Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand articles from February 2008

Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand archives from February 2008

How can nurses 'get political' in election year?(EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2008... Hmmm... how to talk about politics and nursing and keep the reader engaged to the end of the editorial? Well, maybe I'll start with how I got into the politics of nursing and go from there. Firstly, how can you think nursing and politics can...

Employment structure must be debated.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... As co-authors of the professional focus, How employment structures affect nursing practice, (Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, October 2007, p26-27), we are writing in response to the letter from the chair of the GP Council of the New Zealand...

Wairarapa DHB boasts four nurses.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... My name is Janine Vollebregt and I am a registered nurse who, like Ailsa Stewart of the Whanganui District Health Board (DHB), has also stood and been successful in the last three DHB elections for the Wairarapa DHB. (See third term for...

Wound research participants wanted.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... I am a Master of Nursing student at Otago Polytechnic, undertaking a research project entitled "Wound healing and wound management knowledge among nurses practising in New Zealand". The Otago Polytechnic Ethics Committee has granted ethical...

Attention rural health nurses.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... If you work in a town with a population of fewer than 10,000, then by Statistics New Zealand's definition you are a rural nurse. If you fit this definition, please help us by filling in the insert in the December 2007 issue of Kai Tiaki Nursing...

Board seeks input from PHC nurses.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) is in the process of developing a primary health care (PHC) plan for Auckland City. The board is wanting feedback from all parties involved with the delivery and receipt of PHC and the primary care nursing...

Concerns over low voter turnout.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... It's a new year and what better time to reflect on the year that was for district health board (DHB) nurses. The ratification of our expired NZNO/DHB multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) was hailed a great success by our negotiators. But...

HoNOS board ... and the award goes to ... Like all professional groups, the Te Henga Section of the Marxist Nurses' Union likes to honour its own end celebrate excellence. That's what its annual award ceremony is all about.((A) MUSING ON NURSING)
February 1, 2008... The Te Henga Section of the Marxist Nurses' Union held its Annual TD Lysenko Award Ceremony and Supper the other evening. The Award honours a noted Marxist scientist. In this ceremony we award honours to the best project or initiative or policy...

Ministry's lack of leadership cricitised.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
February 1, 2008... The Ministry of Health and the Nursing Council are both criticised in NZNO's extensive submission on the review of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act. NZNO criticises the Ministry's tack of leadership, notably around...

Anger at failure to notify NZNO of call for nominations.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisations )(appointment of Jane McGeorge)(appointment of Claire Jennings)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... NZNO's board of directors has endorsed two nurses seeking appointment to Nursing Council. They are director of nursing at HealthCare New Zealand, and NZNO section and college activist Jane McGeorge, who has a background in emergency department...

Assessing the impact of the MECA.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(multi-employer collective agreement)
February 1, 2008... Initial findings from an assessment of the impact of the 2004/5 multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) for district health board (DHB) nurses and midwives are to be presented at NZNO's Safe Staffing and Healthy Workplaces Symposium in May....

NZNO's new researcher emigrates from England.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)
February 1, 2008... NZNO has appointed English public health researcher Leonie Walker to the newly created position of researcher, based in the Wellington national office. According to NZNO professional services manager Susanne Trim, Walker has had an extensive,...

Education for caregivers.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Threee regional study days are the centrepiece of NZNO's National Caregivers' Week which will run from March 10-15. The study days will be held in Auckland (Alexandra Park Function Centre, March 12), Wellington (ANZAC House, March 11) and...

Fund to boost research.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A $2.7 million fund to boost research capability in nursing and associated disciplines has been established by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). The Strategy To Advance Research Project (STAR Project) will fund research grants, PhD...

More participants wanted.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
February 1, 2008... New Zealand nurses and midwives have until March 31 to join the international longitudinal study, the Nurses and Midwives E-cohort Study, underway in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. The study focuses on health, well-being and...

Nurse-led clinic for Auckland homeless.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A nurse practitioner (NP)-led clinic, funded primarily by the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is expected to open at the Auckland City Mission next month. The initiative follows last month's Global Healthcare conference in Auckland...

Plan to boost breastfeeding rates.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(New Zealand. Ministry of Health promotes breastfeeding)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The first stage of the Ministry of Health's national campaign to boost national breastfeeding rates begins in April with a mass-media campaign, and information targeted particularly at Maori and Pacific people. Although New Zealand's...

Chief nurse title.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The Ministry of Health now has a chief nurse. The title chief adviser, nursing, has been changed to that of chief nurse, at the behest of the person currently in the position, Mark Jones. Speaking at the centennial celebrations for Kai Tiaki...

Primary health care internships for Waikato students.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Six nursing graduates from the Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC) begin primary health care (PHC) internships this month, a first for this region. The scheme is funded by Waikato Primary Health, one of the largest primary health...

Paterson reappointed as commissioner.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson (pictured right) has been reappointed for a further five-year term. When he completes this five years, he will have been the HDC for 13 years. Originally appointed in 2000 for five years, he was...

Kai Tiaki's centennial launched with creative flair.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand's centennial issue was launched with flair, much laughter and creativity at Wellington's historic Wellesley Boutique Hotel at the end of last month. The 70 guests included NZNO staff...

Setting priorities for the safe staffing unit: the Safe Staffing/Healthy Workplaces Unit is up and running. What are the priorities for 2008?(NEWS FOCUS)
February 1, 2008... When inaugural director of the Safe Staffing/Healthy Workplaces Unit Vicky Brewer took up her role nearly six months ago, how the unit would work was something of a jigsaw puzzle. There were many pieces: the complex report of the Committee of...

NZNO members favour workplace educational opportunities: nurses don't want to travel to undertake professional development requirements. Due to time pressures, they would rather takes courses provided in their workplaces.(EDUCATION)(Survey)
February 1, 2008... More than 80 percent of NZNO members choose in-service education to complete their professional development requirements, with around half dung other commitments, the costs and difficulties taking time off work as barriers to completing these...

Moving from an academic setting to clinical practice: returning to a clinical charge nurse role after time in academia increased a nurse lecturer's clinical confidence and her respect for nurses in practice.(PRACTICE)
February 1, 2008... As a nursing lecturer for nine years, mostly in undergraduate education, an opportunity to return to clinical practice was both daunting and exciting. In 2005, I was offered the position of clinical charge nurse in rehabilitation of older...

Using nursing skills to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease: working as a field officer with the Parkinson's Society proved a more complex and satisfying role than one nurse had ever anticipated.(PROFILE)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Compassion, empathy, a sense of humour and the ability to maintain boundaries are the qualities needed by a Parkinson's Society field officer, says registered nurse (RN) Liffet Stewart. Stewart has been a nurse...

Getting back to nursing: a nurse returning to hospital nursing after many years believes maturity and experience working as a health promoter in mental health will give her the wisdom she needs.(PROFILE)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Health promoter Jennie Elliot became a staff nurse in a Dunedin mental health ward last month, the first time she has worked in this area of hospital nursing in her 20-year nursing career. The only hospital...

To sink or swim? A nursing student's final transition to practice can be a stormy and challenging experience. One student found some unusual ways to stay afloat in the rough conditions.(VIEWPOINT)
February 1, 2008... I will never forget the ten weeks I spent as a third-year nursing student, doing my transition experience in the cardiac care unit (CCU) of Waikato Hospital. That was back in 2005. So much has changed for me over the last two years, but more of...

Making the preceptorship model work better for students: the initial meeting between a nursing student and preceptor nurse can be critical to the success of a clinical placement.(VIEWPOINT)
February 1, 2008... As a former NZNO National Student Unit (NSU) delegate at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), I was privileged to hear first-hand about the concerns facing many nursing students. Two issues that regularly cropped up were...

Nurstoons.(VIEWPOINT)(Cartoon)
February 1, 2008... COME ON!! SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE THE STUDENT NURSE TODAY! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DON'T ANY OF YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING A STUDENT?! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'LL TAKE THE STUDENT, I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN WHAT IT WAS LIKE ...

Respecting caregivers and their work: direction and delegation are integral parts of nursing, particularly in the aged-care sector. Communication between registered nurses and health care assistants is vital to ensure quality care in the sector.(PROFESSIONAL FOCUS)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Effective direction and delegation of patient care are essential to ensure patient/ client and health professional safety in any health care setting. Direction and delegation is the prime responsibility of the...

Respecting caregivers and their work: the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, in her signature recording of the "60s, sings "R_E_S_P_E_C_T. Find out what is means to me ..." Find out what it means for caregivers.(INDUSTRIAL FOCUS)
February 1, 2008... In October last year, residential aged-care employers responded in typical fashion to the Labour Government's initiative to boost caregivers' wages. The Government included a requirement in district health boards' (DHB) funding contracts with...

Decisions reached through consensus at Te Rau Kokiri negotiations.(SECTOR REPORTS)
February 1, 2008... Significant progress was made at last month's Te Rau Kokiri (TRK) negotiations at St Michael's Marae in Palmerston North. Negotiations for the historic NZNO/Maori and iwi health care provider multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) began in...

Hospice settlement nears.(SECTOR REPORTS)
February 1, 2008... Information for ratification meetings for a hospice multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) covering 15 hospices throughout the country is being prepared this month. Draft terms of settlement were reached at issues-based negotiations in...

Disability staff go on strike.(SECTOR SPORTS)
February 1, 2008... NZNO and National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) members at Brackenridge Estate in Christchurch were on strike for two days Last month. Brackenridge is a disability provider for people from the old Templeton Psychopaedic Hospital who could...

Protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of students: a desire to awhi Maori students and a passion to improve Maori health are what motivates the new Tauira Aronui chair.(NATIONAL STUDENT UNIT)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For as long as I can remember, I have wanted o work in health. I remember being fascinated, even in primary school, with women like Florence Nightingale and Marie Curie. I grew up in a state house in Gisborne,...

Protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of students: the new National Student Unit chair is thankful her earlier training in the performing arts has prepared her well for nursing and student advocacy.(NATIONAL STUDENT UNIT)
February 1, 2008... A diploma in performing arts (with honours) has been excellent training for Marguerite Neilson's career switch to nursing and her new role as chair of NZNO's National Student Unit (NSU). The third-year nursing student at Christchurch...

The board and Te Runanga set priorities for 2008.(BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
February 1, 2008... NZNO has a well established planning process beginning with the formulation of members' priorities for the coming year and ending with the delivery of activities, projects and campaigns to achieve those goals. This annual planning process is...

Neonatal nurses attain college status.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)
February 1, 2008... The first meeting of the national committee of the newly constituted Neonatal Nurses College of Aotearoa (NZNO) was held in Wellington in December. Previous committees have worked tirelessly on behalf of the members of the New Zealand...

Making collaborative practice a reality.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)(Conference news)
February 1, 2008... "Meeting the challenges of collaborative practice in child and youth health nursing: Making it a reality" was the theme of the annual conference of NZNO's Nurses for Children and Young People of Aotearoa section. Held in Christchurch at the end...