News – Page 16 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

February 2022

‘It’s going to be ugly’ — critical care nurse leader

By Mary Longmore

February 8, 2022

A four-hour online course is not enough to train nurses to work in intensive care during a COVID-19 surge, says NZNO’s College of Critical Care Nurses chair Tania Mitchell.

February 2022

Plight of nurses behind theme for International Nurses Day

By Joel Maxwell

February 8, 2022

Exhausted, overworked, but still going: nurses set for international recognition.

February 2022

Omicron might be milder, but comes with pitfalls for nurses

By Joel Maxwell and Mary Longmore

February 8, 2022

The milder Omicron variant of COVID-19 could come with pitfalls for primary health care nurses, it has been revealed.

February 2022

NZNO submissions on health reforms call for tino rangatiratanga, universal MECA

By Joel Maxwell

February 8, 2022

A mega-MECA, and a call for tino rangatiratanga in the health system were part of NZNO’s submissions to Parliament on sweeping health reform laws.

February 2022

‘No easy answers’ to maintaining nursing workforce as Omicron hits

By Joel Maxwell

February 8, 2022

Waves of Omicron could leave district health boards with a nursing workforce headache.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

RN ACE rules now apply for enrolled nurses

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

After two years of pressure from the Enrolled Nurse Section (ENS), enrolled nurse (EN) graduates can from 2022 apply for the ACE graduate programme while undertaking or awaiting results of state exams.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Concerns remain despite more ICU cash

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

The government announcement of a $600 million-plus boost for intensive care services has come with an NZNO warning about the state of the system in the face of a COVID-19 surge.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Farewell to Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand in print

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

After nearly 114 years, this is the last printed edition of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

ENs take lead in primary mental health care

By Sue Adams, Josephine Davis, Coral Wiapo and Beth Cooper

December 1, 2021

About 40 new enrolled nurse (EN) positions are being established in primary health care (PHC) over the next four years, to try and improve access to mental health and addiction (MH&A) services, particularly for Māori and Pacific people.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Now the real work begins with safe staffing tool

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

Both Wellington and Hutt Valley District Health Boards are celebrating getting safe staffing programme care capacity demand management (CCDM) up and running.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Screening tech frees ARC nurses to care

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

A nurse has helped develop a self check-in kiosk to screen visitors and staff at aged residential care (ARC) facilities for COVID-19 symptoms.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Global award for kaiwhakahaere celebrated

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku’s global recognition for her human rights work has been celebrated – in a very local way – at Te Marae o Te Whare Takiura in Napier.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

New pandemic lessons for nurse students

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

Nursing students will be able to use their experiences of COVID-19-related practice such as swabbing, vaccination and contact-tracing as part of their clinical learning, under proposed new nursing standards from the Nursing Council.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

DHBs back down after pay protest threat

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

Threats of NZNO member-led protests saw three district health boards (DHBs) back down from playing Christmas Grinch over pay increases.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Move from hospital to homes sets nurse on path to work security app

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

A change from hospital nursing to community work at a hospice has seen one health–care professional branch out into security technology.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Pay equity negotiations continue past deadline – new date set

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

Pay equity negotiations ran over deadline with district health boards blaming the complexity of the issue.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Police ‘reassurance’ patrols for vax sites

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

Police have launched “community reassurance” patrols around some COVID-19 vaccination sites as nurses face abuse and threats.

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Aged care safe staffing petition presented

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

NZNO and E tū members delivered a 5000-signature petition to Parliament calling for mandated safe staffing levels in aged care.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Pakeho: More Māori nurses needed

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

November 1, 2021

More kaupapa Māori wards and Māori nurses, less red tape and paper work, says returning tumu whakarae.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Aged care nurses ‘backbone’ of system – Little

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

NZNO’s aged care nurses are quitting, exhausted from working double shifts and long hours due to an estimated 1000-strong nursing shortfall nationally, says an NZNO aged care nurse leader, also thinking of leaving.

Uncut – news briefs

1 Apr	Health NZ wants your feedback on a Paediatric Adolescent and Young Adult Palliative Model of Care Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) is seeking feedback on potential options for national palliative care services for tamariki, rangatahi/children, young people and their whānau/families.
27 March	Bar still too high for small mental health providers Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold.
25 March	ICN advocates for health system gender equity and women’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) brought the nursing voice to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) which wrapped up on Friday. ICN participated in critical discussions on gender equity and women’s health throughout the event.
19 March	ICN warns of healthcare crisis as USAID funding cuts devastate nursing initiatives in the world’s most vulnerable regions The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has documented alarming firsthand evidence of widespread disruption and collapse of essential health care services following the sudden withdrawal of USAID and other funding.
19 March	New High Dependency Unit will expand critical care services in Wellington Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU).
13 March	Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines Pharmac is funding six more medicines for cancers and one for antibiotic resistant infections.
28 Feb	Pharmac CE resigns The Board of Pharmac wishes to announce that its Chief Executive for the last 7 years, Sarah Fitt, has resigned effective from 30 May 2025.
25 Feb	ICN issues updated statement on health care in conflict, calling for peace and compliance with international humanitarian law In recent years, the world has witnessed a disturbing increase in conflicts and wars, placing immense strain on health systems and exacerbating human suffering. Nurses have been at the forefront of these crises, responding to emergencies, supporting recovery efforts, and providing essential care to those affected by violence and displacement.
21 Feb	ICN’s new guidance on integrating nurse leaders into heart of health workforce planning The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has published a practical guide to including nurses in workforce planning decisions.
17 Feb	ICN warns of effect of US withdrawal from WHO on nurse-led services The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warned that the withdrawal of the United States from WHO has already halted some nurse-led services, including vaccination programmes and care for people with HIV/AIDS.
17 Feb	Minister acknowledges outgoing Director-General Health Minister Simeon Brown has today acknowledged the resignation of Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, and thanked her for her service.
12 Feb	Pharmac funds medicines for liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers People with liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers will have access to more medicines from 1 March 2025.
11 Feb	Consultation begins on work to improve patient access to medical devices Pharmac is continuing to improve the way medical devices are managed for New Zealanders, today opening consultation on its comprehensive list of medical devices used by public hospitals.
3 Feb	First Whānau Āwhina Plunket site in NZ delivering childhood vaccinations Childhood immunisations are now being delivered at a Whānau Āwhina Plunket site in Whāngarei, with other regions soon to also provide the new service.
29 Jan	Local access to specialist audiology services comes to Wairarapa A newly established out-patient clinic for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and audiology appointments is providing Wairarapa patients with local access to specialist hearing services for the first time.
29 Jan	Pharmac reconsiders oestradiol patch options following community feedback Pharmac is reviewing and reconsidering its oestradiol patch options after considerable feedback was received when it announced a move to a single funded brand late last year.
22 Jan	Consultations for cancer and ADHD medicines close soon Pharmac is encouraging people to have their say on proposals to fund six more medicines and change the brand of one medicine before consultation closes on 27 January.
20 Dec	Health NZ introduces public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and PHO performance Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) has introduced public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and Primary Health Organisation (PHO) performance.
19 Dec	Quarter 1 performance report released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its Quarterly Performance Report for Quarter 1, covering the period 1 July to 30 September 2024.
18 Dec	Recent uptick in Boostrix immunisations amid whooping cough epidemic, but work still to do As the healthcare sector continues to respond to a whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic across the motu, it’s promising to see a recent uptick in the number of Boostrix immunisations among the 15- to 44-year-old age group, with a recent doubling of doses administered from about 1,000 per week to over 2,000 per week.
18 Dec	Extra security to again keep EDs safe this summer Health Minister Dr Shane Reti is again reminding New Zealanders that violence against patients, visitors and health workers won’t be tolerated, with additional security for hospital emergency departments across the country this summer.
13 Dec	Mental health and addiction targets implementation plans released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its first quarterly results for four of the five mental health and addiction targets, covering the period 1 July – 30 September 2024.
12 Dec	Health targets encouraging – work continues New data shows that the Government’s focus on health targets is putting the brakes on the steep decline in delivery seen over the past five years.
12 Dec	Gisborne receives mental health beds boost Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today opened Gisborne Hospital’s new acute mental health unit, Te Whare Awhi Ora, and says the region will be better served by a bigger, more therapeutic acute mental health unit.
9 Dec	Afghan women ‘banned from nursing and midwife training’ in latest blow to rights BBC News has reported that female nursing and midwifery students in Afghanistan have been told not to return to their studies, effectively ending women’s only access to further education, and putting women and children’s lives at risk.
9 Dec	How student and early career nurses can influence policymaking The International Council of Nurses (ICN) held a webinar which highlighted the vital importance of primary and preventative health care in meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) challenging goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030
3 Dec	Health NZ end-of-year deficit confirmed In publishing its annual report, Health NZ has confirmed it ended the financial year with a deficit of $722 million, against a target surplus of $54 million.
2 Dec	ICN says COP29 climate finance shortfall threatens the planet’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed profound disappointment with the outcomes of COP29, held in Baku, particularly the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that was passed despite significant objections from developing countries.
29 Nov	Minister reminds public health officials of priorities Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the National Public Health Service should concentrate its focus on prioritising serious public health issues facing New Zealanders.
29 Nov	Community providers rally to protect hapū māma and pēpi as national whooping cough case numbers surpass 1,000 for 2024 Hapū māmā are being urged to get immunised, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to get their babies immunised on time, as whooping cough case numbers continue to climb across Aotearoa New Zealand.
28 Nov	Govt ignores health crisis, plans to axe 1500 public health roles The health of New Zealanders will suffer because of the Government’s plan to axe nearly 1500 roles at Te Whatu Ora, coming at a time when the public health system is already under severe pressure.
27 Nov	Health New Zealand Establishes Technical Advisory Group to Lead Transformation in Maternity Care This team of experts and community representatives will play a key role in the development of the Maternity Commissioning Framework, a core element of the wider Kahu Taurima programme, which aims to make maternity and early years services more equitable, accessible, and whānau-centered.
22 Nov	Whooping Cough epidemic declared across Aotearoa New Zealand Health agencies have confirmed today that Aotearoa New Zealand is now in the early stages of a Whooping Cough epidemic, with a nationally coordinated response now in place.
20 Nov	A Global Map of Winter Depression Healthnews has released an extensive study that ranks 194 countries based on their winter-pattern Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD) risk.
18 Nov	Potential travel disruption expected with Tuesday’s national Hīkoi Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora urges those with an appointment scheduled at Wellington Regional Hospital on Tuesday morning or early afternoon, to please allow extra time to get to appointments.
15 Nov	ICN’s calls on G20 leaders to address international health worker migration crisis Ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro next week, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) welcomes the Declarations recently adopted by the G20 Health Working Group and health ministers.
13 Nov	Measles case confirmed in Tāmaki Makaurau Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has confirmed today that a new case of measles has been identified on Waiheke Island in Auckland. The case and their household are being supported by the National Public Health Service (NPHS), with those most at risk now in quarantine to help reduce the chance of further spread.
5 Nov	Safety fears ahead of changes to mental health 111 calls Mental Health Nurses have serious concerns about the safety of their patients, the public, their colleagues and themselves when police changes to emergency 111 calls come into effect on Monday, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa says.