Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand

New online learning series on consumer rights will ‘strengthen patient relationship’ — HDC

New online learning modules to support health professionals' working knowledge and understanding of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights have been launched.

Long-time NZNO flight nurse chair recognised with double awards

Long-time NZNO flight nurse leader Toni Johnston was "blindsided" by a double-award whammy after stepping down as College of Air and Surface Transport Nurses (COASTN) chair after seven years.

Minister looking at paid third-year placements, but no sign of more fees-free

Paid clinical placements 'a nod in the right direction', but free nursing study for all is the goal, say student nursing leaders.

‘The key performance indicator I have to meet is with my people’

In the third part of a series on NZNO's board members, Tauranga nurse Anamaria Watene says she finds solace in her marae, Tahuwhakatiki, and sacred local mountain, Mauao, when challenges such as racial prejudice become too much.

Aussie-run private hospital nurses go on 24-hour strike

More than 200 nurses across three private hospitals run by Australian company Evolution Healthcare Ltd went on strike for 24 hours from 7am today, after urgent mediation failed.

Primary health nurses take their message to the streets, the Government, and the Minister

Primary health and Plunket members walked off the job, and onto the streets, to escalate their demand for pay parity with hospital colleagues.

‘I always thought you had to be rich . . . and Māori couldn’t be nurses’

Rotorua practice nurse manager Tracey Morgan shares her story, and goals for the NZNO Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa board, as part of a series on the newly elected directors who met for the first time this week.

Stop work meeting Christchurch

Primary health care nurses to strike on October 27

Nurses providing vital care to patients in the community want movement on stalled pay talks. Over 4000 of them will walk off the job for four hours on October 27.

‘ED has become so dangerous and unsafe that I personally needed to move out’

In the second of a series of profiles of the incoming NZNO board, Kaitiaki speaks to Wairarapa nurse practitioner Lucy McLaren.

First-year nursing student juggles 60-hr week factory job and full-time study

Nursing students are battling against the odds to "just survive" in the face of huge financial pressures, with some trying to hold down full-time jobs while meeting academic and clinical training expectations.

Pay parity for aged care and iwi nurses ‘a step in the right direction’

NZNO aged care and iwi nurses are welcoming a $200 million annual cash injection which will bring pay parity with Te Whatu Ora nurses — but NZNO says practice nurses must be included.

Saju was six months into his nursing degree when tragedy struck

In a new series, Kaitiaki gets to know our board. Kicking it off, we spoke to novice board member Saju Cherian who was inspired to become a nurse by his late wife Shanty.

‘This was Sue’s magic, this is how she touched people’

The sudden death of mental health nurse and NZNO delegate Susan Cade has left colleagues shocked and grieving. Kaitiaki spoke to colleagues and family about the much-loved nurse.

Pay equity battle: ‘There are people in need at the end of this process’

Australian union lawyer and researcher Lisa Heap is lending her experience in the battle for pay equity, alongside employment lawyer Peter Cranney. Heap spoke to Kaitiaki about her trans-Tasman work to achieve pay justice for caring professions.

Pay parity solution ‘well before’ end of year: Minister

Negotiations over a pay deal for primary health care and Whānau Awhina Plunket nurses have stalled since the group went on strike last week, but Health Minister Andrew Little says he’s confident a solution will be found by Christmas.

Extra-shift boycott effective, but stressful: survey

Exhausted and demoralised Te Whatu Ora nurses took action to highlight extreme staffing shortages and a lack of negotiation for extra-shift payments over one week early last month. An NZNO survey about the action showed there were mixed feelings about the boycott, but most took part, and would support doing it again.

Leadership skills honed during pandemic, says outgoing Kate Weston

The best of times, the worst of times: After 15 years at NZNO, former professional services associate manager Kate Weston has moved on to become the executive director of the College of Nurses Aotearoa - thanks to leadership skills honed at NZNO during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fund our training — it’s time for the Government to seriously invest in the domestic nursing workforce

An increasingly ‘academic-oriented’ nursing profession has done nothing to support Māori into the workforce, says Māori nurse educator Pipi Barton, in a call to return to paid training.

‘We have given until we’ve bled’ — the importance of a shared struggle

You may have noticed I’ve been talking a lot lately about the power of the collective and NZNO members — whether nurses, kaiāwhina or health-care assistants — turning up for each other, no matter where or what part of the health sector you work in.

With assisted dying now a reality, what do nurses need?

Nurses need clear policies and guidelines to give them confidence when dealing with assisted dying requests.

Maranga Mai! Tino rangatiratanga – what needs to change?

Maranga Mai! – NZNO’s campaign to fix the nursing crisis – calls for a renewed commitment to equity and tino rangatiratanga for Māori nurses and patients, amidst reports of “endemic racism within the profession”.

Maranga Mai! Registration — what needs to change?

As Aotearoa New Zealand faces down a nursing shortfall of thousands, changes are afoot to how overseas nurses are registered here. In the second part of a series exploring Maranga Mai!, NZNO's campaign to fix the nursing crisis, Kaitiaki looks at what needs to change in the registration process.

Maranga Mai! Immigration — what needs to change?

Maranga Mai! -- NZNO's campaign to fix the nursing crisis --calls for immigration rules that will increase the recruitment and retention of migrant nurses. But after being left off the fast-track to residency here amid a global nursing shortage, migrant nurses are eyeing other countries with fewer barriers. What needs to change?

Biological medicines: Transitioning to Amgevita — a biosimilar of adalimumab

Most patients taking the biological medicine adalimumab are transitioning to a "biosimilar" version of the drug called Amgevita. This article explains why this is happening, and how nurses in primary care can help smooth the transition.

Academia, activism and nursing – the key drivers for Grant Brookes

An unexpected period of living rough while on his OE, gave Grant Brookes a taste of "how the other half lives" and deepened his drive to advocate for human rights. As part of a series on the NZNO board of directors, Brookes spoke to Kaitiaki about his story.

Working at a local meat works, getting pregnant — or nursing

Nursing was an escape route from rural poverty and boredom into a world of service for Margaret Hand.  She spoke to Kaitiaki about her passion to help vulnerable whānau for a series on the board directors.

The dyslexia disadvantage in nursing

What barriers do nurses with dyslexia face at work? And might some qualities of dyslexia make you a better nurse? A third-year nursing student, who herself has dyslexia, investigates.

It’s cool to kōrero — October

Kei te rongo au i te ua. — I hear the rain

NOVEMBER crossword

Here's our new crossword for November. Print out the grid (using print tab at the bottom right of this page) and use the clues below. Last month's answers are below the clues.

OCTOBER crossword

Print out this crossword grid (see PRINT tab at bottom right of page), and use the clues below.

Nearly 50 years of comprehensive training

Just a heads up that 2023 will mark 50 years since New Zealand started comprehensive nursing training. In 1973, Christchurch and Wellington were the first two polytechnics to start this new method of nurse training, following the publication of the Carpenter report.

Greenlane Hospital class of Jan ’73 reunion

Let's get together!

Applications open for new $3000 nursing scholarship in South Canterbury

A new scholarship for nursing students in South Canterbury is now available through the Bidwill Trust Hospital in Timaru.