No images? Click here International Nurses DayKia ora koutou Ahakoa te wero, kia māia, kia manawanui Despite the challenge, be brave and resolute Today is International Nurses Day, with 2022’s theme being “Nurses – a voice to lead”. Aotearoa New Zealand was the first country in the world to register nurses, and on behalf of the Council we hope you are able to take time to mark your own achievements and the nursing legacy of which you are part. This day acknowledges the massive collective contribution by nurses to the health and wellbeing of people around the world, and this year's call to action represents the need for 'real investment' to be made into the nursing workforce. The pandemic has drawn a sharp focus on the courageous and irreplaceable work of nurses, and the need for substantive investment in the nursing profession. While this need may be well-recognised by us in the nursing world, the past two years have also clearly demonstrated the importance of such investment to the public. However, it is important to also recognise that many of you are facing challenging times. We would particularly like to acknowledge that it is now less than two months until the health reforms come into effect. On 1 July District Health Boards will be disestablished, while Health New Zealand/Hauora Aotearoa and the Māori Health Authority/Te Mana Hauora Māori will come fully into existence. Many of you will be affected by this transition, and we assure you that the Council has been working hard to ensure our work reflects and accounts for this new environment. Despite these challenges, you all continue to go above and beyond in providing highly skilled care, delivered with professionalism, compassion, and pride in the quality of the work you perform. On International Nurses Day, we hope you can celebrate the care you provide and the difference that nurses make every day to the wellbeing of people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Noho ora mai rā i roto i ngā manaakitanga katoa. Look after yourself and may you remain well. Ngaira Harker Maria Armstrong Message from the Chief Executive/RegistrarTēnā koutou katoa Nurses around the world will be celebrating International Nurses Day on 12th May. This year the call to action represents Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health, focusing on the need to protect, support and invest in the nursing profession to strengthen health systems around the world. The theme demonstrates the need to invest in nursing, to build a resilient, highly qualified nursing workforce to meet the needs of the public of Aotearoa now and into the future. This newsletter provides an update on the Council’s strategic work that recognises the need to build a strong and future focused nursing workforce during a time of rapid and transformational change in both the education and health sectors. Thank you to all nurses for your tireless and extraordinary efforts to provide the best possible care to the public of Aotearoa New Zealand. Courage, resilience and heart. Te kaha, te manawaroa me te manawa. Ngā mihi nui Catherine Byrne Farewell to Council membersEarlier this year the Council farewelled two members: Tania Kemp and Dr Linda Chalmers. The Council would like to acknowledge Tania’s position as the Council’s Tangata Whenua Chair, and her contribution over the past seven years. The Council would also like to recognise the driving role Dr Chalmers played in establishing our new Emergency Education Standard, which supports more flexible approaches to clinical placements for nursing tauira in pandemic and similar situations. We thank you both for your service to the Council and wish you well for the future. Strategic Plan 2022 – 2024The Council has confirmed its new Strategic Plan, and this will be formally published in late May. Given the disrupted and uncertain environment we are facing, the Council has decided that this plan will be for two years rather than five. This will allow us to revisit our strategic direction if necessary once the implications of current changes to the health sector, shifts in education, and lasting impacts from COVID-19 have become clearer. The Strategic Plan sets out five priorities that will guide our work over the near future:
More detail about why these priorities have been chosen and how we will look to pursue them will be available in the full Strategic Plan document, soon to be available on our website. Internationally Qualified Nurse ConsultationSince early April, the Council has been consulting on possible changes to how we assess and register international nurses. The most significant parts of these proposals involve a move to directly evaluating competence through theory and clinical examinations, education that clearly addresses cultural safety and Te Tiriti capability, and some changes to the English language assessment. Information on these proposals is available on our website. This consultation closes on Monday May 16th, and we encourage you to complete our consultation questionnaire or provide us with a written submission. Any changes made as a result of these proposals will take some time to confirm and fully implement. In the interim, we will be making a variety of improvements to our existing registration processes to make them faster and easier for international applicants to use. Review of the Enrolled Nurse Scope of PracticeThe Council has agreed to review the Scope of Practice for Enrolled Nurses. We are pleased to be developing this Review in collaboration with the Enrolled Nurse section of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation. This Review is currently in the planning stages, and we anticipate beginning it within the next few months. The Review will proceed in two stages; the first will involve revisiting the Scope statement to ensure it fully represents the current nature and future potential of Enrolled Nurse practice. The second stage will involve looking at the competencies which underpin the Scope, and the education standards that support education in the area. Further information, including how we will engage with and seek input from the profession, will be available as the Review progresses. Reminder: APC Fee ChangesPlease remember that the Annual Practising Certificate (including the Disciplinary Levy) increases from $110 to $130 on July 1st. If your APC renewal is due this current quarter please make sure you renew by Thursday, June 30th. Any renewals for this quarter that take place after that date will be charged the new rate. Research into Nursing and FamiliesThe Australasian Chapter of the International Family Nursing Association is currently exploring nurses’ attitudes toward the importance of families, and their perceptions of the outcomes achieved by facilitating involvement of family/whānau in patient care. Registered Nurses working with patients and/or their family and whānau in a nursing setting are invited to participate in the online survey at this link. For further information on this survey or the research project please contact Update on Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal DecisionsThe following Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal Decisions are now available. The full decision relating to this case can be found on the Tribunal website at www.hpdt.org.nz The reference number is Nur 21/521P – Ms I The reference number is Nur 21/522P – Bibin Yohannan Baby |