Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 147, Wednesday 3 April 2013
From NZ media this week
Northland nurse wins youth health fellowship
Bernadette Hetaraka, a youth health nurse in Northland with a passion for improving the health of young people in her region, has been awarded this year's Vodafone Foundation Youth Health Leadership Fellowship.
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2013/march-2013/26/northland-nurse-wins-youth-health-fellowship.aspx
A 'yes' can add quality to career
Experience - in whatever field of medicine it is offered - is as valuable as gold to graduate nurses.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10874980
Waikato Hospital specialist earns praise
Specialist role speeds up surgery
Jacque Roberts is the hospital's first registered nurse, first surgical assistant - a specialist position that leading cardiothoracic surgeon Adam El Gamel says "significantly enriches the quality of service for patients"
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8493093/Waikato-Hospital-specialist-earns-praise
Musa to head NZNO
Former Whanganui District Health Board chief executive Memo Musa is the new chief executive of the New Zealand Nurses' Organisation [NZNO].
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/musa-to-head-nzno/1813819/
Service Delivery Fails Whanau Ora
Health Star Pacific Trust (HSPT) a non government organization in Auckland that delivers health services has come out in support of the Whanau Ora service.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1303/S00107/service-delivery-fails-whanau-ora.htm
Report Sheds Light on Surgery-Related Deaths
A new report out today sheds light on the death rates from four areas of surgery and anaesthesia, and recommends improvements to the way patients are assessed for risk.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1303/S00102/report-sheds-light-on-surgery-related-deaths.htm
Surgery kills one in five unwell elderly
Unhealthy elderly Kiwis undergoing emergency surgery have a one in five chance of death, a new report shows.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8487117/Surgery-kills-one-in-five-unwell-elderly
Fees plan to cut health costs
A Treasury paper has floated the idea of adding new patient fees for public health care and splitting elective surgery units out of hospitals so they can compete for state funding.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10875040
GP says people need to be realistic
A long-serving Taranaki family doctor is calling for New Zealanders to get real about the cost of public healthcare.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8495773/GP-says-people-need-to-be-realistic
DHB specific
Nurses oppose cuts at Wairau
If acute and orthopaedic surgery was taken away from Wairau Hospital, there would be a domino effect on the Blenheim hospital and Marlborough community, New Zealand Nurses' Organisation (NZNO) representative Eleanor Cole says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8472896/Nurses-oppose-cuts-at-Wairau
Staff cuts loom as DHB trims its deficit
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board is considering widespread job cuts to help reduce its deficit, with back office staff likely to go first.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8496644/Staff-cuts-loom-as-DHB-trims-its-deficit
Patients will miss out on operations
Some patients who need surgery in Nelson and Marlborough may miss out following an overloaded surgery waiting list at Nelson Hospital.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8484866/Patients-will-miss-out-on-operations
Waikato District Health staff feel bullied
More than a third of Waikato District Health Board (DHB) staff claim to have been bullied or harassed by colleagues, a staff engagement survey shows.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8495689/Waikato-District-Health-staff-feel-bullied
Wanted: Hospital staff for clinical centre
One of Waikato District Health Board's largest recruitment drives gets under way this week, as the organisation hunts for staff for its new $130 million, five-level Meade Clinical Centre and 12 operating theatres when they open in July.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8495691/Wanted-Hospital-staff-for-clinical-centre
Waikato DHB to Spend $1.9 Million at Tokoroa Hospital
Waikato District Health (DHB) Board today approved an investment up to $1.9m at Tokoroa Hospital to accommodate primary care providers and relocate the DHB’s blood collection service.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1303/S00110/waikato-dhb-to-spend-19-million-at-tokoroa-hospital.htm
100 jobs up for grabs at Waikato Hospital
We're used to hearing almost daily about job losses, but one DHB is on the hiring trail.
http://www.3news.co.nz/100-jobs-up-for-grabs-at-Waikato-Hospital/tabid/423/articleID/292467/Default.aspx
Revealed: Where it's best to be sick
If you get seriously sick you may be better off in Auckland than in some small provincial cities, figures released by the Treasury indicate
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10874823
Public health
Special report: NZ virus experts sound alert for a tough flu season
Health officials stress importance of regular hand-cleaning and contained sneezing after American outbreaks.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10873851
Jabs urged for a flu-fighting chance
As New Zealand prepares for its second bout of the killer flu strain circling the world, health experts are warning of the potential for major problems in Christchurch and urging Cantabrians to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8476161/Jabs-urged-for-a-flu-fighting-chance
International media
Most nurses say their hospital is not safe
SILVER SPRING, Md., March 18 (UPI) -- Only 41 percent of nurses say their hospital is safe, indicates a survey of 500 U.S. practicing registered nurses, 200 nurses in Britain and 200 in China.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/03/18/Most-nurses-say-their-hospital-is-not-safe/UPI-48971363647344/
Wales set to introduce staffing acuity measure (Registration required)
Plans to introduce an assessment process to determine the right staffing levels on wards based on the severity of patients’ conditions have been announced by the Welsh Government.
http://mail.nursingtimes.net/a/hBRUeKiB7gYBnB8VhXWNshWWRDj/d15
Minimum training standards for support workers launched (Registration required)
Long-awaited national minimum training standards for healthcare support workers have been published today, as part of the government’s initial response to the Francis report.
http://mail.nursingtimes.net/a/hBRUeKiB7gYBnB8VhXWNshWWRDj/d3
New code of conduct for HCAs (Registration required)
A new code of conduct has been published for healthcare support workers, which promises to protect the public by promoting best practice.
http://mail.nursingtimes.net/a/hBRUeKiB7gYBnB8VhXWNshWWRDj/d4
Student nurses working as HCA poses safety risk, warn Deans (Registration required)
The Council of Deans of Health has said plans to allow student nurses to spend up to a year working as healthcare assistants could put patient safety at risk.
http://mail.nursingtimes.net/a/hBRUeKiB7gYBnB8VhXWNshWWRDj/d12
Nurse-led delirium screen validated in hospitalized elderly
NEW ORLEANS – The Delirium Observation Screening Scale is easy, fast, and accurate when performed by a bedside nurse in elderly hospitalized patients, according to results of a validation study.
http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=514&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=141909&cHash=eb85825f1b044c86c48a7dae74167612
House OKs supervision of nurse anesthetists
RALEIGH, N.C. — The House on Wednesday approved legislation to require physician supervision of any nurse providing anesthesia during a medical or dental procedure.
http://www.wral.com/house-oks-supervision-of-nurse-anesthetists/12276356/
Nurses must spend a year on basic care
Jeremy Hunt to announce measure aimed at improving levels of compassion after Mid Staffordshire scandal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/26/nurses-basic-care-training
Patients are at risk as hospitals axe 5,000 nurses, warns union
Royal College of Nursing claims switch to healthcare assistants is putting lives in danger
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/24/healthcare-assistants-replace-nurses
Qld nurse recognised for her hard work in tough times
A QUEENSLAND nurse and mental health expert specialising in disaster response has been given a prestigious award by a New Zealand universit
http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/qld-nurse-recognised-her-hard-work-tough-times/1789240/
Nursing station for island
ACTING New Zealand High Commissioner Phillip Taula has officially opened the new Nacavanadi Nursing Station which will serve five villages in the tikina (district) of Vanuaso on Gau Island.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=227140
We Need A Better Flu Vaccine Before Considering Mandatory Vaccination Of Health Care Workers
Until we have a better influenza vaccine, it is premature to consider mandatory vaccination for health care workers, states a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/258035.php
Articles of interest
Nurses Leading Care in Custody Suite Environments: A Qualitative Study from Scotland
Journal of Forensic Nursing - Featured Journal
March 2013
Volume 9 Number 1
Pages 45 - 51
ABSTRACT: This paper outlines the qualitative findings of a recent multimethod study exploring the impact of nurses assuming leadership roles in delivering primary health care to detainees within police custody suites in Scotland. The full multimethod study was conducted within a framework of realistic evaluation with key findings indicating that the nurse-led model of service delivery offers positive outcomes for all key stakeholders. Findings from the qualitative component of the study showed that the quality of clinical care for detainees improved, policing concerns for detainee safety were mitigated, and forensic medical examiners were able to expand their specialist roles. Key supporting mechanisms in achieving these outcomes included generating collaborative practices, enacting clinical leadership, and providing a forensic nursint educational program to empower nurses to generate service provision and grow professional autonomy.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/JournalArticle?Article_ID=1514567&Journal_ID=1506294&Issue_ID=1513940
Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion
Nearly half of all American adults--90 million people--have difficulty understanding and using health information, and there is a higher rate of hospitalization and use of emergency services among patients with limited health literacy, says a 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine. Limited health literacy may lead to billions of dollars in avoidable health care costs.(This is a video not an article)
http://www.josseybasspublichealth.com/Public-Health-101/health-literacy-a-prescription-to-end-confusion.aspx
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 3 April 2013
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