November 2001 Newsletter

Contents

Chairperson's Foreword 
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Our 2001 centennial year has been a very busy and successful year for the Nursing Council.  Council has been very pleased with the response to the centenary from nurses, the public and politicians.

A key event was the announcement of new nurse prescribing regulations by the Minister of Health.  The advent of nurse prescribing highlights New Zealand's recognition of nursing as a profession with the capacity to take on board new challenges and to continue to develop its ability to serve our communities.

In another beginning for New Zealand nurses this year, Council has established processes for the accreditation of nurse practitioners.  Nursing Council has an obligation to ensure that public safety interests are protected in the development of this exciting new role.  A panel will be convening in November for the first applicants and we look forward to receiving many applications in the future from our experienced clinical nurses.

As we also look forward to the next 100 years of nursing, I would like to thank all New Zealand nurses for a job well done!  Wishing you and those who are special to you all the best for the festive season.

Judy Kilpatrick

 

Delays to Competency Based Practising Certificates 
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Legislation to bring in competency based practising certificates will not now will not come in until next year.  This means that competency based practising certificates will not be introduced until the 2003–2004 year at the earliest.

The Nursing Council continues to receive a large number of enquiries about competency based practising certificates.  Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.

What will change?

When competency based practising certificates are introduced, all nurses applying for an APC must:

  • Have engaged in a minimum of 750 hours practice and 75 hours professional development activity the past five years
  • Demonstrate current competence in their area/scope of practice by maintaining a personal profile containing details of their professional activities
  • Make a self-declaration that they have met the above requirements and provide evidence when/if requested for audit purposes
  • Undertake a return to practice programme if they have been out of practice for five years or more.

What do I need to do to prepare?

Although competency based practising certificates will not be introduced for at least another year, it is a good idea to start developing a portfolio now.  You may have already done this as part of a professional development or career development path.  If not, you may be surprised at how quickly you build up items for your portfolio as you update and expand your clinical skills and attend study days etc.

Where can I find more information?

The Nursing Council has produced "Guidelines for Competence-based Practicing Certificates".  These can bedownloaded from our website or purchased at nominal cost from the Council.

 

Vast Number of Annual Practising Certificates to be Processed 
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Almost fifty thousand applications for renewal of annual practicing certificates will be processed over an eight-week period during February and March next year.  As you might imagine, this is a hugely busy time for Council staff.  

Every year, as the March 31st deadline approaches, we field hundreds of phone calls from nurses whose application form has not arrived in the post.

You can help us to help you by letting us know now if your address has changed.

Just phone us on:
(04) 802 0235 or (04) 802 0245
or write to: PO Box 9644, Wellington
or change your address on our website: www.nursingcouncil.org.nz

 

Notes from the Chief Executive
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A major event for the Nursing Council this year has been the centenary celebrations.  It is with no small pride that we remember this year, that in 1901, New Zealand became the first country in the world to have separate registration of nurses.

Thank you to all those nurses from throughout the country who attended the various celebrations and who helped to make them a great success!  As well as national events, we understand that many nurses in all regions also held their own successful celebrations.

National celebrations included a cocktail party at parliament, a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues as we remembered the legislative recognition of our profession.  The opening of the exhibition at Archives New Zealand on September 11th, although superseded by the international news of the day, was a special moment.  For those of you who may plan to visit Wellington, the exhibition is open until Christmas and features many interesting items of our nursing history.  Also as part of the ‘Body Odyssey’ exhibition, Te Papa is showing a panel exhibition celebrating the centenary.  Events are ongoing too as with the recent memorial service for ten nurses who died when the HMS Marquette went down in the Great War.

We were joined in the centenary celebrations by our Nursing Council counterparts from Australia.  Meetings held during the visit provided an opportunity to further harmonise nursing education and policy issues between New Zealand and Australia.  

The centenary has also attracted lots of media attention, including a mention on Shortland Street!  All in all, the celebrations have been an excellent way of bringing nursing to the forefront at a time when there is a national shortage of nurses and many nurses are working under considerable pressure.

As 2001 draws to a close and we embark on a second century of nursing in New Zealand we are expecting around 878 new graduate nurses and 73 midwives to enter the profession following final examinations in November.  Please support and encourage these new graduates if they are employed in your workplace.  They, together with yourselves, are our nursing future.

Marion Clark

 

Solving your Christmas Gift Dilemmas - Centenary Calendars and Envelopes
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It’s high quality, it looks good, it’s about us!  Nurses from all over New Zealand have been telling us how much they like the commemorative calendar, produced as part of the centenary celebrations.  The 16 month calendar covers September 2001-December 2002.  It includes photographs of New Zealand nurses dating from 1912 until the present time.  This special calendar would make an excellent Christmas gift or look attractive in your own home or office. 

Commemorative envelopes are also available.  The envelopes cost 45c each and feature a collage of five photos and are pre-paid 40c standard business size, both with and without a window.

To order your calendar or envelopes, please forward:

Calendars: $20.00 (includes postage)

Envelopes: $ 4.50 per ten or $45.00 per 100, specifying whether you would like window or plain envelopes

Contact details: E-mail: www.nursingcouncil.org.nz 
Postal: PO Box 9644 Wellington   •   Phone: (04) 385 9589


Increase in Annual Practising Certificate Fees
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Fees payable to the Nursing Council of New Zealand

In accordance with section 14A(c) of the Nurses Act 197, the Nursing Council of New Zealand gives notice that the Annual Practising Certificate (APC) will be increased to $45.00 (Incl. GST) from March 2002.

 

Making it Easier!
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Responding to demand from nurses, the Council is offering for the first time the option of credit card payments for annual practising certificates.  Just follow the instructions on the application form!

 

Post-Registration Nursing Programmes Approved by Council
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FIVE-YEAR APPROVAL

2001

Auckland University of Technology Graduate Certificate in Health Science (Nursing)

Auckland University of Technology Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science (Nursing)

The Waikato Polytechnic Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Maori Mental Health)

The University of Auckland Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Advanced Nursing)

The University of Auckland Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Advanced Nursing)

The University of Auckland Masters of Nursing

The University of Auckland Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Advanced Mental Health Nursing)

Victoria University of Wellington Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing (Trauma & Emergency)

University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Emergency Nursing)

University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Advanced Mental Health Nursing)

2000

Eastern Institute of Technology Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science

Manukau Institute of Technology Graduate Certificate in Specialty Nursing (Mental Health)

Massey University Post-graduate Diploma of Advanced Child & Family Health Community Nursing

Massey University Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Mental Health)

Otago Polytechnic Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing (Child and Family Health)

Otago Polytechnic Master of Nursing

The Waikato Polytechnic Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing

The Waikato Polytechnic Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Child and Family Health Nursing

Waitemata Health Postgraduate Certificate in Specialty Nursing (Mental Health)

Victoria University of Wellington Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing (Mental Health)

Auckland Healthcare Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Specialty Mental Health Nursing)

UCOL Certificate in Graduate Specialty Nursing Practice (Critical Care Nursing) (approved as Certificate in Graduate Specialty Nursing Practice (High Dependency Nursing, name changed 22 May 2001)

Whitireia Community Polytechnic Graduate Diploma in Specialty Psychiatric Mental Health

1999

Otago Polytechnic New Graduate Certificate in Specialty Mental Health Nursing

ONE-YEAR APPROVAL

2001

Lakeland Health New Graduate Specialty Mental Health Programme

University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Graduate Specialty Mental Health Programme

 

Some Key Nursing Facts and Figures
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As at the end of October, 48,174 nurses and midwives hold current practising certificates.  Of these, 5663 (12.7%) are not working in nursing or midwifery.  This leaves 42,511 active nurses and midwives.  Of nurses and midwives with current practising certificates:

  • 4,704 hold midwifery qualifications of whom 4,271 are nurses and midwives and 433 are midwives only.  2264 are practising midwifery.
  • 84% are European/Pakeha and 6% are Maori.  
  • 27.5% work in the Auckland region, followed by 14% in Canterbury, 10.3% in Wellington and 8.6% in Waikato.  
  • 55.68% of nurses are employed by District Health Boards, 10% in private hospitals.  9.2% in residential care and 8.8% in primary care.
  • 10% of nurses are working in continuing care with the elderly; 9.3% are working in surgical areas, 7.6% in primary care; 7.2% in mental health; and 7% in medical areas.

 

October Forum - What Happened?
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Where were you? There were fewer than 10 enrolments for the forum – obviously not enough to make it viable.  The advertising of these events poses a dilemma for the Council.  The forums provide an opportunity to catch up with events in NZ nursing and with nursing colleagues.  Yet, despite advertising in the July Newsletter, which was mailed to around 47,000 nurses, we were unable to attract sufficient enrolments.  Is there anyone out there?  The Council extends its apologies for the cancellation of the October Forum to those who were looking forward to attending.

 

Disciplinary Publication Notices
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RAELENE PATRICIA MOORE

Registered General and Obstetric Nurse

The Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the Council"), has found Raelene Patricia Moore, registered general and obstetric nurse, guilty of professional misconduct on the grounds that her conduct brings or is likely to bring discredit on the nursing profession.

In particular, Ms Moore was charged with accepting four cheques amounting to a total of $20,000 between 1995 and 1996 from an elderly couple, initially patients of a medical practice where she was employed and having left that employ, when visiting the couple who were living in a retirement village.  

In determining that Ms Moore was guilty of professional misconduct the Council held that Ms Moore owed a duty of care to the couple.  The Council stated that it was unacceptable for any nurse to accept gifts of money from people first met in a professional capacity, those acts being compounded by Ms Moore’s actions in completing details in respect of two of the cheques.

The Council held that the public must have a reasonable expectation that health professionals will act ethically in their relationships with clients such that public trust and confidence in nurses is always justified.  Ms Moore’s conduct in this case brought discredit on the nursing profession.

The Council therefore ordered that:

  • Ms Moore’s name be removed from the Register and that she could apply for reinstatement after a period of twelve months;
  • Ms Moore pay $14,420.00 being 50% of the actual costs and expenses of and incidental to the investigation by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and inquiry by the Council;
  • A Notice stating the effect of the orders be published in the New Zealand Gazette, Kai Tiaki : Nursing New Zealand and the Christchurch Press; and
  • The names of others involved in the proceedings together with the name of the specific medical practice be permanently suppressed.

Marion Clark
Registrar

 

SUSAN MEYRICK COLLIE

Registered General and Obstetric Nurse

The Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the Council"), has found Susan Meyrick Collie, registered general and obstetric nurse, guilty of professional misconduct on the grounds that her conduct brings or was likely to bring discredit on the nursing profession.

In particular, Ms Collie was charged with accepting four cheques amounting to a total of $25,000 between 1994 and 1996 from an elderly couple, initially patients of a medical practice where she was employed and later, having left that employ at a time when the couple had ceased to be patients and were living in a retirement village.  The cheque amounts were for: $5,000 (December 1994) $10,000 (May 1995), $5,000 (April 1996) and $5,000 (July 1996).

In determining that Ms Collie was guilty of professional misconduct the Council held that Ms Collie owed a duty of care to the couple and it was unacceptable for a nurse to accept gifts of money from people met in a professional capacity, the acts being compounded by the fact that this was an elderly vulnerable couple.

The Council concluded that the public must have a reasonable expectation that health professionals will act ethically in their relationships with clients and not abuse their position of trust and power.  In this respect, Ms Collie’s actions const tuted a clear breach of the Code of Conduct for Nurses and Midwives (Principle 4) and that that conduct brought discredit on the profession.

The Council ordered that: 

  • Ms Collie’s name be removed from the Register and that she could apply for reinstatement after a period of twelve months;
  • Ms Collie pay $6,048 being 50% of the actual costs and expenses of and incidental to the investigation by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and inquiry by the Council;
  • A Notice stating the effect of the orders be published in the New Zealand Gazette, Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand and the Press newspaper; and
  • The names of others involved in the proceedings together with the name of the specific medical practice be permanently suppressed.

Marion Clark
Registrar

 

PUBLICATION NOTICE

Enrolled Nurse

In a decision dated 7 November 2000, the Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the Council") has found an enrolled nurse guilty of professional misconduct on the ground that her conduct amounts to malpractice and has brought discredit on the nursing profession. In particular,the enrolled nurse was found guilty of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an inpatient which continued after the patient’s discharge from hospital.

The Council ordered that:

  • The nurse’s name be removed from the roll. It declined to fix a time after which she may apply to have her name reinstated to the roll.
  • The nurse pay $2,951.00 costs.
  • A publication notice stating the effect of the orders above be published in the New Zealand Gazette, Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand and the Council’s newsletter with suppression of all identifying details including names, area and hospital concerned.

Marion Clark
Registrar

 

PUBLICATION NOTICE

Registered Psychiatric Nurse

The Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the Council"), in a decision dated 29 December 2000, found a registered Psychiatric Nurse guilty of professional misconduct on the grounds that the nurse’s conduct brings or was likely to bring discredit on the nursing profession.  

The conduct, the subject of the finding, related to the placing of an inappropriate poster which depicted a gravestone beside the bed of a psychiatric patient with symptoms of clinical depression including suicidal ideation.  The Council held that placing such a poster adjacent to the patient’s bed could not be justified and the nurse’s failure to ensure therapeutic safeguards surrounding the action complained of this conduct compromised the patients safety.  The conduct fell short of that which could reasonably be expected of a psychiatric nurse in the particular circumstances.

The Council ordered that the nurse:

  • be censured;
  • pay $13,670.00 being 50% of the actual costs and expenses;
  • a notice stating the effect of the orders be published in the NZ Gazette, Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand and the Nursing Council newsletter with the names of all parties and the area in which the conduct occurred suppressed.

Marion Clark
Registrar

 

PAUL DESMOND BREEZE

Enrolled Nurse 

The Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the Council") has found Paul Desmond Breeze, enrolled nurse, guilty of professional misconduct on the grounds of malpractice, negligence and that his actions brought discredit on the nursing profession.

In particular, Mr Breeze was charged with the following:

  • That he behaved inappropriately towards certain residents of the psychiatric institution where he worked;
  • That he made threatening remarks about another staff member, and
  • Informed other staff that he would not attend ICU in an emergency and would take his time attending ICU if the alarm went off.

In respect of the first Charge, the Council held Mr Breeze’s conduct in locking a patient in the toilet when the notes specifically stated the patient was not to be confined against her will, amounted to malpractice as it was illegal and unethical to do so without any specific treatment order.

In addition, moving a patient outside from her room while naked and raining was improper conduct in any circumstances and amounted to malpractice.  

The Council also held that the other two charges amounted to professional misconduct on the grounds of negligence and that the conduct brought discredit on the nursing profession respectively.

  • Mr Breeze’s threatening remarks to a female staff member, when on duty in ICU with a male patient, that "it would serve her right to be beaten" was conduct that fell below the standard of behaviour expected of a nurse; and
  • Mr Breeze’s statement that he would not assist in ICU if needed in an emergency.

The Council made the following Orders:

  • That Mr Breeze practice under conditions, which include direct supervision, for a minimum period of two years from the date he recommences working as an enrolled nurse;
  • That Mr Breeze pay 50% of the costs of and incidental to the investigation by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee and inquiry by Council which amounts to approximately $15,800; and
  • A notice stating the effect of the above orders be published in the New Zealand Gazette, Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, the PSA Journal and the Nursing Council’s newsletter.

Marion Clark
Registrar

 

PUBLICATION NOTICE

A registered general and obstetric nurse has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Nursing Council of New Zealand ("the Council") in a case brought by the Director of Proceedings of the Health and Disability Commissioner’s office.

The charges laid by the Director of Proceedings alleged the following:

  • the nurse instructed a certain patient was not to receive food;
  • made inappropriate and derogatory comments about certain patients and failed to treat other patients with respect; and
  • made inappropriate comments about certain staff and treated another with disrespect.

The nurse admitted the facts and that her conduct amounted to professional misconduct.  The Council agreed and held:

  • the first allegation amounted to professional misconduct on the grounds of malpractice (unethical);
  • the second allegation on the grounds the conduct cumulatively was unacceptable and would bring discredit upon the nursing profession; and
  • the third allegation on the grounds that the nurse’s actions were likely to bring discredit upon the nursing profession (unit manager with professional leadership responsibility for staff which she failed to provide).

The Council made the following Orders:

  • the nurse work under supervision for at least 12 months
  • the nurse pay costs of $13,940 (being 35% of the actual costs and expenses); and
  • that a Notice stating the effect of the Orders be published in the NZ Gazette, Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, the Dominion, Press and Council newsletter with details of the parties and area in which the conduct occurred suppressed.

Marion Clark
Registrar

 

Amendment
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The following amendment is advised to the Guidelines for Competence-based Practising Certificates.  The requirement for nursing hours on page 3 deletes the word ‘nursing’ and now reads:

"100 days (750 hours) of practice as a registered nurse" 

The words ‘direct’ and ‘directly’have been deleted from the first sentence under the heading on page 3 ‘Who needs a practising certificate?’  The amended sentence now reads:

"All nurses who are working in a capacity where a registered nurse qualification is required in order to engage in nursing practice in relationship with clients, or nursing practice that influences relationship with clients (as defined in these Guidelines) will need to maintain their practising certificate with the Nursing Council of New Zealand".

 

NCNZ Newsletter (Publication)
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The Nursing Council has in the past provided Health Benefits Limited with a copy of its register of practicing nurses and midwives for the purposes of verification of claims payments made by practicing nurses and midwives to that company.  On 01 January 2001, Health Benefits Limited became a business unit of the Ministry of Health and is now simply known as Health Benefits ("HB").

The register data provided by the Nursing Council to Health Benefits includes only those particulars held on the public part of the Nursing Council register, namely:

Full name, registration number, date of registration and qualifications pursuant to Regulation 25 of the Nurses Regulations 1986. (Section 16 of the Nurses Act 1977 permits the Nursing Council to publish the register or any part, whether abbreviated or otherwise, as it thinks fit, for which it may charge a reasonable fee.)

Health Benefits are currently developing a new claiming payment and reporting system to replace existing systems, and it is to share register data collected from registration bodies with the Ministry’s Shared Support Services Group for the purpose of managing contracts between the Ministry / District Health Boards and Health providers.

If you are a practicing midwife and / or registered nurse making claims for payment from HB, this new use of the registration data pertains to you.

 

Registered Nurses and the Emergency Contraceptive Pill
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Registered nurses who are recognised by the Nursing Council as having competency in sexual and reproductive health will be able to supply the emergency contraceptive pill Levonorgestrel, the Government has decided.

The Ministry of Health issued a Gazette notice on 4 October making this official.  Registered nurses seeking to supply the emergency contraceptive pill will not be required to have Nurse Practitioner certification.  The Nursing Council will, however, expect nurses seeking recognition to supply the emergency contraceptive pill to provide evidence of their competency in this area of practice.

Individual nurses who need to supply the ECP in their practice are invited to apply to Nursing Council for approval to do this.  Applications should demonstrate:

  • The nature of their practice requires that they are able to supply the ECP
  • Up to date knowledge, including training already undertaken and plans to maintain currency.

 

Special Notice
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This Olympic nurses watch was located by the Auckland Central Law Enforcement Team (LET) during a search warrant in Henderson, Auckland.  This watch is engraved on the back with:

Nurse Judy
With Love Shona & Nicky

In accordance with Police procedures this watch is to be disposed of in 6 months time. (May 2002)

All enquiries to:
Police File No: 010904/1171
Constable Megan BELL at Avondale LET, Auckland. Ph (09) 820-5745

 

Nursing Council Members
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Judy Kilpatrick (Chairperson)
Jan Adams (Deputy Chairperson)
Sue Bree
Brenda Hall
Shirley Hughes
Sandy Grey
Annette Huntington
Marie Kiely
Denise Messiter
Jean Patterson
Beverley Rayna
 

Nursing Council Staff
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Marion Clark (Chief Executive/Registrar)
Kellie Bowman (Executive Assistant)
Belinda Greer (Legal Adviser)
Clare Prendergast (Investigator)
Barbara McGlinchey (Complaints Co-ordinator)
Sarah Kennedy (Investigator)
Anne Meyer (Receptionist)
Denise Wilson (Education Adviser)
Charlotte Stapleton (Education Co-ordinator)
Jo Pohatu (International Registrations Co-ordinator)
Heather Rutherford (International Registrations Administrator)
Fergie Hopmans (New Zealand Registrations Administrator)
Suzette Taingahue (New Zealand Registrations Administrator)
Libby Davis (Accounts Administrator)

 

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