Neonatal Nurses College of Aotearoa(NZNO)

News from the Chairperson

Kia Ora Koutou,

This for many of you will be your first introduction to your new Executive Committee, as the Chairperson I feel very privileged to be elected to be your spokesperson and continue the outstanding work the previous committees have established over the years for neonatal nurses within New Zealand. The committee is keen to uphold the collaborative approach and transparency it has with all the members on issues and approaches taken. This approach is possible due to our established modes of communication such as the website, newsletter, email, neonatal chat room, meetings and conferences and the willingness for all us committee and members to share thoughts, ideas and initiatives. I encourage you to continue to be involved supportive and proud of the professional voice the Neonatal Nurses College of Aotearoa has at a local, national and international level. Be assured the newly elected committee will continue to promote the professional development of neonatal nursing within New Zealand.

The new executive committee includes Debbie O’Donoghue (Chairperson), Dale Garton (Secretary), Anja Hale ( representative on the PMMRC Neonatal Encephalopathy working party), Jane Pope and Mary Fahey (editor of the newsletter). Maureen Higgs (Treasurer), and Lee Carpenter (Webmaster). Maureen and Lee were both members of the previous committee and are crucial to the smooth transition from one committee to another.

2007 was a very significant year for NZANN the previous committee and committees prior to that have worked tirelessly on NZANN members behalf to attain college status and fittingly during the first new committee meeting with exiting committee members present it was announced that the Board of Directors of NZNO had approved NZANN’s application to be granted College Status; now to be known as the Neonatal Nurses College of Aotearoa (NZNO) or NNCA.

Over the next year the committee will be completing the rebranding of documents and communication of the college status with key groups such as the Ministry of Health. Special mention should be made to NNCA member Liz Buckland for her on going work in designing and redesigning of the logo.

During 2008 NNCA will continue to investigate the possibility of becoming a partner in the Australasian Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing Journal in conjunction with the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses and the Australian Confederation of Paediatric and Child Health Nurses. We will be welcoming feedback from the members once the committee has established the process to follow and associated financial implications.

NNCA continues to be an executive committee member of the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN). Significant work is being undertaken by the committee to facilitate and promote global unity for neonatal nursing. Striving to facilitate the growth of neonatal nursing and improve health outcomes for patients and families worldwide. Please keep checking the website for developments and information www.coinnurses.org

Two NNCA neonatal nursing conferences are planned for 2008, with the Level two forum and conference being held in Nelson April 3rd and 4th (see conference pages) and the annual national conference being held by Waikato in October. Keep a look out for more details.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the previous committee members for their tireless work over the past four years and their on going commitment to NNCA. Their support and advice will be invaluable. Michael McIlhone, Christine Woolerton, Lois Lingard, Juliet Manning, Karen Thomson, Mark Henderwood, Gail Corbett, Anne Russell and Judi Tapp. Lee Carpenter and Maureen Higgs are staying on the committee for another couple of years!!!

I look forward to meeting many of you I hope at the Nelson and or Waikato conferences later this year.

Enjoy the summer.

Debbie O’Donoghue, Chairperson NNCA.