December 2021 vol 27 no 11

A life in public health: ‘I didn’t know you didn’t talk about gay rights in Taranaki’

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

A career that began on the fringes for Heather Came, has now been recognised at the very heart of public health.

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

Security guard switches to nursing

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

For Daniel Manihera, rejecting the lessons of a lifetime means he can finally start to learn again.

February 2022

‘Intolerable’ bullying drives nurse out

By Petra Aukino

December 1, 2021

Auckland nurse Petra Aukino has quit the profession after bullying early in her career ‘shattered’ her confidence. She shares her story here.

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

Be confident, be brave, be educated: Kui Jamesina Kett leaves behind inspiration for nēhi Māori after her passing

By Naomi Waipouri, Desiree Hawkins and Teana Davey (On behalf of Bachelor of Nursing Māori tauira and nēhi Māori)

December 1, 2021

E te Mareikura, Kui Jamesina
Takoto mai i roto i ngā ringa o te Atua i runga rawa.
Takoto mai i runga i te rangimarie me te aroha.
Haere atu rā koe ki ō tātou tūpuna.
Haere rā kei tua o te arai.
Haere, haere, haere oti atu rā.
Sunrise 19.12.36 – Sunset 22.11.21

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

The kaiwhakahaere comments

By Kerri Nuku

December 1, 2021

Tēnā koutou to NZNO members – as 2021 closes and 2022 arrives, it is a good time to take a broader look at social justice and how we all fit into this important kaupapa.

Recent acquisitions to the NZNO library

By Heather Woods, NZNO librarian and records manager, and Amanda Otzen, NZNO library

December 1, 2021

The following is a selection of books that have been added to the NZNO library during the past year.

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.

February 2022

NZNO subscriptions 2022

By David Woltman, manager corporate services

December 1, 2021

On October 12, 2021, the NZNO board of directors considered options for membership fee increases presented by the acting chief executive.

Farewell to a challenging year, as we brace for more COVID in the community

By Kate Weston

December 1, 2021

It is that time where we reflect on the year, and 2021 has certainly been a challenging one. We have seen everything from large-scale industrial action, a national pandemic response and now mandatory vaccination for the vast majority of health and disability services staff.

February 2022

Beyond medicines for gout

By Linda Bryant

December 1, 2021

Gout is a chronic and debilitating long-term condition that disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific people. It needs to be addressed with holistic care, and patient, ongoing relationships with whānau.

Bridging the digital divide: nurses and the truth about learning

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

December 1, 2021

It was the news that for some, brought a foreboding sense of the rapid change besetting the world – after more than a century of print publication, Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand would publish exclusively on its website from February 2022.

Uncut – news briefs

27 June	New mental health centre to transform care in the Wellington region Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey have today marked the beginning of construction on the new Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre in Lower Hutt.
27 June	New STI e-learning for midwives will increase detection, testing, treatment and prevention A new e-learning course was launched early June to equip midwives with up-to-date knowledge on effectively communicating relevant and tailored information about syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
25 June	Changes for prescribing ADHD medications Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed prescribing changes that will enable GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and treat adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
23 June	Minister should fess up on cuts Simeon Brown needs to be honest about how much more money he expects Health New Zealand to cut from its budget to get back in the black. “National has chosen to underfund our health system and expects Health New Zealand to make even more cuts - but won’t say how much,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.
17 June	Notice of NZNO 2025 Board Elections - Call for Nominations Nominations are required to fill seven (7) positions on the NZNO Board. For details, see the notices section in the classifieds
16 June	Gender Gap Closes at Fastest Rate Since Pandemic – But Full Parity Still Over a Century Away The global gender gap has closed to 68.8%, led by economic and political advances – yet progress is still behind pre-pandemic pace, with full parity an estimated 123 years away.
16 June	Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, the ruling council of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis. Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, the ruling council of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis.
13 June	ICN charts a bold vision and calls for urgent investment in nursing to secure the future of care Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, the ruling council of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis.
12 June	Unions take pay equity fight to the ILO New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges has taken the pay equity fight to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILO is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.
5 June	Refreshed strategy released to tackle gambling harm Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today announced that the Government has released the refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm.
3 June	ICN launches new topic brief underscoring vital role of nurses to protect the planet, human health and all life on Earth The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has released a new topic brief titled “Nursing for Planetary Health and Wellbeing”, emphasizing the vital role nurses play in addressing the health impacts of our shared environmental crises. The brief highlights the emerging concept of planetary health and stresses the urgency to recognize and take action to reduce the impacts that human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems are having on the health of individuals and communities.
13 May	On International Nurses Day a new State of the World’s Nursing Report charts a path toward Universal Health Coverage As the world’s nurses celebrate International Nurses Day (IND), ICN issues a rallying cry to governments around the globe for urgent nursing support, following the launch of the second World Health Organization (WHO) State of the World’s Nursing (SOWN) report.
8 May	NZ First’s gender definition bill will harm mental health, counsellors warn The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) is deeply concerned by New Zealand First’s proposed Member’s Bill, which seeks to legally define “man” and “woman” solely based on biological sex.
6 May	Police and Health NZ continue to implement mental health response changes Phase Two of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme is set to be extended with a second group of districts implementing Phase Two from 19 May.
1 May	New weekend urgent care service launched in Tairāwhati Access to urgent healthcare on weekends will be restored in Tairāwhati this Saturday (3 May 2025) with the launch of a new service, Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced.
29 Apr	Taupō Hospital accredited to train next generation of rural doctors Taupō Hospital has become the first hospital in the North Island to receive accreditation to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) training, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey have announced.
14 Apr	Rural Health Roadshow to hear from rural communities Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced today he will be coming to 12 rural locations across the country on a Rural Health Roadshow, starting this week in Levin.
10 Apr	Expanded emergency department at Auckland City Hospital will see capacity increase Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Auckland City Hospital’s newly refurbished adult emergency department.
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.