Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 101 – 2 May 2012
From NZ media this week
Everyone Needs To Work Together To Reduce The Suicide Rate
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is urging all New Zealanders to think seriously about how they can help reduce the suicide rate, chief executive Judi Clements says.
http://bit.ly/I65uCQ
Fresh ideas sought to tackle youth suicide
Innovative ways to get young men with mental health issues to seek help need to be continually thought up to help bring down the male youth suicide rate, a mental health expert says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10801293
Suicide rates drop, but still more work to be done
New Zealand's suicide rate declined slightly from 2008 to 2009, but the Mental Health Foundation and the Associate Health Minister agree there is still more work to be done.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10801149
$6.4m cost of locums called a seeping sore in hospital system
The cost of locum medical staff is a "seeping sore" on the public health system, bleeding Waikato District Health Board alone of $6.4 million in the past year.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10801726
Fewer beds, more nurses for service
Rather than nurses losing their jobs at Wakari Hospital's specialist rehabilitation service (Isis), their workforce will be strengthened, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Dunedin organiser Lorraine Lobb says.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/207190/fewer-beds-more-nurses-service
Food for thought with elderly migrants' care
The Bhartiya Samaj Trust activity hall is a lively place on a Wednesday morning. Indian senior citizens trickle into the room where they await a computer education class. Tea cups tinkle in the kitchen and a man plays a slightly clunky tune on a tiny keyboard built into a small box with a wheezing accordion attached to the back.
http://bit.ly/JtxBZ8
English nurse finds her slice of heaven in Rotorua
English nurse Diane Greenaway reckons moving to Rotorua was the best decision she's ever made.
http://bit.ly/JyrXHB
Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority to shut doors on Castlecliff clinic
Wanganui's Maori health provider, Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority, has announced the pending closure of one of its medical clinics.
http://bit.ly/JxG9hq
Lower drinking age blamed for high rate of youth deaths
New Zealand's high youth death rate among developed nations has been blamed in part on its alcohol-buying age of 18.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10802351
iwi teens' death rate second highest - study
Being a teenager in NZ is more dangerous than in most other developed countries, a new study has shown.
http://bit.ly/I9GElD
Mortality rate for New Zealand adolescents
A recent article Health of the World's Adolescents: a synthesis of internationally comparable data, co-authored by Professor George C Patton showed a high overall mortality rate for New Zealand adolescents.
http://bit.ly/IhIel9
Running out of puff
Government want NZ smokefree by 2025
As the health effects of smoking come under increasing scrutiny, more countries are taking a stand. Now New Zealand has become the first to put a timeframe on achieving its smokefree vision
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/6822327/Running-out-of-puff
Asthma Awareness Week – 30 April – 6 May
How many kids in your region have asthma? It’s not a pretty picture
Imagine that every single person in Hamilton has asthma. That’s how many New Zealand children live with the challenges, fears and disadvantages of asthma.
http://bit.ly/J4177G
New tool to help asthma sufferers and GPs
A new smartphone application will allow asthma sufferers to send information to their general practitioners at the push of a button
http://bit.ly/JYE9nf
Strong public support for euthanasia
The MP campaigning for the right to die has been buoyed by a poll that shows more than 85 per cent of respondents to a survey supported voluntary euthanasia.
http://bit.ly/Icp7Wg
Maori health report backed
Better access to services needed
A health services manager believes the conclusions of a study by the Taranaki District Health Board, which found more needed to be done to improve access to health services at all levels for Maori in the Taranaki region, was right on the money.
http://bit.ly/JZgb8I
Chief executive appointed to new Health Promotion Agency
Clive Nelson has been appointed as the first chief executive of the new Health Promotion Agency.
http://bit.ly/IekfmZ
Plunket visit marks Immunisation Week
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew visited a Wellington Plunket playgroup today, one of many community events occurring across the country to mark Immunisation Week.
http://bit.ly/IDFYmv
New warnings over superbug cases in NZ
An antibiotic-resistant "superbug" that has spread to New Zealand could become a significant medical problem unless hospitals remain vigilant.
http://bit.ly/Jag0mU
Dementia " the most serious health crisis this century"
Press Release: Alzheimers New Zealand
Alzheimers New Zealand urges New Zealand government to recognise dementia as the most serious health crisis to be faced this century
http://bit.ly/Jyszgv
International media
FTC opposes Missouri bill on nurses' use of pain management techniques
Backers say the criticism doesn't apply to current version of the proposal
http://sgfnow.co/IkkBbw
Rule change gives nurses same script powers as doctors (Access requires site registration – free)
Legislation has come into effect giving independent nurse prescribers the power to prescribe controlled drugs in schedules two to five.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5044213.article?referrer=e10
Survey: low staff levels threaten care (online registration needed to access – free)
Seven out of 10 nurses believe that staffing levels in their ward or care setting are inadequate to deliver “safe, dignified, compassionate care”, a snaphot survey has revealed.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5043999.article?referrer=e3
Training access holds back nurse prescribers, warn researchers (Free online registration needed to access)
Access to specialist training is holding back nurses involved in prescribing pain medications, potentially at the expense of patient care, UK researchers have warned.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/5044197.article?referrer=e1
Innovative ways to slash ED overuse
Intensive efforts addressing problems that again and again send the same patients to the emergency department are showing promise.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/30/prsa0430.htm
Patients want to use social media tools to manage health care
Two reports say more people seek services and health information delivered through social media, and that physicians are in most demand to share them.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/30/bisa0430.htm
Health ministers warn of 'unsustainable' services
AUSTRALIA'S dependence on imported doctors and nurses - which faces rising international criticism - will continue to grow without reforms in supply and use of local graduates, the first national report on the health workforce says.
http://bit.ly/IRQCH5
Work and management
Help on offer for quake-stressed staff
A growing number of stressed and tired business owners and staff in Canterbury needing support can now access state-funded support services.
http://bit.ly/Iis8mJ
Articles of interest
An Exploration and Comparison of the Worklife Experiences of Registered Nurses and Physicians with Permanent Physical and/or Sensory DisabilitiesTo examine the worklife experiences of physicians, to further the exploration of the worklife experiences of nurses with disabilities, and to discover how the two healthcare professions compare with each other with regard to these experiences.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/RNJ.00005/full
Support Systems: Protocols help patients get back to living healthy
Nursing protocols in high-acuity and critical care settings help prevent complications, promote faster recovery, enhance patient safety, increase nursing autonomy and reduce costs, according to expert critical care nurses such as Ramon Lavandero, RN, MA, MSN, FAAN, director, communications and strategic alliances for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and clinical associate professor at Yale University School of Nursing in New Haven, Conn.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20120416/CRT01/120418001
New from the Ministry of Health
Guide to Getting Hearing Aids: Hearing Aid Funding Scheme
If you have a hearing loss, hearing aids may be part of the solution to improve your hearing. You may be able to get help from the Ministry of Health to pay for the cost of hearing aids.
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/guide-getting-hearing-aids-hearing-aid-funding-scheme
Continuing education
Kia Piki te Ora Maori Suicide Prevention Conference 2012
Mark your diaries for this important Maori suicide prevention conference to be held 15 May at the Novotel Auckland Airport. The conference will appeal to health care professionals, advisory groups, community groups and service providers, and will enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals, share evidence based information and advocate for improved working relationships.Registration ($65) includes GST, buffet lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea.
RSVP to noradene.paniora@raukura.com. A programme schedule will be sent to you once you are registered
Specialist training in perinatal and infant loss
When a baby dies, the world makes no sense. For parents and for those caring for them. Vicki Culling Associates provides health-care and caring professionals with expert training so they may better support parents, families and whānau following the loss of a baby or infant.
http://www.vickicullingassoc.co.nz/
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 1 May 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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