Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand

District health boards ‘disappointed’ by NZNO response

District Health Boards say they are "disappointed" that their "fair and reasonable" offer has been dismissed by nurses and midwives without a member vote.

DHB offer ‘insulting’

NZNO members working in district health boards (DHBs) are poised to reject the multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) offer, now out for consideration.

Emergency nurses plead for help

Emergency nurses are pleading with the Government to urgently step in to alleviate “critical” and unsafe pressures on emergency departments (EDs) and hospitals around the country.

PHC MECA ratified at last

The proposed primary health care multi-employer collective agreement (PHC MECA) has been overwhelmingly endorsed by members.

Equal pay win for Canterbury MIQ nurses

About 60 NZNO nurses working in Christchurch managed isolation or quarantine (MIQ) facilities will be getting paid the same rates as their Auckland colleagues, after lobbying from NZNO.

Nurses ‘best advertisers’ for vaccine

Nurses can make a real difference in encouraging people to have the COVID-19 vaccine, says the nurse leading Wellington's border vaccination programme, Marie Habowska.

MIQ nurses ‘shunned’ by communities

A senior nursing lecturer says the stigma faced by nurses working in managed isolation or quarantine (MIQ) facilities is "concerning" and nurses should know what they are signing up for.

Making a connection beyond the mask

The COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted the deep need for more culturally supportive care for critically ill Māori patients, a Waikato critical care nurse says.

$6 million for more Māori, Pacific midwives

A $6 million initiative to triple the number of Māori midwives and quadruple the number of Pacific midwives over the next four years would make a big difference to those communities, chair of NZNO's Pacific Nursing Section 'Eseta Finau says.

Māori authority must have ‘power’

NZNO supports a fully autonomous Māori Health Authority (MHA) with the power to create, commission and fund health services for Māori, acting chief executive Mairi Lucas says.

Pacific approach ‘essential’

Pacific communities must be reached through community groups and churches to encourage COVID-19 vaccination, chair of the NZNO Pacific Nursing Section, 'Eseta Finau, says.

Elected council members appointed

A former NZNO president Marion Guy, a former NZNO board member Maria Armstrong and Filipino nurse Emmanuel Pelayo are the three successful candidates in last year's Nursing Council elections.

Morgan takes up presidency on as-needs basis

Tracey Morgan, elected unopposed as NZNO vice president last October, will act as president on an as-needs basis until new board elections in September.

Kai Tiaki co-editor Teresa O’Connor retires

Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand’s longest-serving editor Teresa O'Connor retired this month. She joined Kathy Stodart as a co-editor in 1992, after working as a surgical nurse.

Chief executive to be appointed soon?

NZNO's board of directors is still "working through the interviewing and selection processes for a new chief executive [CE]", board member Simon Auty said this month.

Staunch trade unionist and ex-NZNO staffer dies

Former Christchurch NZNO office manager and long-time trade unionist Andy Lea died last month, aged 72. He started at NZNO in 2005 and retired because of ill health in 2019.

Increase nurse workforce now

With International Nurses’ Day approaching, Pipi Barton shares her views on the future of nursing in New Zealand.

Pandemic’s impact on the profession

Nurses have been hailed as 'heroes' for their efforts in the pandemic, but this type of recognition potentially normalises the risks they face, and doesn't accurately reflect their skilled professionalism.

Positive colleagueship

Sometimes the worst thing about work is your colleagues, but often the best thing about work is your colleagues.

Power structures must change for progress

If nurses are to realise their full potential within the health system, fundamental power structures have to change.

How can nurse leaders fulfil the International Nurses Day theme?

A group of nurse leaders at Canterbury District Health Board recently met and pondered how they could fulfil this year's theme for International Nurses Day.

Celebrating International Nurses’ Day and International Midwives’ Day

2020 was designated the Year of the Nurse and Midwife by the World Health Organization. It was meant to be a time to celebrate our kaimahi hauora. Instead, COVID-19 unleashed across the world. We saw health-care workers doing extremely risky, essential work, while continuing to be under-protected, underpaid and understaffed.

Advocacy lessons from HDC cases

Last month's NZNO professional forums focused on a nurse's obligation to advocate for their patients. Cases referred to the Health and Disability Commissioner provide valuable advocacy lessons for nurses.

Childhood obesity – giving the best care

The causes of obesity in children and young people are myriad and complex. To deliver the best care, nurses need to be aware of these multiple determinants and tailor care accordingly.

Providing equitable, appropriate care for those with hepatitis C

People living with hepatitis C are still subject to stigma and discrimination. But new treatments and alternative ways of providing care can help ensure they get the care they need.

Type 2 diabetes: Two new medications offer fresh management paradigm

Current international guidelines for type 2 diabetes management include the use of two new classes of medication: sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, in people with established kidney disease, heart disease or heart failure, or with high cardiovascular risk.1

Primary health care: Plunket claims endorsed

Plunket members throughout the country have endorsed a range of claims, which include a focus on Family Start and administration workers.

Mandatory staffing needed in aged care

NZNO, E tū and Grey Power are lobbying hard to get as many people as possible to sign an open letter to Prime Minister (PM) Jacinda Ardern, calling for mandatory staffing levels in aged care.

Pacific nurses need support to lead

About 85 participants gathered in person and online at the New Zealand College of Primary Health Care Nurses (NZCPHCN) symposium Nursing diversity bring nursing strength in March.

Hospice members reject proposed offer

Members covered by the national hospice multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) have rejected a proposed offer which did not reach their original claim of pay parity with the NZNO/district health board MECA.

Private hospitals: Offer at St George’s

A proposed settlement has been reached between NZNO and St George’s Hospital in Christchurch, with ratification meetings underway this month.

Union power prompts new offer at Labtests

NZNO members at Auckland pathology services provider Labtests have voted to withdraw notice of a 24-hour strike, scheduled to be held on April 6.