Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand articles from November 2004

Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand archives from November 2004

New research funding provides opportunities for nursing.(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... Earlier this year the New Zealand nursing profession celebrated 30 years of education in the tertiary sector. The introduction of the Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) provides the profession with a reason to take stock of our achievements...

Portfolios aid reflective practice.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I have read the Letters about nursing portfolios in recent issues of your magazine with emotions ranging from amusement to grave fear for the future of nursing. How, in this day and age, can nurses still deny a link between "real nursing" and...

No recognition outside New Zealand.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Congratulations to Caron Clinning, who wrote "Objecting to writing a portfolio" in September's Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand (p4). Thank you for voicing the opinion of so many nurses out there. I have recently returned to New Zealand and...

Other professions require portfolios.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Several correspondents have expressed disappointment, frustration or outrage about the new requirement for portfolios. This is understandable to some degree. We all resist change and certainly portfolios are very time consuming to construct...

Demands on a shrinking workforce.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I notice the irritation expressed by some experienced nurses over the new Nursing Council requirement for nurses to compile a portfolio as proof of competence. This is yet another straw on the back of a shrinking workforce. The average age of...

Making my portfolio work for me.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I, too, feet portfolios are an inadequate assessment of a nurse's ability to practise. I've been nursing for about 35 years, both in Australia and New Zealand, and in many different health settings. Initially I was insulted that I had to...

Mature nurse chooses early retirement.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I still enjoy my nursing but I'm becoming disappointed and disillusioned by what is happening. I couldn't agree with your letter writer Caron Clinning more, regarding the issue of portfolios ("Objecting to writing a portfolio", Kai Tiaki...

Nursing council no longer democratic.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I'm grateful to Nursing Council chief executive Marion Clark for replying to my letter "Apology for Nursing Council 'insult'" published in September's Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand (p3). Of course, she is right. The Nursing Council is purely a...

NZNO submission ideologically driven.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I wrote to Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand years ago and criticised the then NZNO president Judi Mutholland for telling members to vote for the Labour Party. I said that NZNO should steer clear of party political issues and stick to nursing and...

NZNO breaches members' trust.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Quite by chance, I came across a copy of NZNO policy analyst Eileen Brown's presentation on the Civil Union Bill to Parliament's Justice and Electoral Select Committee, delivered early last month. How surprised I was! Had I, as a member of the...

Using our voices without authority.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Quite by chance I found an NZNO submission to Parliament's Justice and Electoral Select Committee on the Civil Union Bill on the NZNO website. Interestingly, this has now been removed. The submission stated that NZNO "represents over 36,000...

Input on moral issues required.(Letters)
November 1, 2004... A news story in the September issue of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand reported that NZNO had presented submissions to parliamentary select committees in support of more funding for aged care and the Civil Union Bill (p7). I have no problems with...

Lack of understanding of mental illness.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I was touched by Tina Lane's article on her experiences of mental illness published in the September issue ('Dealing with mental health stigma at work", p22-23). I am a registered nurse at Waikato Hospital with an extensive psychiatric history,...

Midwifery story a timely reminder.(Letters)
November 1, 2004... Thank you, Heather Waugh, for sharing your courage, life experiences and wisdom in your midwifery rote in the September issue of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand ("A farewell to midwifery", p20-21). I too have been fortunate to have a wonderful,...

Community nurse sees history repeating.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I feel for enrolled nurses (EN) as their title is stripped away under the new nursing scopes of practice. Once again the Nursing Council has made individuals with a passion for nursing feet guttered and undermined. I trained at Auckland...

Smaller font size causes eye strain.(Letters)
November 1, 2004... I would like to comment on the new-took magazine. I think the colour identification is really great, but being 50 years old, I find the font size too small. I used to read Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand when relaxing. With the new font size, I...

New magazine layout impresses.(Letters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I'm a staff nurse at Christchurch Hospital's plastics outpatients department. I wasn't sure of my very first impression of the new format/ layout of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, as my Least favourite colours (red, orange and brown) were...

Rural health--scholarship winners, merger, funding boost.(News And Events)
November 1, 2004... Seven rural health nurses, working throughout the country, have been awarded primary health care nurse practitioner (rural) scholarships. Six nurses were awarded the inaugural scholarships last year. The scheme was extended this year and...

Primary health care nurses' council meets in Wellington.(News And Events)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Members of NZNO's Primary Health Care Nurses' (PHC) Council met for the first time last month, after two ealier scheduled meetings had been cancelled due to bad weather in Wellington. The two-day workshop began with introductions and sharing of...

Landmark conference for plunket nurses.(News And Events)
November 1, 2004... For the first time in 13 years, Plunket nurses gathered at a major national conference earlier this month. Entitled "Primary health care nursing--connecting communities", the three-day conference in Rotorua was an opportunity to recognise and...

Pacific mental health nurse honoured.(News And Events)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Long-time mental health nurse and a former member of the Hutt Valley District Health Board (DHB), Karl Pulotu-Endemann, was one of two people awarded the Pasifika Medical Association's 2004 service award. The award recognises outstanding...

NZNO meets with Nga Puhi.(News And Events)(Progressively Acting in Unity and Aroha)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Over 100 Nga Puhi representatives attended the first of a series of hui held to support NZNO's Progressively Acting in Unity and Aroha (PAUA) project early this month. The hui was held at Te Piringatahi o te Maungaarongo Marae in west...

UCOL scores a New Zealand education first.(News And Events)(Universal College of Learning)
November 1, 2004... Palmerston North's Universal College of Learning (UCOL) has scored a New Zealand first in education provision. At the beginning of this month, the school of nursing launched a one-year upgrade to degree programme for Indian registered nurses...

NZNO continues to looby for increased staffing levels in aged care.(News And Events)
November 1, 2004... NZNO is currently considering new proposals from the Ministry of Health in relation to minimum staffing levels in aged residential care facilities. From October 1 this year, providers certified under the Health and Disability Services...

End in sight for historic national pay deal.(News And Events)
November 1, 2004... The final clauses on the national fair pay settlement for nurses and midwives in the public sector were being negotiated as Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand went to press early this month. The new national multi-employer collective agreement...

Trim steps down as NPAC-NZ chair.(News And Events)(Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee of New Zealand)
November 1, 2004... Inaugural chair of the Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee of New Zealand (NPAC-NZ) Susanne Trim, one of NZNO's professional nursing adviser, is to step down from the position at the end of this year. She will be succeeded by New Zealand's...

Helping workers achieve a work-life balance.(News And Events)
November 1, 2004... Launching the Council of Trade Unions' (CTU) new work-life publication was one of the highlights of a visit to New Zealand by senior Trades Union Congress (TUC) equality and employments fights officer, 30 Morris, earlier this month. Morris...

Christchurch Hospital nurse becomes United States Health College dean.(News And Events)
November 1, 2004... It's been a long journey, with many twists and turns, for Christchurch Hospital-trained nurse Jo Kahler (nee Simmons), the founding dean of a recently established College of Health and Behavioural Sciences in Texarkana, the United States (US)....

Correction.(News And Events)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... A few sentences were omitted from an article in Last month's Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand. The article--"Accountability and fair pay" by NZNO Legal adviser Sue Johnson (p26-27)--should have concluded: * Order payment of compensation to...

Bickley Asher appointed NZNO manager.(News And Events)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Joy Bicktey Asher (right) is returning to the staff of NZNO, after a break of 11 years in academia, to take up the job of professional services manager. Dr. Bickley Asher, a registered nurse and midwife, is a senior lecturer at Victoria...

Nurses elected to boards.(News And Events)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Results from last month's district health board (DHB) elections have been slow to materialise, due to difficulties with the new single transferable voting (STV) system. At press time, Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand had heard of only one...

Forums familiaris nurses with the HPCA Act: the advent of competency-based practising certificates is still causing concern among many nurses. The recent Nursing Council forums attempted to allay nurses' fears about the new requirements.(News Focus)(Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act)
November 1, 2004... Providing information about the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act), the new scopes of practice and how nurses can ensure their continuing competence was the purpose of four Nursing Council forums last month. Two were held...

Portfolios--a useful record of nursing knowledge and skills.(News Focus)
November 1, 2004... NZNO's professional nursing advisers (PNAs) have been running professional forums on the HPCA Act and how to prepare for competency based practising certificates. Not only was NZNO pivotal to the introduction of clinical career pathways and...

Continuing competences: a conversation based on the novel 'pride and prejudice'.(News Focus)
November 1, 2004... "I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished! Her performance with paediatric clients is exquisite", said Miss Bingley. "It is amazing to me", said Mr Bingley, "how...

A snapshot of Maori nurses' health and safety issues: a unique research study by a doctoral student has provided a fascinating snapshot of Maori nurses, their job satisfaction, their health and safety issues and their work life balance.(Research)
November 1, 2004... Maori nurses in Maori workplaces are cuturally well supported, though clinically not as well supported. Maori nurses in mainstream organisations are clinically well supported but not so well culturally supported. This is a key finding from a...

Multi-disciplinary care plans--a key to reclaiming nursing passion: overworked nurses need to work in partnership with their clients, their families and other health professionals, developing with them goals of wellness and rehabilitation. These goals are best recorded in o client-held, multi-disciplinary care plan, a mark of true professionalism.(Viewpoint)
November 1, 2004... The nursing profession is in disarray, judging by the stories one hears regularly of advanced practitioners and nursing leaders leaving nursing, disillusioned and burnt out. I myself resigned from my clinical leader role at Waikato District...

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? The current meningoccocol meningitis and whooping cough epidemics have prompted o practice nurse and vaccinator to ponder the arguments against vaccination and the dilemmas these pose for health professionals.(Viewpoints)
November 1, 2004... The diseases for which New Zealand children are immunised were disappearing before the vaccines were used, according to anti-immunisation supporters. That was a sentiment put to me last year at a course for vaccinators. It is significant for a...

Nursing in prison--a primary health care role to be proud of: a good prison nurse needs to have a high level of self-knowledge, confidence in her or his practice and the ability to maintain safe boundaries. It's the ideal job for a nurse committed to primary health care.(Profile)
November 1, 2004... Improving the training of nurses in prison, supporting them in their roles, and raising health service standards within the countries 18 public prisons are the aims of four, recently appointed regional clinical quality assurance advisers. A...

Resources, guides and information: NZNO's library is constantly updating its collection. Here is a selection of some of the most recent acquisitions.(Books)(Book Review)
November 1, 2004... Transforming nurses' stress and anger: steps toward healing. Thomas, S.P. (2004) 2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. 318 pp. Overworked nurses in understaffed health institutions are experiencing considerable stress--and...

The end of exemplars? Exemplar-writing will continue to be a useful professional activity, even though Nursing Council no longer requires nurses to record examples of their practice to demonstrate their competence.(Viewpoint)
November 1, 2004... 'Oh good, now we don't have to do exemplars." It's been said by more than one nurse since Nursing Council announced its revised requirements for competence-based practising certificates in mid-September. Council's 2001 proposal had...

More nurses choosing postgraduate study at Auckland.(Education Suplement)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Postgraduate study at The University of Auckland School of Nursing is a great way to advance your career and enhance your skills says Associate Professor Judy Kilpatrick, Head of School. In addition to the Bachelor of Nursing, Auckland offers a...

Are care aid communication lost arts? A clinical nurse adviser reflects on the medical and nursing care her parents recieved while in hospital. She observed a worrying lack of professionalism, and communication gaps between doctors and nurses. She poses some challenges to health professionals about the care they give and their communication.(Viewpoint)
November 1, 2004... I don't normally put pen to paper. But my experiences over the last two years have given me a voice. In that time I have had a seriously in mother, who required a 14-week hospital stay; more recently, a terminally ill father who received...

Highlighting NZNO midwives' concerns: this year has been one of unprecedented consultation with NZNO's midwife members. These members have had some particular concerns around demonstrating continuing competence to practise and NZNO has been advocating on their behalf.(Professional Focus)
November 1, 2004... This year--the centennial of midwifery regulation and the establishment of a new Midwifery Council to regulate midwives under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act--has been a year of celebration, change and some anxiety for...

Survey highlights caregivers' low pay and exploitation: a recent NZNO survey of caregiver pay rates reveals the extent of exploitation, unrealistic job expectations, short-staffing and lack of employer respect these vulnerable workers are subject to.(Industrial Focus)
November 1, 2004... A news story in last month's Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand (p8) highlighted the shamefully low pay rates caregivers working in the private aged-care sector receive. The information was drawn from an NZNO survey of caregivers, which took place...

New Te Runanga representatives welcomed.(Te Runanga Mounts Recruitment Drive)
November 1, 2004... What does belonging to Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO mean? How do you become a member? Who is eligible to be a member of Te Runanga? What does Te Runanga do for me? These are some of the many questions we are asked when trying to recruit Te...

Profiling new delegate Tania Rewi.(Te Runanga Mounts Recruitment Drive)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Ko Takitimu te waka, ko Takitimu te mauka, ko Waihopai te awa, ko te Ara-a-kiwa te moana, nga moutere titi oku taoka, ko Murihiku te marae, ko Kai Tahu me Ngati Kahungunu oku iwi, ko Tania Rewi taku ingoa. Tena koutou katoa. I graduated...

Marae protocols and customs.(Te Runanga Mounts Recruitment Drive)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... As NZNO continues its journey of partnership, engaging in dialogue with Maori deepens. The vehicle for this engagement is hui on marae. The first in the development of NZNO's Progressively Acting in Unity and Aroha (PAUA) project was held at Te...

Perioperative nurses stretch the boundaries.(Section News)(New Zealand Nurses Organisation)
November 1, 2004... Keynote speaker at the NZNO Perioperative Nurses' College conference in Auckland in August was Australian adjunct associate professor Jane Gordon. She spoke to around 240 delegates about exploring the boundaries around the perioperative nurse....

The rewards of working in a team.(Section News)
November 1, 2004... Last month's Public Heath Nurses' Section conference in Christchurch was attended by around 130 nurses and explored the theme "Landscape to Horizons". Canterbury District Health Board chief executive Jean O'Callaghan opened the conference,...

Cardiac nurses' study day.(Section News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A one-day symposium, hosted by the Cardiac Nurses' Section committee, was held in Christchurch at the end of August, attended by nurses from around New Zealand. The title "Latest trends and research" was chosen to allow presenters, who were...

Aged-care sector funding crisis--unions and churches call on ministers to act.(Sector Reports)
November 1, 2004... NZNO, along with the Service and Food Workers' Union (SFWU) and the New Zealand Council of Social Services (NZCSS), have written to Prime Minister Helen Clark, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Health Minister Annette King, seeking an urgent...

Plunket staff ratify new agreement.(Sector Reports)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Plunket staff throughout the country have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a one-year collective agreement (CA) from August 1 this year, which delivers significant pay increases for all staff. The new CA includes: * base rates for...

Working towards a national hospice collective agreement.(Sector Reports)
November 1, 2004... NZNO has undertaken an analysis of hospice collective agreements and believes there are significant advantages in working towards a national hospice multi-employer collective agreement (MECA). Moving to a national hospice MECA would provide...

Caregivers address the health select committee.(Sector Reports)
November 1, 2004... Caregivers, supported by NZNO staff, made oral submissions to Parliament's Health Select Committee on NZNO's submission Make Caregivers Count! early last month. Laurie St Clair, from Te Whanau Rest Home and Hospital in Levin, told the...

Guidelines for writing articles for Kai Tiaki.(Guidelines)
November 1, 2004... KAI TIAKI Nursing New Zealand welcomes articles on subjects relevant to nurses and nursing. These guidelines are designed to help you write an article which is accurate, clear, easily read and interesting. The main reason you want an article...