Article category: News

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

NZNO’s board of directors was still considering how best to fill the presidential vacancy, when Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand went to press.

Deputy chief nurse at Counties Manukau District Health Board (DHB) Karyn Sangster has been seconded to the Nursing Council for 12 months to advance its nurse prescribing agenda.

Two small teams of negotiators are exploring “ideas and options” for a new NZNO/district health board multi-employer collective agreement (DHB MECA).

A member petition for the NZNO board of directors to release the full evaluation of its performance has so far attracted 200 signatories.

A smaller board of nine, an appointed chair, two appointed directors to bridge skill gaps and a half-time president and kaiwhakahaere are among the key recommendations of the NZNO governance review, completed late last year.

District health boards (DHBs) spend the biggest chunk of their $6.3 billion salary costs on nurses – $2.2 billion or 36 per cent – according to a report by the Health Workforce Directorate.

The three successful candidates in last year’s election of nurses to the Nursing Council have still not been announced, a delay council chief executive Catherine Byrne described as “frustrating”.

WorkSafe Mahi Haumau Aotearoa has produced a good practice guide to help keep workers safe when handling cytotoxic drugs and related waste.

Northland District Health Board (DHB) has a new chief nurse and midwifery officer Maree Sheard, a former director of nursing (DoN) in the New Zealand Army.

A six-strong team, led by consumer advocate Sue Chetwin, is to review PHARMAC, the government agency which decides which medicines and medical devices will be funded. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little announced the review early this month.

Up to 25 nurses working in managed isolation facilities (MIF) in Christchurch are being paid lower salaries than they are entitled to, NZNO organiser Danielle Davies says.

NZNO’s enrolled nurse (EN) section has taken its fight for ENs to become provisional COVID-19 vaccinators to the Minister of Health. And it seems to have worked.