From the NZ media this week
Major aged-care review excludes workers’ views The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is deeply concerned about the absence of aged-care workers’ or residents’ perspectives in a major report on residential aged-care services, released yesterday.http://bit.ly/cZmLVR
Supportive study reignites PSA testing debate Prostate cancer screening advocates are delighted by the results of a new study showing two-yearly PSA testing in men aged 50 and over nearly halves the relative risk of dying from the disease.http://bit.ly/cLCD4e
Influenza cases peaked, now falling The total reported deaths linked to swine flu now stands at 18, but the Ministry of Health reports overall influenza H1N1 activity in the community is on the decline.http://bit.ly/9F3ipZ
New website provides tools to help better manage childhood asthma PHARMAC and the Asthma Foundation have today launched a new website designed to help people better manage children’s asthma.http://bit.ly/byarJP
Integrated family service centres gaining momentum Almost 20 years after first proposing integrated family service centres, Dame Lesley Max feels that the idea may finally be catching on.http://bit.ly/9a6rew
Well-till-the-end-thanks-to-care
Early this year the axe was poised to chop the overnight shift from MidCentral Health's district nursing service, threatening a critical support to hospice patients in their own homes. Now it's safe. http://bit.ly/9GstGU
Order Paper and questions Questions for oral answer10. Nurses, Enrolled—Expansion of Scope of Practice[Volume:664;Page:12397]10. MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made on expanding the role of enrolled nursing in New Zealandhttp://bit.ly/bhvpMR
New Director-General of Health announced Scottish health boss Kevin Woods has been appointed the Director-General of Health and chief executive of the Ministry of Health, State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie announced today.http://bit.ly/9TjYry
New health boss: Hospitals can cope with fewer staff The Health Ministry's new chief believes it is possible to cut doctor and nurse positions without compromising health services. http://bit.ly/acj3nM
New ministry chief oversaw massive cuts in Scotland The Health Ministry's new boss presided over massive cuts to Scotland's health system, leaving some sector leaders nervous about what his appointment means for New Zealand health services.http://bit.ly/9TjYry
Nurses-stitch-together-a-protest/
The first square in a woven mat highlighting low rates of pay for nurses working with Maori and iwi health providers has been completed in Blenheim. http://bit.ly/9ZFGX8
Exciting news revealed Well on Friday 27th August Vodafone Foundation New Zealand in association with SYHPANZ launched theVodafone NZ Foundation Youth Health Fellowship This is a first for this sector and colleagues from near and far has commented on how exciting this is.http://foundation.vodafone.co.nz/exciting-news-revealed
Language Line support for new parents who speak little or no English Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 For new parents who speak little or no English, it’s good to hear that Plunket has now joined Language Line. This means they can talk to their Plunket nurse and find out more about information and services to do with their new babyhttp://bit.ly/bTZLfX
From international media sources
National registration for nurses, except WAConcerns older nurses will need assistance to get their education points
http://bit.ly/aLDXKc
Leaders may escape degree demand
Plans to require nurse leaders to obtain a degree by 2020 may be dropped, Nursing Times understands.http://www.nursingtimes.net/5019157.article?referrer=e26
Immigration cap leaves trusts unable to hire staff The government’s immigration cap announced last month is creating problems for some acute hospitals.http://www.nursingtimes.net/5019121.article?referrer=e26
Public health
Ignorance on strokes causing needless deaths, says expertAn inability to recognise the symptoms of a stroke is costing lives and lifestyles.http://bit.ly/byBNfT
Articles of interest
Electronic Patient Registries Improve Diabetes Care and Clinical Outcomes in Rural Community Health CentersThe Journal of Rural HealthVolume 25, Issue 1, pages 77–84, Winter 2009
ABSTRACT: Context: Diabetes care is challenging in rural areas. Research has shown that the utilization of electronic patient registries improves care; however, improvements generally have been described in combination with other ongoing interventions. The level of basic registry utilization sufficient for positive change is unknown. Purpose: The goal of the current study was to examine differential effects of basic registry utilization on diabetes care processes and clinical outcomes according to level of registry use in a rural setting. Methods: Patients with diabetes (N = 661) from 6 Federally Qualified Health Centers in rural West Virginia were entered into an electronic patient registry. Data from pre- and post-registry were compared among 3 treatment and control groups that had different levels of registry utilization: low, medium, or high (for example, variations in the use of registry-generated progress notes examined at the point-of-care and in the accuracy of registry-generated summary reports to track patients' care). Data included care processes (annual exams, screens to promote wellness, education, and self-management goal-setting) and clinical outcomes (HbA1c, LDL, HDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure). Findings: The registry assisted in significantly improving 12 of 13 care processes and 3 of 6 clinical outcomes (HbA1c, LDL, cholesterol) for patients exposed to at least medium levels of registry utilization, but not for the controls. For example, the percent of patients who had received an annual eye exam at follow-up was 11%, 34%, and 38% for the low, medium, and high utilization groups, respectively; only the latter groups improved. Conclusions: As an initial step to achieving control of diabetes, basic registry utilization may be sufficient to drive improvements in provider-patient care processes and in patient outcomes in rural clinics with few resourceshttp://bit.ly/bZsoxx
How Does Obesity in Adults Affect Spending on Health Care? Over the past two decades, the adult population in the United States has, on average, become much heavier. From 1987 to 2007, the fraction of adults who were overweight or obese increased from 44 percent to 63 percent; almost two-thirds of the adult population now falls into one of those categories. The share of obese http://web.docuticker.com/go/docubase/60421
From the Nursing Council
Consultation on Guideline for Competence Assessment Please click here for a draft Guideline for competence assessment for consultation. The Council is increasingly using competence assessment as a tool for ensuring initial and ongoing competence to practice. The Council is aware that there is some lack of understanding of this process and variability in the way competence assessments are completed. This draft guideline is designed to provide more information about the process of assessment. If you would like to comment on this draft Guideline please return your response to Jackie@nursingcouncil.org.nz or alternatively post it by 22 October 2010 to:http://bit.ly/dvQyGW
Website of interest
If a disaster happened now, would you be ready?
Due to its location and environment, New Zealand faces many potential disasters. In some cases, such as a weather related or volcanic disaster, there may be time for a warning.But an earthquake or a tsunami close to land could strike without warning. All disasters have the potential to cause disruption, damage property and take lives. So it's vital that you prepare now. This website will show you how to get ready, so you'll get through. http://bit.ly/9a16WU
Online publications
After Disaster: Responding to the psychological consequences of disasters for children and young people
Peter Stanley and Sarah Williams
NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHWELLINGTON, 2000
In the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, NZCER is makingavailable for free download a book to help schools, libraries andparents support students.After Disaster was published by NZCER Press in 2000 and written byregistered psychologists Peter Stanley, now senior lecturer, Departmentof Human Development and Counseling, The University of Waikato, andSarah Williams.Described by the authors as a psychological first aid guide, itcontains research-based information to help teachers, librarians andparents to understand childrens likely immediate and longer-termresponses to disaster. It includes ideas of questions to promptclassroom discussion, and activities to help students work through theirexperiences.Parents, Libraries and Schools are welcome to download all or parts ofthe book, and to share it with their communities. Go tohttp://www.nzcer.org.nz/pdfs/after_disaster_web.pdf
Symposium – call for papers
International forum on Quality and Safety in HealthcareDo you or your organisation have a quality improvement, or new patient initiative to share? If so, you are invited to submit an abstract to be considered for presentation as a poster or oral session at the Forum. Perhaps you have a new tool or method that you have initiated and you just want to share experiences and results with your peers around the world? Call for Abstracts is open. Share your results to have maximum impact on patient outcomes globally. Abstract Deadline: Friday 24 September at 1600 GMT. Five good reasons to submit an abstract:
- Showcase your achievements to key international opinion leaders
- Communicate your organisation's work
- Enhance your organisation's profile
- Network with others in your area/field
- Share success, learn from failures
Find out about submitting your abstract in 3 easy steps.
Next year's International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare will take place 5-8 April, 2011 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Learn more about 'Better Health, Safer Care, Lower Costs', the 2011 Forum’s theme. See patient safety and quality improvement work presented at the 2010 Forum. Don't miss out. Submit online today. This is a trial news service for the College of Nurses membership.
The above information has been collated for the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Inc by Linda Stopforth, SNIPS. It is current as at Wednesday 15th September 2010. Email stop4th@xtra.co.nz or the college office admin@nurse.org.nz
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