News – Page 18 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Get vaccinated, avoid spreading misinformation – Nursing Council

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Nurses should get vaccinated – and shouldn’t spread vaccine misinformation, the Nursing Council of New Zealand says.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Data lag could hide vacancies

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Just under 1200 nurse vacancies were reported across the country’s district health boards (DHBs) at March 31 this year – about five per cent of the 25,000 DHB nursing workforce – but the real vacancy rate is likely to be “significantly higher”, says an NZNO safe staffing expert.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Masks and PPE ‘a concern’

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

NZNO is concerned about a lack of access to and poorly fitted N95 masks for frontline vaccination teams in Auckland, acting professional and nursing services manager Kate Weston says.

Read more... Masks and PPE ‘a concern’

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

No strike but nurses go purple

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Delta thwarted strike plans on August 19. Instead, members rolled up their sleeves and got to work on the pandemic frontline.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Nurse students hit hard by COVID-19

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

An NZNO study has found students were hard hit by COVID-19 last year, particularly in their clinical placements.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Students can strike – but not in uniform

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Nursing schools have reassured students they are entitled to take part in NZNO strikes, as negotiations continue between district health boards (DHBs) and NZNO – as long as they’re not wearing nursing school uniforms.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

NZNO analyst on end-of-life group

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

NZNO policy analyst Māori Leanne Manson (Ngāti Tama Ki Te Tauihu, Te Ātiawa) has been appointed to the End of Life Choice Act oversight group SCENZ – support and consultation for end of life in New Zealand.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

NPs excluded from end-of-life prescribing

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Nurse practitioners (NPs) have been excluded from prescribing or administering life-ending medication under the End of Life Choice Act (EOLCA), says Nurse Practitioners New Zealand (NPNZ) chair Sandra Oster.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Vote for president and vice-president

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Voting is open now for a new NZNO president and vice-president.

Four nominations have been received for the position of president and three for the position of vice-president. The profiles of these election candidates can be read below. (NB: These profiles are not edited by Kai Tiaki staff.)
Kerri Nuku was the sole nomination for the position of kaiwhakahaere and Titihuia Pakeho the only nomination for tumu whakarae so both are elected unopposed.
Members will have received voter packs by email or post earlier this month.
Voting closes at 12 noon on Friday, September 10.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Millions of nurses left without full vaccination

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Millions of health-care workers are still not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, sparking concern from the chief executive of the International Nursing Council.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

General practices, pharmacies join COVID-19 vaccination rollout in droves

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Health providers clamour to join rollout, but Māori vaccination rates still lag.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Push to boost election engagement after years of low member turn-out

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Changes to help members learn more about candidates.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Conference runs ahead of biggest health system shake-up in decades

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Head of health reform unit to speak to nurses.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

‘Disturbing’ Employment Court action by DHBs as members vote in droves to strike again

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

The vote was in, and the DHBs’ gloves came off.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

Indigenous conference looks to maunga

By Kai Tiaki editors

July 1, 2021

The Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference 2021 and hui ā-tau return in August.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

Petition launched over nurses’ prescribing powers

By Kai Tiaki editors

July 1, 2021

Amid a global medication shortage, Nurse Practitioners New Zealand (NPNZ) has petitioned the Government to urgently amend the Medicines Act to allow them to prescribe alternatives when approved medications have run out.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

New NZNO webpage for end-of-life choice implementation

By Kai Tiaki editors

July 1, 2021

NZNO is developing a webpage to provide timely information for members as Aotearoa counts down to November 7 this year – when the End of Life Choice Act (EOLCA) comes into being.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

Members vote for three more strike dates

By Kai Tiaki editors

July 1, 2021

Industrial action could run for months as members send an ‘historic’ three-strikes message to district health boards.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

New NZNO student vaccinator category

By Kai Tiaki editors

July 1, 2021

The NZNO board has launched a new student member category, providing indemnity for provisional vaccinators.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

Lockdown gets graphic novel treatment

By Kai Tiaki editors

July 1, 2021

A graphic novel is bridging the gap between nursing academia, and young research subjects.

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.