to analysis of data exclusively shared with Nursing Times.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5030688.article?referrer=e1
ANA voices concern over analysis of nurse labor costs
Hospitals spend an average of $98,000 annually for direct-care registered nurses, including $55,739 for base wages, according to a study by KPMG. The study found that 76% to 78% of nurses' total labor costs go to wages and payroll. The ANA, however, said the study sample size was small, the salary information didn't reflect current data, and the analysis didn't account for the relationship between nurse labor costs and how the hospitals benefit from them.
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/hospital-labor-study-reveals-hidden-costs-nurses/2011-06-09
Drinks-firm-midwife-training-alcohol
Scheme aims to help one million expectant mothers but the public-private initiative has been criticised as a conflict of interest http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/12/drinks-firm-midwife-training-alcohol
Nurses Continue to Delay Retirement
Many factors are prompting nurses to delay their retirement, including financial concerns and the creation of jobs for veteran nurses, experts say. Some said that delayed retirement can make it difficult for new nursing graduates to land a job, but others highlight the benefits of retaining experienced nurses who can act as mentors
http://www.nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/more-news/Nurses-Continue-to-Delay-Retirement_37086.aspx
Public health
Eighteen-cases-of-measles-in-Hawkes-bay-since-March
Eighteen cases of measles in Hawke’s Bay, since March, has prompted health officials to urge parents to check their children are fully immunised
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1106/S00031/eighteen-cases-of-measles-in-hawkes-bay-since-march.htm
Coerced Vaccination "Unacceptable"
The situation in West Auckland, where approximately 100 children have been barred from attending Oratia School because they have not been vaccinated against measles is symptomatic of what happens when public health policies are highjacked by corporate interests, says Katherine Smith. Smith is the spokeswoman for the group "No Forced Vaccines" set up to oppose coerced or forced vaccinations.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1106/S00047/coerced-vaccination-unacceptable.htm
Response to "No Forced Vaccines" press release
Monday, 13 June 2011, 2:25 pm
Press Release: Immunisation Advisory Centre
‘No Forced Vaccines’ media release (Friday, 10 June 2011) perpetuates a number of anti-vaccination myths, potentially putting more children’s lives at risk and increasing the burden on our already stretched health system.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1106/S00048/response-to-no-forced-vaccines-press-release.htm
Measles outbreak highlights importance of immunisation
News of a measles outbreak in Auckland has prompted Plunket to restate the importance of immunisation.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1106/S00046/measles-outbreak-highlights-importance-of-immunisation.htm
The return of measles: Where did we go wrong?
Welcome to the 1960s. Not in a cool, retro way but in the “how have we failed so miserably to make progress?” way.
Measles is back.
In recent weeks, there have been more than 250 cases of the dreadful childhood disease in Quebec. The outbreak was sparked by vacationers returning from France, which is in the midst of a measles epidemic, as is Britain.
http://bit.ly/jRBxWW
Whooping-cough-immunisation-plea-by-health-authority
MidCentral Health is urging parents to immunise their children against whooping cough. Manawatu has had seven cases of whooping cough this year, including one case in May. Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is spread by coughing. Manawatu has 1 to 2 cases of the disease each month
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/5113826/Whooping-cough-immunisation-plea-by-health-authority
Bowel cancer's alarming rise in young people
Ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Week, oncologists are warning that young people are developing bowel cancer at alarming rates.
http://www.mindfood.com/at-bowel-cancers-alarming-rise-in-young-people.seo
Health and wellness
Rough Nights: The growing dangers of working at night
Source: Young Foundation (UK)This report explores the lives of those people who work at night: the men and women who keep our hospitals open, clean our offices, allow us to cancel lost credit cards, serve us drinks in a club or drive us home afterwards. It tells their stories. Who are they? What jobs do they do? Why do they work at night? How does night work affect them? What impact does it have on their social and family lives?Night work is ...
<snip>http://web.docuticker.com/go/docubase/64304
From the Ministry of Health
Community Cancer Support Services Pilot Project EvaluationDate of publication (online): 31 May 2011Summary of publication
In 2008, the Ministry of Health commissioned Health Outcomes International to evaluate three community cancer support pilots. The pilot projects aimed at reducing inequalities in cancer access and outcomes for Māori and people living in rural areas, and were provided by:http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/community-cancer-support-pilot-evaluation
Reports online
Job Prospects Good for Well-Educated Nurses, Survey Shows
Most nursing students with bachelor's and master's degrees landed first job within six months of graduation last year, and signs suggest pattern will hold this year.
http://www.rwjf.org/humancapital/product.jsp?id=72431
Website of interest
The New Zealand Occupational Health Nurses Association is the professional body for Occupational Health Nurses in New Zealand. Our purpose is to promote and assist professional development and to encourage Occupational Health Nurses to meet competency-based goals required by the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
http://www.nzohna.org.nz/page.php?id=105
Conferences and hui
ICN Telenursing Network Members:
Call for Papers related to the AFRIHealth 2011 event which will take place in Nairobi (Kenya) on 30 November to 1 December 2011.
Call for Papers deadline is 31 July 2011.
For more details go to:
http://www.aitecafrica.com/event/view/74
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