Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 96 – 28 March 2012
From NZ media this week
Nurse's care not adequate - report
A rest home nurse failed to adequately assess a "seriously unwell" man hours before he died, it has been found.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6640595/Nurses-care-not-adequate-report
Axe tobacco, ban cigarette exports: health professor
New Zealand should be phasing out tobacco, and cigarette exports should be banned not increased, a public health professor says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10794909
Pacific Suicide Risk Twice As High
Pacific young people are approximately twice as likely to have depression, anxiety issues, or to make suicide attempts as the rest of the population
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1203/S00133/pacific-suicide-risk-twice-as-high.htm
Back to the future: a modern apprenticeship?
Taranaki’s radical new nursing degree sees first year students into hands-on practice from just week two of training. Nursing Review finds out more.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=Research+%26+Policy&idArticle=23339
Nurses reject mandatory reporting
Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse has been rejected by nursing organisations responding to the government’s Green Paper for Vulnerable Children.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=News+Feed&idArticle=23241
Online e-cohort nurses survey funds run out
A lack of funding has seen the longitudinal e-cohort survey of New Zealand and Australian nurses come to a halt after only five years.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=News&idArticle=23331
Canterbury health staff owed 528 years of leave
Canterbury health staff are owed 528 years off work.A report presented to the hospital advisory committee yesterday showed Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) staff are owed 1,099,936 hours of leave.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6648767/Canterbury-health-staff-owed-528-years-of-leave
Health centre accredited
The health centre at Milburn's prison has joined other primary health care practices in the country in meeting the standards set for New Zealand general practice.
http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/milton/202990/health-centre-accredited
NZ health policy questioned
The widening health gap between New Zealand's rich and poor has been highlighted in leading international medical journal The Lancet - and has been labelled by health professionals as a "sad indictment of the powerful".
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10794083
Rheumatic Fever Rates ‘Causes Of Causes’ Must Be AddressedPublic Health Association media release 19 March 2012The Public Health Association (PHA) says a new report revealing young Maori are 23 times more likely to suffer acute rheumatic fever than non-Maori lends weight to the Prime Minister’s calls to address rheumatic fever rates in New Zealand. But it also shows government must take action to fix what the World Health Organization calls ‘causes of the causes’ of health problems.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1203/S00085/rheumatic-fever-rates-causes-of-causes-must-be-addressed.htm
New Māori child and youth health report reinforces no room for complacency when addressing Māori child and youth health
Media release from New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service
New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service
Monday 19 March 2012, 2:48PM Media release from New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service
The inaugural report in the Te Ohonga Ake Series
The Health of Māori Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities in New Zealand will be launched on Monday March 19 at 1pm at the School of Population Health in Auckland The Health of Maori Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities in New Zealand is the first in a series of reports on the health of Maori children and young people commissioned by the Ministry of Health and produced by the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service.
http://bit.ly/GOLoNT
Lancet Editorial: Social determinants of health and outcomes in New Zealand
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60444-9/fulltext
The Lancet, Volume 379, Issue 9821, Page 1075, 24 March 2012
In this issue of The Lancet, Michael Baker and colleagues analyse more than 5 million hospital admissions in New Zealand for infectious diseases. Two messages stand out. First, hospitalisations ascribed to infection have risen in both absolute terms (by more than 25 000 per year) and as a proportion of overall acute admissions (from 20•5% in 1989—93 to 26•6% in 2004—08).
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1203/S00236/lancet-social-determinants-of-health-and-outcomes-in-nz.htm
Students claim WIE misled them
Joni Cheng was almost in tears as she expressed the stress, frustration and fear
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/6549122/Students-claim-WIE-misled-them
Co-ordination key to chronic care
New Zealand still has time to avoid America's problems with poorly co-ordinated and "mediocre" healthcare for chronically ill patients, visiting professor Chad Boult says.
http://www.odt.co.nz/campus/university-otago/202726/co-ordination-key-chronic-care
Home-service-helps-patients-recover
Colleen Briggs says being cared for in her own home meant she "didn't have to waste people's time in hospital". The 76-year-old is among hundreds of Christchurch residents who are being referred to a home healthcare programme.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6623117/Home-service-helps-patients-recover
Long work hours linked to alcohol risk for nurses and midwives
It is well known that nurses and midwives work schedules are often irregular and involve shifts, now new research from the University of Otago, Christchurch in association with the University of Queensland has also shown that long hours and harmful alcohol use are linked.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1203/S00069/long-work-hours-linked-to-alcohol-risk-for-nurses-midwives.htm
Harmful drinking patterns are showing up in nurses' surveys
Long hours and shiftwork are driving nurses and midwives to the drink, new research claims.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/6591095/Harmful-drinking-patterns-are-showing-up-in-nurses-surveys
International media
2000 new nurses for NSW
About 2000 new nurses and midwives have been hired to work in NSW hospitals, the state government says.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/8441198/2000-new-nurses-for-nsw
Fiji working hour changes ‘concerning’
A Fiji pilot to replace a 40 hour week with three 12-hour shifts is concerning Fijian nurses who fear nursing care will be compromised, says former nurse leader Kuini Lutua.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=News&idArticle=23325
International Nurse Colleagues Speak
Global Nurses Respond to Our New Year Survey
At the start of this year, we invited Medscape nurses to participate in an online survey. We asked about the most important issues in nursing from the past year, and about their hopes for the nursing profession in 2012. More than 20,000 nurses from 144 different countries around the world responded to the survey. In this slideshow, we highlight the responses from nurses in countries outside of the United States.
http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/nurse-speak
Calif. court rules nurses can give anesthetics
Nurses who are trained as anesthetists do not need a doctor's supervision to give anesthetics to California hospital patients, a state appeals court has ruled.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/17/BA8J1NM636.DTL#ixzz1qCWQzcdw
Thomas Jefferson nurses take part in heart failure health literacy program
For the next three months, more than 180 nurses and healthcare professionals from Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals who care for patients with heart failure will participate in the Health Literacy and Heart Failure Teach-back Program
http://news.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012103190015
Special nurses guide seniors through ERs
WINDSOR, Ont. -- As Windsor’s population grows older and its emergency rooms get busier, specially trained nurses in area hospitals are ensuring seniors get the right kind of care and, perhaps, help them avoid a hospital stay altogether.
Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Special+nurses+guide+seniors+through/6321790/story.html#ixzz1qCU4teLQ
Nursing programs: Many pupils, limited faculty
Instructing pays less than nursing jobs
Amanda Smith knows about nursing education in San Angelo from the front lines.She earned her licensed vocational nursing credentials from Howard College San Angelo and plans to graduate in May from Angelo State University with an associate degree. She will be able to take the credentialing exam to become a registered nurse.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/mar/10/nursing-programs-many-pupils-limited-faculty/
Students like individual attention in BSN program
Nursing students in a new BSN program say the size is right. “It’s more one-on-one with professors,” Antoinette Russaw, a student at National American University said. “It’s a smaller classroom setting versus a (large) university. I love it. Professors know me more.”
http://bit.ly/HcysfH
Patient care 'will suffer' under plans to throw out migrant nurses
Government's own assessment predicts 48% of non-EU nurses will be excluded from Britain under new rules
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/25/migrant-nurses-nhs
Older patients let down by shortage of nurses, says Royal College of Nursing
Low ratio of staff to patients means nurses often do not have time to look after elderly patients properly, RCN warns
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/20/older-patients-shortage-nurses-rcn
Nursing numbers a third lower on elderly wards
Hospital wards caring for elderly patients have up to a third fewer nurses working on them than other wards, research suggests.
http://ind.pn/GzxNWE
Public health
World watches as NZ starts flu immunisation campaign
New Zealand’s national free influenza immunisation campaign was officially launched in Wellington today by the National Influenza Specialist Group (NISG) 1.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1203/S00058/world-watches-as-nz-starts-flu-immunisation-campaign.htm
Mental illness on rise in children
Increasing numbers of young children are being medicated for anxiety and depression, with mental health providers saying the problem has gone beyond common moodiness.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6635790/Mental-illness-on-rise-in-children
Recession's big role in mental-health spike
The number of children and teenagers presenting with mental illnesses has increased by as much as 15 per cent in Waikato in the past three years, but experts say the statistics do not tell the full story
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6630173/Recessions-big-role-in-mental-health-spike
Health and wellness
More Employers Helping Nurses Pursue Work–life Balance
You are not alone. Many people are constantly trying to balance so many responsibilities that they can’t seem to keep up with everything
http://bit.ly/H5KA5f
Treat your feet
People often start to appreciate their feet once something goes wrong.Nursing Review talks to AUT podiatry professor Keith Rome about foot health and how good footwear maintains it.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=Features&idArticle=23353
Stress-proofing yourself
Annette Milligan, a nurse entrepreneur who has run stress management courses and seminars for 24 years, shares some of her top stress-proofing tips.
http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/pages/section/article.php?s=Features&idArticle=23349
How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal
Hospital gardens turn out to have medical benefits
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nature-that-nurtures&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20120319
Articles of interest
Evidence-based nursing: An EZ pass to hospital admissions
Nursing Management
January 2012
Volume 43 Number 1
Pages 13 - 14Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is a 998-bed academic, community Magnet(R) health network spread out over three campuses-two suburban and one urban. The largest campus, Cedar Crest (LVHN-CC), includes a trauma center and a burn center. The Muhlenberg campus (LVHN-M) acute care facility is a suburban, 160-bed site comprising an ICU, medical-surgical units, an outpatient pediatric unit, and a cancer center
http://www.nursingcenter.com/evidencebasedpracticenetwork/JournalArticle.aspx?Article_ID=1288874
From the Ministry of Health
Disability Support Services Strategic Plan 2010 to 2014
Disability Support Services group (DSS) four-year Strategic Plan July 2010 to June 2014.
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/disability-support-services-strategic-plan-2010-2014
New Zealand Primary Care Handbook 2012
Cardiovascular risk assessment and diabetes screening, Cardiovascular risk factor management, Management of type 2 diabetes
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/new-zealand-primary-care-handbook-2012
ealth of Māori Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities
Series: Te Ohanga Ake 1The report on the health of Māori children and young people with chronic conditions is divided into two main parts:
Part 1: 'Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities' aims to:
http://bit.ly/Hby8A8
HIV/AIDS Country Progress Report New Zealand
Published online: 22 March 2012
Reporting Period: January 2010 – December 2011
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/hiv-aids-country-progress-report-new-zealand
Submissions being called for
Inquiry into preventing child abuse and improving children's health outcomes
Public submissions are now being invited on the Inquiry into preventing child abuse and improving children's health outcomes.The closing date for submissions is Friday, 4 May 2012The purpose of the inquiry is to find what practical health and social interventions can be made from preconception until three years of age to prevent child abuse and promote child well-being in New Zealand. The committee requires 2 copies of each submission if made in writing. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the clerk of the committee, as submissions are usually released to the public by the committee. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. To assist with administration please supply your postcode and an email address if you have one.Further guidance on making a submission can be found from the Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee link in the `Related documents´ panel.
http://bit.ly/HctGPg
Continuing education opportunities
Management of Emergency Presentations of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Attention Rural & Remote Nurses
New ONLINE course now available to commence on 28 May 2012.
Substance use is a wide spread problem and health professionals in rural and remote areas may feel isolated and lack clinical support. To help combat this, we have developed a new online course, designed to support health professionals to effectively manage emergency drug and alcohol presentations.
http://bit.ly/Ha1HV5
New publications and reports online
Persistent challenges to providing quality care (PDF 1.5 MB)
Publication code: 004 227
Publication date: 20 March 2012
ISBN: Abstract:This report addresses the worrying trends related to the quality of care in care homes. With an ageing population people are living with long-term conditions for longer periods and there has recently been heightened media and public interest into the quality of care homes in England and the increasing pressure on care home staff. The report analyses the issues raised in RCN surveys in 2004 and 2010, and considers the picture one year on. Key problems include inadequate funding and staff levels; appropriate skill mix of staff, high turnover of staff; low levels of morale; and lack of equipment in homes. The RCN makes recommendations for action to address these issues based on the findings of the 2011 RCN care home survey.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/439605/Persistent_challenges_to_providing_quality_care_v5.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 Wednesday 28 March 2012
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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