Welcome to the College of Nurses Aotearoa News Update.
No. 609 Wednesday 7 September 2022
Weekly news round-up of nursing and health information in New Zealand and internationally
New Zealand news
Role Call - People on the move and getting recognition in the health sector
Nursing prof promotes collaboration
Jenny Carryer CNZM, Massey University professor of nursing and College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) executive director, has joined the board of the Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr Carryer co-chairs the National Nurse Leaders Group and serves on Third Age Health’s clinical advisory board as well as the Journal of Primary Health Care editorial board.
Future Changes for Assessing Internationally Qualified Nurses
Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa The Nursing Council of New Zealand today announced that it intends to introduce a new model to assess the competence of nurses educated outside Aotearoa New Zealand.
Plunket forced to sell off properties, cut services - 1News
Plunket has been forced to sell off some of its family silver and cut community services due to chronically inadequate funding.
International news
Safe workloads would help fix Australia's nurse shortage, union says - The Guardian
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation goes to jobs summit saying nurse-to-patient ratios more important than pay
Murray Bridge aged care nurse and family facing deportation despite worker shortage in sector
A nurse in South Australia is facing deportation just as the country's hospital and aged care systems are complaining of a shortage of workers in the profession, especially in regional areas.
Stroke nurse claims international award | Mirage News
Sydney Stroke Nurse Practitioner Kylie Tastula has been recognised for providing an exceptional level of care to patients with stroke and their families, winning the Stroke Foundation and Stroke Society of Australasia 2022 Stroke Care Champion Award at the 31st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Stroke Society of Australasia.
Governments are making nursing degrees cheaper or ‘free’ – these plans are not going to help attract more students
Australian politicians like the idea that cheap nursing courses can increase the number of nurses, one of Australia’s most in-demand occupations over the next five years.
Marcos to raise deployment cap on Filipino nurses working overseas - The Straits Times
MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr vowed on Thursday to raise the deployment cap on Filipino nurses overseas, as low salaries and lack of jobs at home continue to drive many to seek employment abroad.
Nurses Can Be Sued for Following Doctor's Orders, NC Court Rules | Nurse.Org
Nurses in North Carolina can now be sued for following doctors’ orders when they cause harm to the patient.
Cultural safety
Cultural safely lessons for new foreign nurses - Waatea News: Māori Radio Station
The Nursing Council wants to make Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural safety part of the induction of internationally trained nurses who want to work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Emergency/urgent care
'Thousands leave ED before being treated' - Dr Share Reti | Voxy.co.nz
Thousands of New Zealanders across the country every month have given up waiting in Emergency Departments and have left without being treated, National’s Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says.
HDC cases and disciplinary actions
Nursing Council suspends anti-transgender activist Jennifer Scott - NZ Herald
Nursing Council of New Zealand senior legal adviser Clare Prendergast confirmed Jennifer Scott had her practising certificate suspended.
Elderly woman given wrong dose of medication six times, by six different nurses | Stuff.co.nz
Six nurses at West Harbour Gardens administered the incorrect dosage of blood thinning medication to a patient. (File photo).
Health NZ Te Whatu Ora
Rural Canterbury hospitals to reopen after staffing challenges | Stuff.co.nz
Three rural hospitals closed since March due to Covid-19-related staffing challenges will reopen at the end of next month.
$300k raised to help replace outdated and 'creepy' Christchurch facilities
More than $300,000 was raised on Saturday night towards replacing the outdated and “creepy” outpatients facilities currently used by Canterbury children in mental health distress.
Fears Dunedin hospital services will be cut - NZ Herald
Beds, operating theatres and possibly even entire wards could be dropped from the design of the new Dunedin Hospital's inpatient building as the Ministry of Health desperately tries to keep the project close to budget.
Fears there will be deaths - Westport hospital desperation
Westport hospital facilities 100km from the nearest alternate facility on the West Coast are at a point where no emergency doctor cover for the facility is "99 per cent done" and people "are going to die".
Health research
Nursing lecturer doing research into lives of caregivers to give them a voice | Stuff.co.nz
There are more than one million people in New Zealand caring for family members who are unwell, saving the country an estimated $16.8 billion per annum. Read more
World-first study by Auckland scientists hopes to show genetic link to codeine addiction
Some people are “ultra-rapid metabolisers” of the opioid codeine. A team of Auckland University researchers believes they are also more likely to misuse the drug and become addicted. Tony Wall reports.
Mental health
Forum 'highlights rising maternal mental health issues' | Voxy.co.nz
WhÄnau Äwhina Plunket is helping increasing numbers of women seeking mental health support, the latest PlunketLine call figures reveal.
Public health
Assoc. Prof Peter Saxton on whether it’s possible to keep the supply of blood safe
Community health expert Dr Peter Saxton explores the balancing act of keeping New Zealand's blood supply safe from infectious diseases while ensuring we have enough donors and can uphold our values as a progressive, inclusive nation. (A highlight from the University of Auckland's Raising the Bar series)
Covid-19: What NZ flu data is revealing about coronavirus
Piggy-backing a major flu survey has been giving modellers a handy insight into our Covid-19 rates – and all without relying on test results.
Rural health
SIT Students Tour For Rural Health Careers - What's On Invers
Southern Institute of Technology Nursing students, Ebony Sherry and Courtney Bond have been using their experiences in health education to inspire the next generation into a health-related career for the benefit of rural New Zealand.
Tobacco, drugs and alcohol
NZ's first overdose prevention centre would save lives, campaigners say | Stuff.co.nz
The NZ Drug Foundation is urging the Government to green-light the development of Aotearoa’s first overdose prevention centre, allowing those who struggle with substance abuse to take drugs safely, under medical supervision.
Legislation
The following documents are available on the New Zealand Parliament website:
- Published 01 Sep 2022, Updated 01 Sep 2022 - Coroners Amendment Bill
Public submissions are now being invited on this Bill
Reports and Journals online
Introducing the professional nurse advocate programme at York and Scarborough NHS Trust
York and Scarborough NHS Trust recently trained their first cohort of professional nurse advocates (PNA) to support their nursing workforce
Pacific Health Review
Issue 34
Welcome to Issue 34 of Pacific Health Review.
In this issue, we discuss the Brown Buttabean Motivation programme (a Pacific-led organisation that aims to reduce obesity) and report the feasibility of HPV self-sampling in never-screened or under-screened Māori, Pacific and Asian women in Auckland.
Articles of interest
How can we reassure patients that we’re listening?
Nurses want to know how their behaviors impact care and how patients perceive them.
According to research, 95% of patients believe being listened to is very or extremely important.
The best way to know patients perceive nurse actions is to ask them.
The article below is not freely available but may be accessed through databases and libraries to which readers have access.
How to prepare Chinese-born nurses to care for patients at the end-of-life in Western settings: A discussion paper,
Ruishuang Zheng, Qiaohong Guo, Susan F Lee, Melissa J Bloomer,
Collegian, 2022,,
ISSN 1322-7696,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.05.003.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1322769622000737)
Abstract: Background
As a result of globalisation, many Chinese-born nurses choose to work outside China. They are expected to be competent in providing end-of-life care and dealing with dying and death within the new country, where cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values towards dying and death may differ from their own. It is essential to consider the influence of Chinese culture on nurses’ confidence and preparedness for end-of-life care, especially for dealing with dying and death.
Purpose
To discuss Chinese perspectives on dying and death, and death education and training in mainland China, from which we propose recommendations for nurse educators, clinical mentors and researchers in Western settings on how to prepare Chinese-born nurses to care for patients at end-of-life.
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 6 September
If you have any feedback about content - what parts are most useful or what you would like added - please email admin@nurse.org.nz
For more up to date news and information follow SNIPS at:
Facebook: Snips Info
Twitter: @SnipsInfo
Back to blog entries
Menu