News bulletin 18 March

on 18 March

 

Welcome to the College of Nurses – News Update.
No. 244 Wednesday 18 March 2015

 

From NZ media this week

Maori approaches to Māori health issues are required
Māori approaches to Māori health issues are required to improve the health of the Māori population which is a national priority, a University of Canterbury researcher says.
http://bit.ly/1Cqm10W

Māori nurses graduate form Waiariki Institute of Technology
The number of Māori nurses increased today as students from the Waiariki institute of Technology graduate after completing their Bachelor of Nursing.
https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/maori-nurses-graduate-form-waiariki-institute-technology

Launch of online archive of nursing oral histories
A new website that holds an archive of nursing oral histories in New Zealand is being launched today in Wellington. www.nursinghistory.org.nz
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2015/march-2015/11/launch-of-online-archive-of-nursing-oral-histories.aspx

Ministry orders neonatal care report
The Ministry of Health has ordered a review of neonatal services amid concerns about overcrowding.
Mothers are transferred to other cities to give birth when their own hospital's neonatal unit cannot accommodate them.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/67256933/ministry-orders-neonatal-care-report

From International media

Nurse Practitioners Call for Less Regulation
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — On the third floor of a historic building at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Noelle was having a baby — and losing blood by the second.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/best-for-vets/education/2015/03/07/nursing-programs-changing-industry/24511967/

Dutch students choose to live in nursing homes rent-free (as long as they keep the residents company)
NINETY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Johanna beams at the 20-year-old stepping into her room — not a visiting grandson, but rather a housemate at her retirement home.
http://www.thejournal.ie/help-the-aged-1814698-Dec2014/

Nursing is the big loser in this year’s CAO applications
THERE’S SOME INTERESTING news for Ireland’s Leaving Cert students this morning with the release of CAO data regarding the initial phase of college applications.
http://www.thejournal.ie/cao-course-choices-1980550-Mar2015/

Hospitals and nurses are split over new safety bill
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota's hospitals and nurses have come down on different sides of a bill aimed at protecting health care workers from attacks.
http://www.kare11.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/11/hospitals-and-nurses-are-split-over-new-safety-bill/70180744/

University of Missouri Health Care uses EHRs to reduce CAUTIs
A nurse at the University of Missouri Health System is leading an initiative to use EHRs to reduce the number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in its facilities.
http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/university-of-missouri-health-care-uses-ehrs-to-reduce-cautis.html

ANA CAUTI Prevention Tool
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) are the most commonly reported hospital-acquired condition, and the rates continue to rise. More than 560,000 patients develop CAUTI each year, leading to extended hospital stays, increased health care costs, and patient morbidity and mortality. RNs can play a major role in reducing CAUTI rates to save lives and prevent harm. ANA offers an innovative, streamlined, evidenced-based clinical tool developed by leading experts.
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/Improving-Your-Practice/ANA-CAUTI-Prevention-Tool

Amid Calls for a More Highly Educated RN Workforce, New AACN Data Confirm Enrollment Surge in Schools of Nursing  
WASHINGTON, DC, March 9, 2015 – According to new data released today by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), enrollment in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral nursing programs increased last year as more nurses answered the call to achieve higher levels of education. With the greatest gains found in baccalaureate degree-completion programs and the practice-focused doctorate, students are returning to nursing school in record numbers to develop the skills needed to meet employer demands and patient care needs.
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/news/articles/2015/enrollment

Modernized Code of Ethics addresses tough questions
Each of the country’s 3.1 million RNs may make dozens of decisions about patient care every day. Making those decisions with ethical considerations in mind is increasingly challenging in the modern healthcare environment where technology and patient care are evolving at a rapid pace. In January, the American Nurses Association rolled out a revised version of the Code of Ethics — which had not been updated since 2001 — after an 18-month revision process. Nurse leaders involved in the revision process hope the newer version will both guide and support nurses as they face decisions that touch upon everything from end-of-life care to involvement with social media. 
http://news.nurse.com/article/20150309/NATIONAL06/150309004/0/NATIONAL06#.VQZtkY6UeCo

Ebola

Possible Ebola-affected nurse's terror trip
The emergency workers were covered head to toe in hazmat suits as they stepped off the helicopter in a quiet street in Gore before dawn on Saturday.
Curious residents waking to the roar of the chopper's blades were ordered back inside their homes.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/67382580/possible-ebolaaffected-nurses-terror-trip

Kiwi nurse tests negative for Ebola
A Kiwi nurse who recently returned from Sierra Leone has tested negative for the Ebola virus.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11417440

Kiwi nurse awaits results of second Ebola test
The Gore nurse at the centre of New Zealand's first Ebola scare is awaiting the results of a second test to clear her of the deadly disease.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11417764

Gore proud of nurse's contribution to Ebola fight - Hicks
The weekend's Ebola scare shows the risks of living in a global community but Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks says he is extremely proud of the contribution local nurse Bronni McBain has made to the fight against the virus.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/67394394/Gore-proud-of-nurses-contribution-to-Ebola-fight-Hicks

Aged care

Creating an 'everytown' to feel at home
It's the future of dementia care, but it looks a lot like the present.
In what is believed to be a New Zealand first, a new dementia village development planned for Rotorua is set to be based on the acclaimed Dutch dementia village De Hogeweyk.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/67419742/creating-an-everytown-to-feel-at-home

Pharmacy

Ministry of Health investigates medicinal cannabis use
Dunne underwhelmed by officials’ evidence but Drug Foundation fears advice outdated.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11415156

Public health

Quake cuts healthy life short by 150 days
Each person in Canterbury lost 150 days of "healthy life" in the aftermath of the February earthquake, new research claims.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/67232239/quake-cuts-healthy-life-short-by-150-days

Stigma and Discrimination kills
“Māori and Pacific women living with HIV & AIDS are dying because of stigma and discrimination,” saysMarama Pala. “Recognising International Women’s Day this week was a sobering reflection for us as Māori and Pacific women living with HIV & AIDS, the fear of people knowing they have HIV is stopping them from getting the treatment and care they need.” She could well be speaking of women from Sub Saharan Africa, but Marama is talking about her experience as a New Zealand Maori.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1503/S00041/stigma-and-discrimination-kills.htm

Health research

Participants wanted for low dose aspirin trial
Participants are wanted for a new treatment for venous ulcers that may help healing when used with compression bandages.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/participants-wanted-low-dose-aspirin-trial/5/216178

People wanted for innovative cardiac exercise study
Participants are needed for an innovative exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation study that uses mobile technology to remotely supervise exercise in real time, anywhere in New Zealand.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/people-wanted-innovative-cardiac-exercise-study/5/215966

Study investigates growing rate of child skin infections
Hospital admission rates for skin infection in young children in New Zealand are higher than in other developed countries and have steadily increased over the past 20 years, a study says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/67362116/study-investigates-growing-rate-of-child-skin-infections

NZ experts lead call for a tobacco-free world by 2040
Auckland public health researchers are among those calling for the sale of tobacco to be phased out internationally by 2040.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1503/S00055/nz-experts-lead-call-for-a-tobacco-free-world-by-2040.htm

Articles of interest

Shaping the future of nursing: developing an appraisal framework for public engagement with nursing policy reports (pages 74–83)
Ann Bradshaw
It is accepted that research should be systematically examined to judge its trustworthiness and value in a particular context. No such appraisal is required of reports published by organizations that have possibly even greater influence on policy that affects the public. This paper explores a philosophical framework for appraising reports. It gives the reasons why informed engagement is important, drawing on Popper's concept of the open society, and it suggests a method for appraisal. Gadamer's concept of the two horizons and Jauss's reception theory offer a methodological framework to enable the individual citizen, whether professional or lay, to engage in debate about policy that affects him or her. By way of a worked example, the framework is applied to two international reports on nursing. Conclusions suggest that nursing policy should be subjected to robust interrogatory appraisal by both profession and public for a democratic debate and creative discourse. Although this analysis is related to international nursing policy, it has a wider relevance and application beyond nursing.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nin.12072/abstract

Exploring risk in professional nursing practice: an analysis of work refusal and professional risk (pages 50–63)
Barbara A Beardwood and Jan M Kainer
This article explores risk in professional nursing practice. Professional risk refers to the threat of professional discipline if it is found that a registered nurse has violated professional nursing practice standards. We argue professional risk is socially constructed and understood differently by nurse regulatory bodies, unions, professional associations and frontline nurses. Regulatory bodies emphasize professional accountability of nurses; professional associations focus on system problems in health-care; unions undertake protecting nurses' right to health and safety; and frontline nurses experience fear and uncertainty in their attempt to interpret practice standards to avoid professional discipline. Perspectives of professional risk are investigated by analyzing three professional nursing bodies' views of professional codes governing the right of nurses to refuse unsafe work assignments. The workplace dynamics surrounding work refusal experienced by frontline nurses are illustrated primarily through the lens of the 2003 SARS influenza outbreak in Ontario, Canada. We conclude that frontline nurses in Ontario are required to manage risk by following professional protocols prioritizing patient care and professional accountability which disregard the systemic, unpredictable and hazardous circumstances in their everyday practice. Moreover, we argue professional protocols cannot anticipate every eventuality in clinical practice creating the fear of professional discipline for nurses.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nin.12048/abstract

Nurses and the euthanasia debate: reflections from New Zealand (pages 13–20)
M. Woods and J. Bickley Asher
Through an examination of the present situation relating to legalizing euthanasia and/or physician-assisted death in New Zealand, this paper is intended to encourage nurses worldwide to ponder about their own position on the ever present topic of assisted dying and euthanasia.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/inr.12145/abstract

The first decade of nurse practitioners in New Zealand: A survey of an evolving practice (pages 612–619)
Mary Jo Gagan, Michal Boyd, Ken Wysocki and Diane June Williams
Nurse practitioners (NPs) have been registered in New Zealand (NZ) since 2002. This article describes a sample of their practices and outcomes across a variety of healthcare specialties. The PEPPA model was used as a guide for the organization of data, the discussion of findings, and recommendations for the future.
http://www.rgpn.org.nz/Network/media/documents/PDFS2014/NP-survey-please-link--to-NPs---A-survey.pdf

Development and testing of a patient-centred care competency scale for hospital nurses (pages 43–51)
Jee-In Hwang
This study aimed to develop and test the psychometric soundness of a patient-centred care competency (PCC) scale for hospital nurses. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 594 nurses in two teaching hospitals (response rate 99.5%). Reliability and validity analyses were performed. The PCC scale consisted of 17 items divided into four subscales: respecting patients' perspectives (6 items), promoting patient involvement in care processes (5 items), providing for patient comfort (3 items) and advocating for patients (3 items). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the entire scale was 0.92, and those for the subscales were 0.85, 0.81, 0.84 and 0.80, respectively. Multitrait scaling analysis indicated that the four subscales had satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Significant correlations were found between total PCC scores and overall self-ratings of patient-centred care performance (r = 0.60, P < 0.001). The PCC scale was therefore determined to be a highly valid and reliable tool.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijn.12220/abstract

An investigation of factors that impact patients’ subjective experience of nurse-led clinics: a qualitative systematic review (pages 19–33)
Samantha Jakimowicz, Christine Stirling and Maree Duddle
To systematically review the qualitative evidence on factors that affect the experience of patients attending nurse-led clinics and compare with key elements of person-centred care.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.12676/abstract

Online resources

Traction:principles and application (PDF 1.5 MB)
Publication code: 004721
Publication date: 6 February 2015
ISBN: 978-1-910066-98-0
This new edition provides information on applying traction and caring for the patients’ safety whilst traction remains in place. The advent of improved technology has meant that more fractures are now treated operatively but traction can still be used as a temporary measure to provide pain relief, reduce blood loss and shock while definitive treatment is planned.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/608971/RCNguidance_traction_WEB_2.pdf

New publications

Last week two Māori mental health research reports were launched by Te Pou and Te Rau Matatini alongside the Mental Health Commission in Kirkiriroa (Hamilton). Findings from the reports are not foreign to many of us and are an important reminder of Whānau Ora models of care and services that are responsive and comprehensive.
Read more from Keri Opai, Te Pou’s Paeārahi (strategic lead), and some key facts from the reports here
http://bit.ly/1MChR5s

From the Ministry of  Health

Managing Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary Care
This publication presents a nationally agreed Consensus Statement on the best practice in the identification and management of chronic kidney disease in primary care.
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/managing-chronic-kidney-disease-primary-care

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 17 March 2015

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

Areas of Interest