Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand articles from July 2008

Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand archives from July 2008

The Cartwright report twenty years on ...(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)(Report)
July 1, 2008... The Cartwright Report has stood the test of time--20 years after its publication, it still speaks to us all. That's why it should be on every health professional student's reading list. It reported on an inquiry into the unethical nature of...

The gift of having another language.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I am appalled by Nursing Council's inflexibility on the issue of English requirements for foreign nurses. I refer to the article "Language requirements exclude overseas nurses from practice" on pages 16-17 of last month's issue. Council's...

Respecting immigrant nurses' skills.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I read with considerable interest the discussion about the relevancy of various English language testing systems for immigrant nurses. A couple of years ago, at the time the United Kingdom was implementing its chosen English language system, I...

Accessing nursing workforce information.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I was pleased to read in the April Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand that a group to support Filipino workers in their employment and more generally, has been established in Wellington ("Support group set up for Filipino workers, p31). The...

Avoiding stereotypical nursing images.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Two letters in last month's issue raised some important issues for me as an educator and researcher. Lisa Kenyon ("Wanting to bridge a communication gap", p4) writes passionately and a little wistfully, highlighting the vulnerability of...

Finding generalisations offensive.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I was disappointed to read Jeanette Robin's letter in last month's issue ("Pondering the real meaning of care", p3). I found it quite offensive and generalistic towards "generation Y" nurses, being one myself. I, along with my other recently...

Life experience is a great teacher.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I respond to two letters published last month: one by Jeanette Robins; the other by Lisa Kenyon. I completed my training in 1978 when I was 20. It was life experience and maturity that gave me the confidence to know when to use touch and...

What about basic nursing care?(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... When my husband was in a four-bedded room in our local district health board (DHB) with heart failure, a patient, who was obviously bed-ridden, was to be transferred that day to another DHB nearer his home. It was after 11am and his wife...

Who can have a New Zealand RN badge?(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Could you please explain to me why Ministry of Health chief nurse Mark Jones is able to have a New Zealand registered nurse badge (see photo and story, June Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, p13) when he didn't train here? When I registered here...

Medical nursing nurses' group.(LETTERS: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Around 250 nurses nationally either work in a cardiac catheterisation-lab or in a radiology department. The medical imaging nurses' group has been an established nursing network since 1984. If you are a nurse working in medical imaging who is...

The president comments ...(LETTERS)
July 1, 2008... I have just returned from Geneva where T attended, in May, three international meetings. The first was with the national nursing association (NNA) members of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). The second was the Triad--government chief...

Pacific nurses seek stronger voice.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... Pacific nursing: unity in diversity was the theme of the inaugural conference of NZNO's newly established Pacific nurses' section, held in Auckland last month. Around 300 nurses from throughout New Zealand attended, along with the...

Support for second-level nursing role.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... A new, regulated, flexible second-level nurse role, with a broad scope of practice, is the central recommendation of the advisory committee on the clinical workforce needed to support registered nurses (RNs). The committee has recommended...

ACC extends role of nurse practitioners.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Accident Compensation Corporation)
July 1, 2008... From August 1, nurse practitioners (NPs) wilt have a greater rote as treatment providers with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Scheme. The passing of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitiation and Compensation Amendment Act 2008 means...

Cartwright report remembered 20 years on.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... A major conference, hosted by the University of Auckland's Faculty of Law, is being held on August 29 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Landmark Cartwright Report on the conservative treatment of women with cervical cancer at National Women's...

Nursing innovations.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... A number of nurse-led projects are included in the 20 finalists chosen out of nearly 130 entrants in this year's Health Innovation Awards (HIA). A new tool used to measure patient dependency is addressing patients' needs and streamlining...

Australian chief nurse.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The Australian Government has appointed executive director of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia, Rosemary Bryant (Fight), to the post of Commonwealth chief nurse. This follows an absence of more than 20 years in this position. ...

Abuse in Auckland rest-home symptom of wider problem.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... The abuse of an elderly woman by a staff member in an Auckland rest-home is inexcusable but cannot be viewed in a vacuum, according to NZNO chief executive Geoff Annals. "White not wanting to minimise the impact on the woman and her family of...

Research project into experiences of migrant nurses launched.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... NZNO is Launching a research project into the experiences of overseas-trained nurses who have come to New Zealand in the last five years and for whom English is not their first language. Pacific-trained nurses are not included, as many of the...

Managing health care incidents.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
July 1, 2008... A new national incident management system, designed to improve safety in hospitals and other health facilities, was launched last month. It will provide a systematic approach to the classification, prioritisation and management of health care...

Health survey.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... New Zealand's largest ever health survey shows most New Zealanders are in good health, have access to health care services and are overwhelmingly positive about their dealings with health professionals. A Portrait of Health: Key Results of the...

NZNO staff changes.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... A number of new people have joined NZNO's organising services team. Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO activist, nurse and NZNO delegate Billy Stewart has been appointed to the half-time organiser position in Whangarei. NZNO delegate and nurse Selina...

Unsung heroes honoured.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last month, 21 "unsung heroes" in the Auckland region were recognised for making huge changes to their communities lives. The Local community members (lifestyle co-ordinators) include parents, Pacific leaders,...

The challenges of chronic pelvic pain: caring for women with chronic pelvic pain, who also have complex behavioural presentations, can be very challenging. A psychologist offers some practical advice for nurses.(PRACTICE)
July 1, 2008... Approximately 25 percent of women in New Zealand suffer from chronic pelvic pain, similar to the the rate in the United Kingdom of 24 percent. (1) Chronic pelvic pain in women is defined as pain in the pelvic region that has persisted for at...

How best to treat perinatal depression: nurses and midwives need to be alert to the possibility of, and signs and symptoms of perinatal depression, so it can be effectively treated.(RESEARCH)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Perinatal depression refers to minor and major depression occurring during pregnancy or up to 12 months postpartum. (1) It is estimated that 13 percent of women experience postpartum depression, with similar numbers...

Encouraging young women to have regular smear tests: nurses must do more to encourage younger women to enrol in the national cervical screening programme if it is to reach its intended target numbers.(RESEARCH)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nurses are involved in research in a variety of ways. In late 2005/early 2006, I was part of a research project that included supervising a registered nurse and masters student, Hinke Mantel, from Maastricht...

Education key to success of HPV immunisation programme: young women are to be offered protection against some strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a known precursor to cervical cancer. Nurses have a key role to play in implementing these programmes, ensuring the broader messages about reproductive health are getting through to young people.(PROFESSIONAL FOCUS)
July 1, 2008... From September 1, 2008, New Zealand girls aged 12 to 18 years will be offered a free vaccine to prevent the most common infections that can lead to cervical cancer. The rationale for immunising against HPV is part of a wider strategy and is "an...

Restructuring NSU to reflect real partnership.(NATIONAL STUDENT UNIT)
July 1, 2008... The National Student Unit (NSU) is proposing a major change in its structure to ensure equal representation of Tauira Aronui (TA) throughout the country. The proposal would see an NSU and a TA representative from ten regions, closely allied...

How Maori women experience 'mainstream' health services: health providers must treat Maori women with respect, taking into account the sociocultural influences affecting their lives, if the services they provide are to improve Maori women's poor health status.(RESEARCH)
July 1, 2008... Maori women, like other women, rely on being well and healthy so they can undertake the various roles they have within their whanau and communities. Yet, their voices are generally absent and they are invisible and marginalised within the...

Celebrating Matariki.(RESEARCH)
July 1, 2008... "May we care for each other as we have been cared for by others," said NZNO chief executive Geoff Annals at NZNO's national office celebration of Matariki last month. NZNO has been marking Matariki, the Maori New Year, since 2004, and for...

Uncovering the link between irritable bowel syndrome and abuse: irritable bowel syndrome is a largely female problem, with physical, emotional or sexual abuse often factors underlying the condition. Nurses are often in a unique position to identify links between ill health and abuse.(VIEWPOINT)
July 1, 2008... Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a cluster of symptoms that has no organic pathology, but can have devastating symptoms that interfere with an individuals ability to cope with activities of daily living. Symptoms include either diarrhoea...

Caring for women with gynaecological cancer: nurses specialising in women's health work in a variety of roles. Three nurses, who are members of NZNO'S women's health section national committee, describe aspects of their work.(PRACTICE)
July 1, 2008... Wellington Hospital's ward 14 cares for women with benign and malignant gynaecological conditions living in Wellington and on the Kapiti Coast. We also provide tertiary gynaecology/oncology services to women in Taranaki, Manawatu and Wairarapa,...

Helping couples achieve a pregnancy.(PRACTICE)
July 1, 2008... The three fertility nurses working for the Otago District Health Board are passionate about their roles, and believe they work in a very privileged position with women and couples undergoing fertility treatment. One of the daily challenges...

Cervical cancer and smoking.(PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... I have worked in women's health at Christchurch Hospital for 23 years, the last 12 of them in the colposcopy department. I am currently completing my master's thesis, which explores the link between smoking and cervical cancer and which will...

Thesaurus.
July 1, 2008... Absenteeism Advanced nursing practice see also Nurse practitioners Adverse health care event see also Patient safety; Quality of work environment Anorexia nervosa--nursing Attitude to disability Awards, honours...

Balancing tikanga and kawa in the workplace.(TE RUNANGA)
July 1, 2008... Tena koutou katoa, e mihi aroha tenei, kia koutou nga kai mahi, Neehi hoki o nga mahi Hauora, o te motu nei. tena hoki koutou, Ara nga mihi hoki ki a koutou e noho pani nei, i raro i ou kautou mamae, Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki, Mo nga Aitua o...

Activism on all fronts ensures victory: community health services in Wellington, Kenepuru and Kapiti are to stay with the district health board, thanks to a multi-faceted campaign.(INDUSTRIAL FOCUS)
July 1, 2008... Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) district nurses (DN) and community support workers have won their battle to keep their services in public ownership. Key factors in the victory were unflinching NZNO support, delegate and...

Strong support for EN/NA role.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)(nurse assistants)(enrolled nurses)(Conference news)
July 1, 2008... "Our flame endures" was the title of the 30th national enrolled nurses' (ENs) conference in Christchurch at the end of May, attended by 161 ENs and nurse assistants (NAs). Canterbury District Health Board executive director of nursing,...

Advancing women's health.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)
July 1, 2008... At the Women's Health Section nation committee meeting early last month, we discussed ways of raising the section's profile. This issue of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand on women's health gives us the opportunity to tell the wider nursing...

Managing urinary incontinence.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)
July 1, 2008... Urinary incontinence is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying problem, the cause of which is sometimes unknown. More than 600,000 New Zealand adults have experienced the problem at some time and should be referred to a health...

Inaugural forum for outpatient nurses.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)(Conference news)(Report)
July 1, 2008... The first National Outpatient Nurses' Forum took place at Hurt Hospital in May, attended by 62 outpatient nurses from around New Zealand, Organised by a small committee of Hutt Hospital outpatient nurses, the conference aimed to encourage...

Capital and Coast District nurses savour victory.(SECTOR REPORTS)
July 1, 2008... Capital and Coast District Health Board (DHB) district nurses and community health workers are delighted the campaign to retain their services within the DHB has been successful The DHB's plans to either privatise or contract out the service...

CTU Women's Committee wants minimum wage at $15 an hour.(SECTOR REPORTS)(Council of Trade Union)
July 1, 2008... The Council of Trade Union's Women's Committee wants the minimum wage to be set at $15 an hour; greater legislative support for multi-employer collective agreements (MECAs); and pay and employment equity in contracted out, government-funded...

Negotiations underway with country's biggest aged-care provider.(SECTOR REPORTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NZNO has started negotiations with the newly-minted aged-care provider Oceania, a merger between ElderCare and QualCare. The merger makes Oceania (logo at right) the largest aged-care chain in the country. Negotiations with ElderCare for a...

Bargaining for PHC MECA begins this month.(SECTOR REPORTS)(primary health care)(multi-employer collective agreement)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NZNO's primary health care (PHC) members have overwhelmingly endorsed the principle of pay parity with the latest NZNO/District Health Board multi-employer collective agreement (MECA). Bargaining has been initiated for the second PHC MECA and...

Petition growing.(SECTOR REPORTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NZNO's petition calling for mandatory staffing levels in aged-care facilities is gathering momentum, with thousands of signatures gathered by the end of last month. The petition calls for the voluntary guidelines to be replaced with...

'Flexi breekie'.(SECTOR REPORTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... A special breakfast to mark the introduction of the flexible working arrangements Law was held in Wellington on July 1, the day the law came into effect. Hosted by the Flexible Working Hours Coalition, it featured actor Miranda Harcourt as MC...

Progress in Presbyterian Support Central negotiations.(SECTOR REPORTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Negotiations for the renewal of the Presbyterian Support Central (PSC) collective employment agreement began in Wellington last month. Some progress was made towards an agreed outcome but more work still needs to be...

New Zealand offers to host South Pacific Nurses' Forum.(BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
July 1, 2008... NZNO is offering to host the 2012 South Pacific Nurses' Forum, following a decision at the May meeting of NZNO's board of directors. NZNO Last hosted the forum in 1992. A paper presented to the May meeting of the board outlined the role of...

NZNO budget shows small surplus.(BOARD OF DIRECTORS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... NZNO has a 2008/200g after tax budget surplus of $20,000. The board approved the annual plan and finalised budget, presented by business services manager Kevin O'Neill and chief executive Geoff Annals. This year's budget has a before...

Collective responsibility.(BOARD OF DIRECTORS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Partnership is not just a Maori responsibility but rather a collective responsibility of the organisation, Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO kaiwhakahaere Brenda Close told the meeting. She was responding to questions about her report to the...

NZNO--the heart of health care.(BOARD OF DIRECTORS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
July 1, 2008... The theme for NZNO's annual conference in September is "NZNO--the heart of health care". The board had considered a number of themes and an email poll narrowed the choice to three: Making our members matter; NZNO members make health care...

Who do board members represent?(DISCIPLINARY NOTICES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Who do BoD members represent when they attend board meetings--their region? the group that has elected them? (eg the section/ college representatives) or the membership as a whole? Board members pondered this question at the May meeting,...

NZNO staffing.(BOARD BRIEFS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Industrial and administrative staff numbers will be boosted following the board's approval of two staffing proposals. An extra Christchurch-based organiser is to be employed, and the northern region is to get 2.5 full-time equivalent (FTE)...

Flight nurses.(BOARD BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The New Zeeland Flight Nurses' Section is to become an associate member of the Air Industry Association's (AIA) Air Ambulance Division. The AIA represents the interests of commercial aviation on issues including safety, business...

Communications upgrade.(BOARD BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The board approved a $185,000 upgrade to NZNO's communications capability, with annual ongoing costs of $180,000. The main features of the upgrade are a new secure wide-area network, capable of free telephone calling, audio conferencing and...

Finance committee.(BOARD BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Chief executive Geoff Annals is to formulate a proposal for the August board meeting to improve the processes of NZNO's finance committee. The current finance committee is made up of NZNO's management team, the president and Te Runanga chair....

EN working as RN loses registration.(DISCIPLINARY NOTICES)(enrolled nurse)(registered nurse)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... TAUAROHA DAVIS, EN An enrolled nurse (EN), who practised as an registered nurse (RN), has been found guilty of professional misconduct and had her registration as an EN cancelled by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, in a...

Nurse suspended.(DISCIPLINARY NOTICES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... A registered nurse (RN) has been censured and suspended from practice for six months after the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found her guilty of professional misconduct by violating a patient's rights. The RN had wheeled the...