Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 122, Wednesday 26 September 2012
From NZ media this week
Founding nurse and general manager leaves Well Women and Family Trust to begin a new career in the community health sector
Ruth Davy is one of four nurses who founded Well Women Nursing Services (WONS), now known as Well Women and Family Trust, 22 years ago. Independent nursing was rare in New Zealand and just beginning its' journey internationally with the introduction of nurse practitioners.
http://bit.ly/SrSMTo
Nursing grads overcome challenges
Samoan born, rugby player Edwin (Eddy) Elia is not your typical nurse and the young CPIT graduand wants to encourage more Pacific Island men into healthcare.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1209/S00084/nursing-grads-overcome-challenges.htm
Health targets will take time - GPs
The president of the College of General Practitioners says it will take time for doctors to reach the Government's health targets for the primary health care sector.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/116445/health-targets-will-take-time-gps
Health checks fall short of target
The Government is falling significantly short of two of its health targets for the primary health care sector.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/116418/health-checks-fall-short-of-target
15-minute visit not enough, doctors told
Family doctors say the typical 15-minute GP appointment is not enough for some patients with complex health needs.
http://bit.ly/ViYupp
Suicide: it's time to talk about it
I'm getting heartily sick of it. It might be a brief news item, a sad post on Facebook, a death notice about somebody who died "suddenly", or a friend telling me in hushed tones about a work colleague who killed themselves. But should I even be discussing our country's appalling suicide rate in a newspaper?
http://bit.ly/PdduBU
New campaign to improve healthcare quality & safety
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew today announced the development of new Quality and Safety Markers for healthcare and a national patient safety campaign to launch early next year.
http://bit.ly/VdQYMs
Legal highs escalating violence on care wards
The rising use of synthetic cannabis is having a significant impact on violence levels in mental health wards and a new law banning the substances is having no visible effect, a mental health director says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10835486
Saving lives, and money, in infections fight gives ICU staff reason to celebrate
At least three lives have been saved in six months by a scheme that aims to eliminate blood-stream infections linked to central-line catheters.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10835456
Saving Lives: Creating a culture of improvement
Counties Manukau's health education centre is a key factor in the battle to deliver better-quality healthcare.
http://bit.ly/Rd0You
Saving Lives: No high ground in low death rate
Auckland medical adviser says ranking by mortality can overlook DHB's access to palliative care.
http://bit.ly/P28qA4
Ministry Improves Audit Process In Aged Care Sector
The second report released by the Auditor General into the effectiveness of auditing standards of New Zealand rest homes highlights the improvements made in the Government’s certification and auditing process.
http://bit.ly/Ph5HDd
'Evidence of neglect' at rest home
DHB takes charge of Sylvia Park establishment after management failings exposed by surprise inspection
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10836055
Rest home boss supended for neglect
A Mt Wellington rest home is being temporarily managed by the Auckland District Health Board after an investigation found there was evidence of neglect.
http://bit.ly/Shpq4o
Resthome patient's fractures untreated for two weeks
A patient at a Wellington resthome with dementia and multiple sclerosis had a fractured shoulder and hip for more than two weeks before he was taken to hospital, where he died before he could undergo surgery.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10835423
Scabies, poor staffing among 11 complaints
Scabies outbreaks, poor staffing and limited shower use are among the complaints about a Rangiora rest home received by the Canterbury District Health Board.
http://bit.ly/UhYBDu
Most callers have mental health issues
More than half of the young people who call on Timaru's youth workers for help already have mental health issues.
http://bit.ly/SiQ3KI
Collaborative approach and local solutions key to improving child health
The vast majority of ill health in childhood is driven by poverty and overcrowded housing, two leading paediatricians have told the APAC Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care in Auckland.
http://bit.ly/RRNJMy
Sickly storm brews over healthcare, pension costs
What will our health system look like in 2060 if we change none of the entitlements or the way they're paid for?http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10835854
International media
Bergen-Belsen lessons underline vital role that nurses can play in patient feeding
Nurses can play a key role in feeding people and restoring their humanity in times of great crisis and this was very evident during their little-known involvement in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen at the end of World War Two. That is the key finding of a historical research paper published in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
http://bit.ly/S77bPg
AANP Responds to the American Academy of Family Physicians Report
AUSTIN, TX (September 19) -- Angela Golden, President of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), today issued the following statement concerning the report, "Primary Care for the 21st Century: Ensuring a Quality, Physician-led Team for Every Patient," released by the American Academy of Family Physicians:
http://http://bit.ly/PSEoQk
'It's a huge problem'
Rising use of synthetic cannabis is having a "significant impact" in mental-health wards and is partly to blame for increasing assaults on staff, Otago mental-health nursing director Heather Casey says.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/226837/its-huge-problem
Nevada Nurses Association project aims to help new RN grads
Nevada nurses hope a new pilot mentoring program will do at least two things: help new nurses navigate the transition from school to practice and help experienced nurses remember their own excitement about the profession.
http://news.nurse.com/article/20120917/NATIONAL01/309170006
A Campaign to Eliminate CLABSIs
How Children's Healthcare of Atlanta achieved a 77 percent reduction in central lineassociated blood stream infections.
http://bit.ly/RBOhWD
How Mobile Technologies Fuel TeleHealth Advances
Ever since the first experiments with telemedicine, providers have been taking steps to move healthcare closer to where patients live and work. Now, mobile technology—epitomized by the millions of such apps already downloaded to smartphones, but also appearing in nearly unlimited form factors—is accelerating those steps.
http://bit.ly/VzcR95
Public health
World Alzheimer’s Report 2012 Reveals Stigma and Social Exclusion Are Major Barriers for People with Dementia and Their Carers
The latest World Alzheimer Report released today for World Alzheimer’s Day by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) reveals that nearly one in four people with dementia (24%) hide or conceal their diagnosis citing stigma as the main reason. Furthermore, 40% of people with dementia report not being included in everyday life. What is startling is that nearly two out of three people with dementia and their carers believe there is a lack of understanding of dementia in their countries.
http://bit.ly/QAg2do
More women than men die of heart disease
Women have overtaken men in dying from heart disease, and the situation is forecast to get worse.
http://bit.ly/ROHGmb
High levels of rheumatic fever a worry
School-based clinics are helping to counter "quite disgraceful" levels of rheumatic fever in some parts of New Zealand, University of Otago researcher Dr Simon Horsburgh says.
http://bit.ly/QQuTkc
Work and management
Work stress on the rise in NZ - survey
Work-related stress is on the rise with more than one third (39 per cent) of New Zealand respondents saying their stress levels have been higher in the past year, in a global study of 16,000 professionals by workspace provider, Regus.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10835104
Article of interest
10 Strategies for Nurses to Become More Influential
September 12, 2012 - The quickest way to frustrate Eleanor Sullivan, PhD, RN, is to utter these words: “What can I do? I’m just a nurse.”
http://bit.ly/QOqC2z
Experts Offer Advice for Climbing the Nurse Leadership Ladder
September 12, 2012 - A nurse executive or manager is called to be a servant leader, a courageous visionary, a change agent, an excellent listener and a clinical and business expert. Nurses who want to advance for the pay, the prestige or any reason that isn’t ultimately about providing the best care for patients and a positive working environment for nurses will not succeed in the long run.
http://bit.ly/V1JUSV
Middle Eastern, Latin American and African health needs in the Auckland region
In 2006, 1% of the New Zealand population identified as Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) with half residing in the Auckland region. Compared to Europeans, a greater proportion live in high deprivation areas, have higher unemployment rates, higher prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Middle Eastern people), and higher hospitalisation rates for respiratory disease. Barriers to health include communication difficulties, health literacy, cost and mistrust of Western health models. Dr Perumal highlighted the need to address MELAA health needs early in a culturally sensitive manner.
Comment: This presentation highlighted the difficulties in understanding health needs and developing culturally sensitive interventions for an ‘ethnic group’ as diverse as the MELAA population in New Zealand.
Key Reference: Perumal L. Auckland District Health Board, 2010. http://www.adhb.govt.nz/healthneeds/Document/MELAAHealthNeedsAssessment.pdf
Publications online
Travel health nursing: career and competence development (PDF 2.0 MB)
Overall UK figures for overseas travellers have more than tripled since 1981 (ONS, 2010) and travel health medicine is a fast growing field. This RCN guidance provides information on current guidelines and standards of care of travellers. It builds on the original 2007 publication Competencies: an integrated career and competency framework for nurses working in travel health medicine and defines the standards of care expected for a competent nurse, experienced/proficient nurse and a senior practitioner/expert nurse working in travel health nursing.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/publications
The assistant practitioner role in children and young people's services (PDF 738.4 KB)
The health care support worker (HCSW) workforce is expanding, and the role needs to be developed within a recognised framework in order to meet the needs of children and young people. The assistant practitioner role was implemented to complement the work of registered professionals across health and social care in acute and community settings. Job descriptions, competences and recruitment criteria need to be underpinned by a generic understanding of the assistant practitioner (child) role and matched to Agenda for Change criteria. This publication examines the background and development of the assistant practitioner role in children and young people’s services and looks at key policy issues as well as detailing recommendations for future development and implementation. The unique needs of children and young people are central throughout.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/474276/004225.pdf
The assistant practitioner role in children and young people's services (PDF 738.4 KB)
The health care support worker (HCSW) workforce is expanding, and the role needs to be developed within a recognised framework in order to meet the needs of children and young people. The assistant practitioner role was implemented to complement the work of registered professionals across health and social care in acute and community settings. Job descriptions, competences and recruitment criteria need to be underpinned by a generic understanding of the assistant practitioner (child) role and matched to Agenda for Change criteria. This publication examines the background and development of the assistant practitioner role in children and young people’s services and looks at key policy issues as well as detailing recommendations for future development and implementation. The unique needs of children and young people are central throughout.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/474276/004225.pdf
New publications
Putting the Care in Health Care: Improving the Patient Experience
Grounded in the premise that the patient experience must be the driver for quality improvement and for the design of the healthcare system, this book offers a broad definition of care, embracing concepts of respect, connection, communication, collaboration, engagement and empowerment. It stresses that it is not enough for individual clinicians to practice in ways consistent with these concepts—the system itself must encourage, facilitate, and reward this type of practice. There is growing awareness that partnering with patients and families to redesign care experiences and improve communication and collaboration leads not only to increased satisfaction among patients and providers but also to improved financial performance.The insights, practices and stories of medical staff, organisational leaders and patients are at the heart of Putting the Care in Health Care: Improving the Patient Experience. The chapters in this book explore the following overarching questions: What is compassionate care? What does it look and feel like to medical staff, institutions, patients and families?How is such care delivered in the clinical and in the institutional setting? What is required for its delivery?What are some examples of health care institutions that deliver compassionate care, and might they serve as models for others?What hope does the medical home model provide for the delivery of compassionate care in an increasingly complex environment?Compassionate care as defined in this book means seeing the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.Putting the Care in Health Care: Improving the Patient Experience is about the ideals of, the obstacles in front of, and some shining examples of those who provide compassionate care to patients and families.
Contents include:
- Need for compassionate health care
- Medical staff and compassionate health care
- Compassionate care and health care institutions
- Putting compassionate care into practice: case studies
- Comprehensive list of further resources and appendices
http://bit.ly/RnHPwO
The value of close calls in improving patient safety : learning how to avoid and mitigate patient harm (e-book format)
The Value of Close Calls in Improving Patient Safety is an important and timely publication. Close calls (or near misses) are ‘free lessons’ about the varieties of human error, the local circumstances that trigger them and the ‘upstream’ systemic factors that can give rise to them. Close calls, as defined in this book, are unsafe acts – errors or procedural violations – that could seriously harm a patient but in the event do not. Three possible types of close call are discussed in the book. First, an error occurred but its adverse consequence did not reach the patient. Second, an error happened and may have reached the patient but did not cause harm. Third, an error happened and its effects reached the patient but did not cause serious harm.This book consists of two parts. Part I (Chapters 1–5) provides a guide to what the literature tells us about the concept of close calls and their identification, relationship with errors, and use in assessing and improving the safety and reliability of health care. Part II (Chapters 6–20) provides 15 detailed case studies from a variety of clinical disciplines and specialties to show how the health care organisations in which the close calls occurred used them to identify, investigate, and solve patient safety problems.Contents include:
- Close calls in health care
- Reporting and learning from close calls
- Promoting meaningful close call reporting
- Human factors applications to understanding and using close calls to improve health care
- Disclosing close calls to patients and families
- Case studies of close calls
http://bit.ly/OBW2Fs
Conferences and professional development opportunities
Registration Opens for ICN 25th Quadrennial Congress Geneva, Switzerland, 14 September 2012 - Registration opens today for the International Council of Nurses 25th Quadrennial Congress to be held 18-23 May 2013 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Melbourne, Australia. Members of nursing associations, other health professionals, and members of the public may register online at the ICN Congress website: www.icn2013.ch.
Participants will also have the opportunity to register for the spectacular opening ceremony, the biannual fundraising luncheon for the Florence Nightingale International Foundation, and a host of professional visits to learn about nursing practice and health care in Australia. The early-bird discount price for registration closes on 14 February 2013.
The ICN 25th Quadrennial Congress will bring together evidence, experience and innovations highlighting the critical importance of equity and access to health care for communities and individuals, demonstrating how nurses are key to ensuring equal access and quality of health care for all. The Congress will provide a global platform for the dissemination of nursing knowledge and leadership across specialities, cultures and countries via the ICN scientific programme, featuring keynote and main session invited speakers as well as a wide range of concurrent sessions including dynamic papers accepted through our highly competitive abstract selection process.
Many dynamic speakers will be featured including Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al-Hussein, who will deliver the keynote address on Equity and Access to Health Care, and Anne Marie Rafferty, who will present the Virginia Henderson lecture. The Congress will once again feature a Student Nurses Assembly on 18 May and the Florence Nightingale International Foundation Luncheon in support of the Girl Child Education Fund on 21 May. The inspiring plenary sessions will be dedicated to exploring the Congress theme, through particular focus on gender equity, the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases and the tension between personal and societal responsibility for health. Featured main sessions will offer the most recent expertise on wellness and prevention, the nursing workforce and workplace, ethics/human rights, clinical care and patient safety. Concurrent sessions, symposia and posters will address these issues plus developments in nursing education, disasters and conflict, care systems and access, eHealth, regulation and the history of nursing. The Congress will also be the venue for ICN Network meetings. The scientific programme is preceded by the Council of National Representatives (CNR) meeting, which runs from 15-19 May. The CNR is the governing body of the International Council of Nurses and meets every two years in conjunction with ICN’s conferences and Congresses. The election of ICN’s president and new Board members will take place during the CNR, and results will be announced on 19 May 2013. A commercial and professional exhibition will run concurrently with the Congress. Universities, health ministries, nursing organisations, publishers, pharmaceutical companies and local artisans will showcase their products and services and present the most recent health care information.
Visit http://www.icn2013.ch/ to view the full programme and list of confirmed speakers.
Publications online
Supplemental Research Bulletin—Children and Disasters
SAMHSA's Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) is pleased to introduce the DTAC Supplemental Research Bulletin, which will be published biannually. This first Supplemental Research Bulletin examines the emotional impact that natural and human-caused disasters have on children and youth, one of the populations most at risk for negative mental health outcomes after a disaster. Topics include the following:Factors influencing children's response to a disaster Patterns of resilience and recovery Social and environmental effects Implications for practice, policy, and planning. Read Now: Supplemental Research Bulletin—Children and Disasters
About the Supplemental Research Bulletin
The purpose of the Supplemental Research Bulletin is to provide disaster behavioral health practitioners, planners, and other responders a summary of several recently published research articles and literature reviews. Each Supplemental Research Bulletin will highlight a number of chosen articles related to a specific topic of current interest to the field.
http://1.usa.gov/Ts6iYL
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 25 September 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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