Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 166, Wednesday 21 August 2013
From NZ media this week
Maori agency nurses paid less than DHB colleagues
The Maori arm of the Nurses Organisation say it is still fighting pay inequalities which see some nurses at iwi agencies paid 25% less than those at district health boards.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/216709/maori-agency-nurses-paid-less-than-dhb-colleagues
Māori nurses tackle underpayment
Māori nurses say there is a pay gap of up to 20 percent between nurses working for Māori health organisations and those working for other primary providers and district health boards.
http://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/NTEwMQ.html
Top nurse to do review
The top nurse at Southern District Health Board is heading to Rarotonga to review nursing standards.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/268970/top-nurse-do-review
Adella Campbell's journey to a PhD in nursing
Former Edwin Allen student recovers from gaining one CXC subject
In 2008 she went on to become the first Jamaican to be awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship to complete her doctorate in nursing at the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/allwoman/Adella-Campbell-s-journey-to-a-PhD-in-nursing_14888176
Nurse demonstrated her compassion in service to others
Grace Anwyl Fowler: b Timaru, August 19, 1923; m Bruce Fowler; d Wellington, July 25, 2013, aged 89.
Two plaques on the walls of Wellington's St John's in the City Church and a lectern on the communion table bear testimony to the fact Anwyl Fowler's long life was anchored near the Dixon St church.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/obituaries/8998598/Nurse-demonstrated-her-compassion-in-service-to-others
Collins abuses hospital staff
An abusive Jerry Collins shouted four-letter words at Wellington Hospital staff on an early-morning visit to the emergency department
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/9057733/Collins-abuses-hospital-staff
St John users skip paying their bills
Nearly a quarter of people invoiced for St John ambulance treatment aren't paying - leaving the emergency service millions of dollars out of pocket.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10913797
Update for healing standards
The Ministry of Health is to update the traditional Maori healing practice standards by the end of the year.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/216812/update-for-healing-standards
Pat Farry Trust Announces Rural Health Education Scholarships worth $30,000 for 2013 and 2014
The Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust has announced application details for two significant scholarships worth a total of $30,000 to encourage undergraduate and rural health professional research and professional development.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1308/S00072/rural-health-education-scholarships.htm
Families contribute to unique study
Families in five North Island east coast communities will share their experiences about the end-of-life care of an older family member for a unique community study.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/families-contribute-unique-study/5/164297
Child safety laws tighten checks
Social Development Minister announces more stringent security screening as part of abuse crackdown.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912083
Local policies will help reduce harm from alcohol
Scientific studies have shown key areas of reform that are effective in reducing alcohol-related harm and the Government has avoided most of them, according to a leading reform advocate.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9037933/Local-policies-will-help-reduce-harm-from-alcohol
Boom in the over 65 population - Statistics NZ
The New Zealand population aged 65 and over has doubled since the early 1980s and is likely to double again by 2040, Statistics New Zealand says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912279
Dehydration among flu red flags for at-risk kids
Dehydration has been picked out by an important new study as one of six key markers to identify sick children at greatest risk of severe complications from influenza.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912508
Caesar rise sparks call for change
Statistics showing a renewed increase in the rates of caesarean birth operations have sparked a push for more facilities which focus solely on straightforward deliveries
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10912540
Reading books 'prescription' for better health
A trip to the library could be what the doctor ordered for staff and students at the University of Otago.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/268810/reading-your-new-prescription
DHB specific
First national service for Waitemata DHB
Waitemata District Health Board now has its first national service.The DHB is now the public provider of hyperbaric oxygen therapy services after taking over management of the Slark Hyperbaric Unit in Devonport from the New Zealand Defence Force.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1308/S00092/first-national-service-for-waitemata-dhb.htm
Hawke's Bay DHB signs patient safety pledge
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s chair and chief executive have signed a pledge supporting New Zealand’s national patient safety campaign.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/hawkes-bay-dhb-signs-patient-safety-pledge/5/164625
West may lose some cardiac services in cost-cutting
A proposal to move cardiac services away from Waitakere Hospital has patients concerned they may have to travel further for heart treatment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/9031648/West-may-lose-some-cardiac-services-in-cost-cutting
Top of the south emergency departments congratulated
Wairau and Nelson Emergency Departments (ED) consistently exceeds the national target of 95% of patients admitted, discharged or transferred to a hospital ward within six hours.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/top-south-emergency-departments-congratulated/5/164305
PHO Alliance welcomes move to provide more timely and responsive patient care
The Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Alliance has responded positively to the Health Minister’s announcement that the claiming of General Medical Subsidy (GMS) is to be extended to other health professionals within the general practice team.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1308/S00080/pho-alliance-welcomes-move-to-timely-patient-care.htm
Public health
Soft drinks' side effects
Soft drinks have already been blamed for making kids obese, now new research blames the sugary drinks for behavioural problems in children too.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/9057467/Soft-drinks-side-effects
Grace period for synthetic drugs
The Government is warning synthetic drug manufacturers and sellers that a grace period for licensing their products and stores has lapsed and only Ministry of Health-approved psychoactive products can now remain on shelves.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10914108
Bedroom temperatures can affect kid's lungs - study
Changes to temperatures in children's bedrooms can affect their lung function for at least two weeks, according to a new study from the University of Otago.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10913298
Smoke-free aim for bus stops
The first university in New Zealand to go smokefree is urging authorities to stop people smoking in bus stops on its city campus.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10913785
Young adults are piling on the pounds - study
More young adults are getting fat than other age groups, according to a study that has tracked 11,000 Australians for 12 years.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11110885
Social health
'Sweeping' changes to child abuse laws
Parents who kill or seriously harm their children will need to prove they're fit to be parents again under new proposed legislation.
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Sweeping-changes-to-child-abuse-laws/tabid/1607/articleID/308781/Default.aspx#ixzz2bpexzJu5
Doctors told to prescribe work ethic
Doctors are being encouraged to question unemployed patients on their career goals as part of sweeping welfare reforms, which critics fear will penalise the disabled.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/9037689/Doctors-told-to-prescribe-work-ethic
Mental health
Safety costs key issue in locking up Mason Clinic
Auckland's mental hospital for criminals has been told bedroom doors should generally be left unlocked but it is uncertain how to comply in full because of the extra staffing costs to maintain safety.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11111152
International media
Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care
Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are often proposed as solutions to the looming shortage of primary care physicians. However, a large and growing number of PAs and NPs now work outside of primary care, which suggests that innovative policy solutions to increase access to primary care are still needed.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/0815/p230.html
New nursing role created in regional Victoria
Specialist neurological nurse Sheree Ambrosini is the face of an Australian-first pilot program focused on supporting people with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
http://www.ncah.com.au/news-events/new-nursing-role-created-in-regional-victoria/1854/
Hospital safety : Your responsibility or theirs?
When it comes to hospital safety, experts say, patients have a right to question cleanliness to prevent infections.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/219856541.html
Articles of interest
Put a stop to bullying new nurses
BULLYING AMONG NURSES has been discussed in the nursing literature for nearly two decades.1 The concept has been identified with many terms, such as horizontal violence, lateral violence, and relational aggression
http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/Static-Pages/Put-a-stop-to-bullying-new-nurses.aspx
Online resources
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is now taking orders for this year’s FREE resources for Mental Health Awareness Week, 7-13 October.
Posters and postcards available to order now
Our in-house graphic artist Amy has made two super cool resources for you this year - an A2 Connect Wall Poster and packs of 10 A5 Connect Postcards that have been designed to be used as funky invitations.
Send them out to friends, family or colleagues asking them to a dinner date, movie, indoor picnic or whatever appeals to you as a way to connect socially with those around you.
Cut off date for orders is 6 September - sadly, we cannot guarantee orders made after this date will be delivered in time for MHAW. So get your order in today.
You can also submit your MHAW event to our online calendar! Downloadable A3 and A4 posters and A5 postcards will also be available on the website later on this week.
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/forms/show/store/new/1/
Publications and Reports online
Evaluating Obesity Prevention Efforts:A Plan for Measuring Progress (2013)
Obesity poses one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century, creating serious health, economic, and social consequences for individuals and society.
Despite acceleration in efforts to characterize, comprehend, and act on this problem, including implementation of preventive interventions, further understanding is needed on the progress and effectiveness of these interventions.Evaluating Obesity Prevention Efforts develops a concise and actionable plan for measuring the nation's progress in obesity prevention efforts--specifically, the success of policy and environmental strategies recommended in the 2012 IOM report Accelerating
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18334&utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=The%20National%20Academies%20Press&utm_campaign=NAP+mail+new+08.06.13&utm_content=web&utm_term=
May be purchased as a hard copy, downloaded in ebook format or download free of charge in pdf.
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 13 August 2013
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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