Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand articles from March 2009

Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand archives from March 2009

Surviving cancer.(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... Cancer battles are sometimes referred to as "journeys". My journey with cancer began 30 years ago this month. In March 1979, a grim oncologist at Auckland Hospital relayed to a bewildered 19-year-old that the enlarged lymph nodes that had...

Identifying mistakes.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... Your article, "A series of mistakes lead to patient's death", published on p21 of last month's issue, refers to six fundamental mistakes. I put it to the authors that there were in fact seven. The seventh was the doctor making a note in the...

Photo brings back memories.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I was reading through last month's issue of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand and was somewhat taken aback to see I now have a small claim to fame. On page 6, I am in the photo under the headline "Centennial programme taking shape" and am holding...

Getting the most from nursing.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I was delighted to read the article "Why dignity at work is imperative for nurses", by Jane Lawless and published in the December/January 2008/09 issue (p12-13). I am currently working at Capital and Coast District Health Board in the...

We need more nurses.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... As the husband of a nurse who has been practising for about 30 years and seeing her increasing disillusionment, frustration and stress associated with her work, I have to ask a few questions. Firstly, why do New Zealand polytechnics and...

Students should take responsibility.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I would like to make a few comments about Jo Coffey's article, "NZNO loses a golden opportunity to make important symbolic gesture", published in last month's Koi Tiaki Nursing New Zealand (p16-17). First of all, Coffey refers to a system...

Co-editors' apology.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... We apologise that some lines, including the authors name, were omitted from the end of a letter published last month (p5). The letter was written by Isabelle Sherrard, RN, MPhil, of Auckland and was headed "The right to be treated with...

The hype over Herceptin.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... In recent years, breast cancer lobby groups have placed pressure on PHARMAC (The government funding agency for pharmaceutical drugs) to fund Herceptin for 12-month treatment of early HER-2 positive breast cancer. Herceptin (trastuzumab) was...

The president's comments ...(LETTERS)
March 1, 2009... It seems strange to think my term as president is almost over. I am already asking myself what I will do, as I have been part of NZNO in diffent leadership roles since 1998. There will be some huge gaps to till, as I have become so immersed in...

Disease update: professionitis: from time to time, the Te Henga Section of the Marxist Nurses" Union publishes a scholarly paper on a disease. This is one of those times.((A) MUSING ON NURSING)
March 1, 2009... 1:1 PROFESSIONITIS 1:1:1 DESCRIPTION and DIAGNOSIS Description: Professionitis is an invidious condition characterised by a heightened sense of importance unaccompanied by supporting evidence. This may be related to self (sub-type:...

Ministry's consultation roundly criticised.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Ministry of Health)
March 1, 2009... NZNO, in its submission on the review of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act, has harshly criticised the Ministry of Health's consultation process and asks what confidence NZNO can have in the review's recommendations "when...

Outgoing Plunket chief executive 'an elusive leader.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Paul Baigent)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Plunket is seeking a new chief executive following the resignation of Paul Baigent (right) who has been at the helm for a decade. He leaves next month and Plunker has not yet appointed a successor. Reflecting on his time with the society,...

Online survey for nursing students.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
March 1, 2009... Last month, the National Student Unit (NSU) launched its first ever internet-based survey. This follows a survey last year designed to provide a snapshot of how nursing programmes were being delivered nationally from the student perspective,...

Maori nursing students needed.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... At the end of last month, only hall the 30 places for the first specialist degree for Maori nurses, Te Ohanga Mataora, had been filled. The programme is being delivered at Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi in Nangere in partnership with the National...

New graduate nurses choosing to stay.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... More than 90 percent of new graduate nurses who passed state finals late last year are employed as registered nurses in New Zealand. This is a marked improvement on previous years, when around ten percent headed overseas. In 2004, 19.5 percent...

Nurse bonding scheme too limited, says NZNO.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
March 1, 2009... NZNO has welcomed the government's announcement last month of a voluntary bonding scheme for newly graduated doctors, nurses and midwives, but is concerned the proposal is too limited. "While this is a good start to addressing the problem...

Encouraging collaboration.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Founding director of the Cancer Care Research Centre at the University of Stirling, nursing professor Nora Kearney, visited New Zealand last month as the STAR (Strategy to Advance Research) project's first visiting scholar. Funded by the...

Growing interest in nursing.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Nursing enrolments are strong this year, an indication that the profile of nursing is building, according to head of the nursing and health studies department at Manukau Institute of Technology, Debbie Penlington. Penlington has been...

PHC nursing roles expanded.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Primary Health Care)
March 1, 2009... Since the introduction of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Strategy in 2001, there has been substantial growth in the development of nursing rotes and nurses' capability in primary health organisations (PHO), especially in the management of...

Career pathways needed for school nurses.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... There is considerable variation in the types and funding of health services in secondary schools, according to a research report Nursing Services in New Zealand Secondary Schools released last month. The report, conducted by Victoria...

Serious events' report 'sobering reading'.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
March 1, 2009... The Serious and Sentinel Events in New Zealand Hospitals 2007/2008 report, released last month by the Ministry of Hearth's Quality Improvement Committee, makes sobering read for nurses and the public, according to NZNO president Marion Guy. ...

Violence a part of caregivers' work.(NEWS AND EVENTS)
March 1, 2009... A broken jaw, a dislocated shoulder, being kicked at, spat on, punched and verbally abused--this is what too many caregivers working in dementia units experience on a regular basis. The Accident Compensation Corporation last month released...

Celebrating caregivers.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Caregivers' contribution to aged care is being marked this month with a series of NZNO symposiums around the country. Part of national Caregivers' Week, the symposiums in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin will have a range of topics, including...

NZNO takes its message to the regions.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... "Strong of heart, powerful voices--sustaining NZNO" is the theme of this year's NZNO's regional conventions. They began this month in Dunedin, with regional chair Ann Galloway welcoming delegates and giving an outline of the day. This was...

Erratum.(NEWS AND EVENTS)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2009... In the February edition of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, p11, a chart recording the new NZNO membership fees, due to come into effect on April 1, was printed. Unfortunately, it contained some errors and NZNO apologizes for any inconvenience or...

Breast self examination no longer recommended: breast self examination is no longer recommended as an option for early detection of breast cancer. Rather, women are being encouraged to be 'breast aware.'.(EDUCATION)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More than two thousand women each year are faced with a diagnosis of breast cancer and the impact this will have on their lives and the lives of their families. (1) As a way of trying to reduce the impact of this...

New era dawns at Nursing Council: there's a new regime at the Nursing Council. Improved communication with all stakeholders is a priority.(NEWS FOCUS)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Nursing Council chief executive (CEO) Carolyn Reed is clear about her rote, candid about the issues confronting the Council and committed to forging a new culture within and outside it. Education adviser with...

A passion for oncology nursing: nurses who work in ontology and haemotology must be warm, caring and very knowledgeable, able to advocate for their patients and have the confidence to deal with a range of other hospital staff.(PROFILE)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oncology units don't have to be sad, depressing places. They are places of safety to which patients come for expert and compassionate care. Such is the atmosphere that greets a patient or visitor when arriving...

The lonely road--a patient's view: a Nelson woman's diagnosis of a rare form of leukaemia meant embarking on an often lonely journey. But her fear and loneliness were ameliorated by the thoughtfulness and care of a number of nurses.(VIEWPOINT)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was a blue-sky day and Deirdre, my new oncology nurse, and I were sitting under the sun umbrella getting acquainted. "Tell me about LGL [large granular lymphocytic] leukaemia," she asked. "I've not heard of it...

Easing the transition to palliative care: the transition of a patient from general practice to palliative care requires effective care co-ordination, collaboration and communication. It can sometimes be difficult to achieve a smooth transition.(PRACTICE)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Palliative care is an important and challenging part of a practice nurse's rote. The appropriate and timely transition of a patient to palliative care can be stressful and difficult for the patient and all those...

Gardasil: holy grail or false idol? Will the community become apathetic about continuing regular cervical screening now that an immunisation programme for the Human Papillomavirus has been introduced?(VIEWPOINT)
March 1, 2009... From February 2009, public health nurses (PHNs) across many parts of New Zealand will be responsible for implementing the school-based immunisation programme for Human Papillomavirus (HPV). These nurses will be expected to be fully informed on...

Survey provides snapshot of nurses' attitudes to their work: NZNO has conducted a comprehensive survey on nurses" and caregivers' employment conditions, working situation and job quality.(NEWS FOCUS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Survey)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While most New Zealand nurses believe they are poorly paid, the majority remain optimisic about nursing as a career. These are among the findings of NZNO's inaugural biennial employment survey of a random sample of...

Making the case for gun law reform: Australia's gun law reforms have had a profound impact on gun-related death rates. Perhaps New Zealand could learn from the Australian experience.(VIEWPOINT)(Report)
March 1, 2009... The gun death rates in New Zealand from suicide and homicide are considerably higher than in Australia. In 2005, these gun death rates per 100,000 people were .91 in Australia (1,2,3) and 1.3 in New Zealand. (4) Are the higher death rates in...

Is your extended practice safe? The Nursing Council is to consult on the boundaries of extended practice. It is vital nurses working in extended roles or those wanting to do so, take part in this consultation.(PROFESSIONAL FOCUS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)
March 1, 2009... Recent developments in extended nursing practice herald a new phase in New Zealand nursing. It is imperative that nurses working in extended practice or those wanting to extend their practice are familiar with these developments and their...

Delegate or delegate? Has the user-pays mentality pervaded the role of the NZNO delegate? What should their role be in the current environment?(INDUSTRIAL FOCUS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)
March 1, 2009... It's mid March--hardly a new year anymore--and yet in most of our worksites we are only just getting underway with our regular delegates' workplace committee meetings. Being constantly bombarded, in the media and generally, about the global...

Developing the Maori nursing and midwifery workforce.(TE RUNANGA)
March 1, 2009... What attracts Maori into nursing and midwifery? What do Maori nurses and midwives need in the way of professional development? And how can leadership among Maori nurses and midwives be developed and strengthened? These were the key...

Improving governance effectiveness.(BOARD OF DIRECTORS)(Conference news)
March 1, 2009... The first day of the February NZNO board of directors' meeting was dedicated to governance training with consultant Graeme Nahkies. Board members had earlier completed a survey on board effectiveness and the training was based around the...

Diagnostic Medlab staff sitting tight.(SECTOR REPORTS)
March 1, 2009... The legal battle over the district health board (DHB) community laboratory testing contract in Auckland is over, meaning the future for 600 Diagnostic Medlab (DML) staff is uncertain. But present indications are that staff are sticking with DML...

Staffing guidelines to be developed.(SECTOR REPORTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Practice nurses and receptionists employed at East Care ltd, an accident and medical centre in Botany Rd, Auckland, have secured a four percent pay increase. The new collective agreement, which covers 13 NZNO members, runs from January 1, 2009...

Review of progress steps completed.(SECTOR REPORTS)
March 1, 2009... NZNO, the Service and Food Workers' Union and Guardian Health Care (GHC) have been working with the Partnership Resource Centre (PRC) since early 2008. The purpose of this was to learn to work in a partnership model with the support of the PRC....

Rosebank members picket employers' Christchurch office.(SECTOR REPORTS/)(Rosebank Rest Home and Hospital)
March 1, 2009... NZNO members employed at Ashburton's Rosebank Rest Home and Hospital are to take strike action in protest at the latest nil wage offer from their employer, Stuart Leck. The first action was scheduled for 24 hours on Mach 13. Action will be held...

Plunket administrative staff positions reviewed.(SECTOR REPORTS)
March 1, 2009... As part of Plunket collective agreement negotiations last year, Plunket accepted NZNO's claim that among the three administration groups--office clerk, data administrator and support team co-ordinator--there were significant recruitment and...

Clinical journal for neonatal nurses.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... One of the key agenda items at last month's I meeting of the national committee of the Neonatal Nurses' College of Aotearoa (NZNO)--meeting for the first time this year--was moving ahead with our plan to provide a clinical journal for members,...

NZNO library thesis collection.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)
March 1, 2009... The NZNO library at national office in Wellington holds a collection of theses and other research material This may be accessed within either the NZNO library or another library environment. The topics covered are broad and the collection...

International Day Surgery Congress.(SECTION/COLLEGE NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The 8th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery, in Brisbane from July 3-6, will give nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists and managers working in day surgery centres/ units from around the world the opportunity to meet. It will be the first...

NZNO fees to rise from April 1.(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Table)
March 1, 2009... NZNO FEES TO RISE FROM APRIL 1 Annual Half Quarterly $ Yearly $ Registered nurses and midwives, Health $421.90 $210.95 ...

Changes to low income eligibility for reduced NZNO membership rate.(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... NZNO has recently made a change to the eligibility criteria for the low income membership rate to make it more likely this assistance is properly targeting members in difficult financial circumstances. Previously the income level was...

Events 2009 www.kaitiakiads.co.nz.(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2009... 2009 3-4 April Workshop - Manual Handling in Healthcare Hamilton email: training@smoothmovers.co.nz 2009 14-17 May NZ Ophthalmic Nurses Group Meeting 2009 Nelson www.sixhats.co.nz/ranzco09 2009 29-30...