Welcome to the College of Nurses Aotearoa News Update.
No. 507 Wednesday 12 August 2020
Weekly news round-up of nursing and health information in New Zealand and internationally
NATIONAL NEWS
30 new Northland nurses ready for work after NorthTec course graduation
NorthTec's Te Puna o Te Matauranga Marae hosted another celebration of success last week when 30 nursing students celebrated the end of their study ...
International Year of the Nurse and Midwife: Lucy Laird - Hawkes's Bay DHB
She had no idea how much she would love it. She puts a lot of that down to the supportive training environments provided by both EIT and Hawke’s Bay Hospital.
Top retirement home nurse honoured by award
Cassie Scaife had a wide smile as she absorbed the news that she had been named Ryman Healthcare’s nurse of the year.
'Treasured' Dunedin nurse in ICU after collapse
A Dunedin intensive care nurse is fighting for her life in that very unit after collapsing at 32 weeks pregnant. Teresa Sevilla was working a night shift at ...
The untold story of an Army nurse who risked his life to save others at the Battle of Baghak: 'There was a firefight going on around me'
In the dark of an Afghanistan night, the crescent moon casting a sliver of light on the mountains outside, Captain David Foote sat in his room in a military base trying to think of the right words to say.
Aged care nurses present petition asking for more funding
Dr Frances Hughes, chair of the New Zealand Aged Care Association Nursing Leadership Group, said that nurses in aged care look after the most ... Read more
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The world needs 6 million new nurses by 2030
The world needs to act now to avoid a nursing shortage.
That's the message from a World Health Organization (WHO) report which says that nearly 6 million more nurses will be needed by 2030 to deliver the higher standards of healthcare needed once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
Victorian nurse practitioner prescribing rights changed
Victorian nurse practitioners (NPs) will now be authorised to obtain, use, sell or supply (prescribe) any Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 medicines in the lawful practice of their profession (within the scope of practice) following changes approved by the state government.
Nova Scotia expands education incentive program for nurse practitioners
Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union, said the announcement was great news for rural areas. “It's also in line with our 2019 ...
Nurses urged to share research findings on care of patients with Covid-19
The move is part of ongoing efforts by England's chief nursing officer Ruth May to develop and raise awareness of nurse-led research. Deputy CNO for ...
CANCER
Stomach cancer gene testing guidelines for Māori will save lives - survivors
Whānau who suffer from a rare genetic mutation that leads to stomach cancer have said new international guidelines making it easier for Māori to get tested will save hundreds of lives.
Cancer patients going without potentially life-saving treatment
Some New Zealand cancer patients are going without potentially life-saving treatment because of rising Covid-19 cases in Melbourne.
Funding for self-screening cervical cancer test delayed again
The roll-out of a cervical cancer test women can do themselves has been delayed again, with doctors saying women will die unnecessarily as a result.
COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS
Covid-19: New cases push New Zealand into resurgence plan
There have been four positive cases of Covid-19 outside of managed isolation or quarantine, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
Coronavirus Covid-19: Call for 'mask days' and outbreak drills
Experts have called for New Zealand to urgently test itself against simulated community outbreaks of Covid-19 – and even run regional-level "mask days" – to better prepare the country against a Melbourne-like disaster.
Covid-19 coronavirus: Make sure you have masks at home for use at level 2 - Chris Hipkins
Households should add masks to their emergency supply kits in the case of further Covid-19 outbreak, Health Minister Chris Hipkins says.
Covid-19 community transmission is inevitable, Ashley Bloomfield says
The Director-General of Health says community transmission of Covid-19 in the country is inevitable and people should not be complacent about keeping a record of where they've been.
Coronavirus Covid-19: How NZ's tracers crushed viral spread by more than a third
New Zealand's Covid-19 tracing system could be much more effective if officials were able to isolate "close contacts" within at least four days of the person who infected them being quarantined.
Taranaki public health unit looking to cater for 12 Covid-19 cases a day
Taranaki’s Public Health Unit is gearing up to be able to handle 12 new Covid-19 cases a day in the region, as health officials believe the worst of the pandemic is yet to come.
Coronavirus: Blood service receives $11m boost to aid in Covid-19 recovery
The New Zealand Blood Service has received close to $11 million in Government funding to shore up continued supply of blood and plasma.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Should a vaccine be compulsory - and what would this mean for anti-vaxxers?
With Covid-19 vaccine developers reporting promising results, it is probable we will one day face a major public health question: can the government compel New Zealanders to be vaccinated?
Government to trial CovidCard technology in Rotorua
The government is going to trial CovidCard technology in Rotorua before making any further decisions about rolling them out nationally.
Coronavirus: Be prepared to wear a mask if needed, health minister says
The Government is urging people to add face masks to their household emergency kits, in case there’s further community transmission of Covid-19.
Coronavirus: New research reveals how Covid-19 came to New Zealand
Kiwi scientists tracking the origins of Covid-19 in New Zealand found most cases leading to infections came from North America, rather than Asia, where the virus first emerged.
DHBs
Canterbury gets keys to new hospital, now the moving begins
After more than a decade in planning and construction the largest hospital building in New Zealand is finally in the hands of Canterbury’s health authority.
Canterbury DHB chair tells staff not to worry about executive team resignations
The chair of Canterbury’s troubled health board has told staff services will not be cut in the drive to reduce their deficit.
Ignored once, Christchurch Hospital leaders again take their concerns to the prime minister
Senior Canterbury health leaders have expressed disappointment in the Prime Minister for failing to respond to their warning of a possible catastrophic health system breakdown.
Middlemore Hospital’s $67.5m mental health unit nears completion
The final stage of Middlemore Hospital's new $67.5 million mental health unit is expected to be completed this month and according to a Counties Manukau District Health Board report it will set the benchmark for similar facilities in New Zealand.
Waikato Hospital ED full, non-urgent patients told to go elsewhere
Non-urgent patients are being advised to stay away from Waikato Hospital in Hamilton as it experiences very high demand.
Government rules out interim payouts for health staff owed due to payroll errors
The government has put the kibosh on hopes hospital workers owed three quarters of a billion dollars could get an interim payout early.
EDUCATION
Voluntary Bonding Scheme 2021 Intake adds Professions and Locations
The Ministry of Health welcomes the addition of new professions to next year’s Voluntary Bonding Scheme.
The scheme is offered every year to encourage newly qualified health professionals to work in the communities and specialties that need them most.
HEALTH SYSTEM
Problems with Pasifika accessing health services rife
A leading Pacific health expert says problems with accessing health services are rife at all levels. It comes after a coroner found a doctor failed to realise two-year-old Hineihana Mausii was critically ill.
PHARMACY
Cannabinoids may alter the effects of some prescription drugs
Cannabinoid-containing products may alter the effects of some prescription drugs, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. They published information that could help medical professionals make safe prescribing choices for their patients who use prescription, over-the-counter or illicit cannabinoid products.
REFERENDUM 2020
End of Life Choice Act: Who is eligible, who makes the decisions?
At this year's general election, the public will also be asked to cast a referendum vote on the End of Life Choice Act 2019.
GENERAL REPORTS
Excess Weight and COVID-19 : Insights from new evidence
This report brings together findings from UK and international studies published during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. It offers information about excess weight and its association with Covid-19 for the following outcomes: laboratory confirmation; hospitalisation; admission to intensive or critical care and treatment; and risk of mortality. The report offers some important insights into the prevalence, causes and risks of being overweight, and also includes information regarding food and drink purchases and physical activity during the lockdown. It is intended to provide insights for policy-makers and those in health marketing.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Emergency Preparedness Competencies Among Nurses,
McNeill, Charleen … et al
JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration: 7/8 2020 - Volume 50 - Issue 7/8 - p 407-413 doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000908
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine current levels of self-reported professional emergency preparedness competence among nurses. In addition, relationships between nurse professional emergency preparedness competence, personal preparation for a disaster, and perceived likelihood of reporting to work after a disaster are examined.
Riding an elephant: A qualitative study of nurses' moral journeys in the context of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
Pesut, B, Thorne, S, Storch, J, Chambaere, K, Greig, M, Burgess, M.
J Clin Nurs. 2020; 00: 1– 12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15427
Nurses perform important roles in Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada and do so within a unique context in which Medical Assistance in Dying is provided through healthcare services and where accessibility is an important principle. International literature indicates that participating in Medical Assistance in Dying can be deeply impactful for nurses and requires a high degree of moral sense‐making.
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 of August 11 2020
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