The updated NZNO guidelines for nurses on the administration of medicines is now open for consultation. This document was last updated in 2007 and there have been significant changes since that time in legislation, practice and policies.

This year the Medicines Act will also be amended which will have an impact on some of the content of the new guidelines. For this reason, a decision has been made that once consultation is complete the document will initially be available only online. Once the Medicines legislation has been passed, the relevant amendments will be made to the new guidelines and it will be published in hard copy. The document will not come out for consultation again once the legislation has been passed and the changes made.

Your feedback is sought on the following areas:

• relevance of the content to nursing practice;
• areas that are missing that could be included;
• areas that are included but could be excluded;
• any other comments.

NZNO guidelines for nurses on the administration of medicines (PDF)

Please forward your feedback on the document by 5 April 2012 to
jillc@nzno.org.nz

Enquires to:
Jill Clendon
Nursing Policy Advisor/Researcher

http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/index.cfm/1,225,html/Consultation-on-qualifications-prescribed-for-Internationally-Qualified-Registered-Nurses
Please consider this important document carefully. Changes to current requirements for IQNs are that applicants who were educated in English and initially registered in countries that have a similar* nursing education, equivalent registered nurse role and health care system (i.e. Canada; Republic of Ireland; South Africa; United Kingdom; United States of America.) would no longer have to sit the IELTS and in general would be automatically registered as Australian nurses are under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement as long as they had two years’ post registration clinical experience in the three years preceding application.

Others would need the same education and clinical experience but would need to supply an English language assessment and, at the direction of the Council, complete an examination before completing a competence assessment programme. The Language requirements have reverted to: the applicant having to achieve a seven in all four bands of an IELTS in one sitting, or a B or A pass in all areas of the OET in one sitting.

Education transcripts will need to be more detailed and include, for instance, learning outcomes to ensure there is consistent understanding of the nursing role between NZ trained nurses and IQN.

This is a very widely debated and contentious subject and NZNO has previously stated the following:

• NZNO does not support the IELTs: it is not specific, culturally or occupationally, to nursing communication in Aotearoa; there is no evidence supporting it as fit for purpose; NZQA has developed English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)  standards appropriate to our country which could be adopted just as Canada had developed language standards appropriate to theirs. It is not a 'gold standard', does not guarantee good nursing communication in English in NZ settings, and it is inappropriately used as a proxy for cultural competence. [NB Kiwi nurses and English nurses alike fail the IELTs.]
• ALL IQNs need education around our culture, language, health, education and regulatory systems. ( An Irish nurse from Kilkenny, a South African nurse from Soweto, or an American nurse from New York may be substantially less attuned to working at Greenlane than a Fijian nurse trained in English with an Australian curriculum.) There is a degree of discomfort that RNs from predominantly white English speaking countries would be accepted as a matter of course while those from other countries are not. Most Indian education is conducted in English for example but Indian nurses still have to sit the IELTS.
• To avoid the inherent and manifest risks of 'instant' registration, NZNO would like to canvas opinion on  an alternative option proposing  a provisional scope of practice for a limited period for approved IQNs during which they would have access to remediation for language, cultural or clinical training which may be identified. 

ALL COMMENTS WELCOME - YOUR EXPERIENCE AND ASSESSMENT IS IMPORTANT!

Comments to Policy Analyst marilynh@nzno.org.nz by  Friday May 25th 

Resource and Capability Framework for Adult Palliative Care Services

The Resource and Capability Framework (the Framework) is intended to inform the completion of the final specialist palliative care service specifications. The Framework was commissioned to provide planners and funders, and providers with guidance on the resource and capability requirements of palliative care services in New Zealand. The Framework describes the levels of care and staffing resources appropriate for New Zealand and supports the delivery of accessible, equitable and high quality palliative care services for all New Zealanders.

Relevant background  may include:NZNO submission on the Draft  Guidance for Integrated Paediatric Palliative Care Services in New Zealand 2011; HWNZ's  Palliative Care Workforce Service Review and that Advanced Care planning pathways are clear. NZNO did recommend in the above submission that  the Palliative Care Strategy should be part of the paediatric palliative care strategy.

http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/resource-and-capability-framework-adult-palliative-care-services-new-zealand

Comments to Policy Analyst marilynh@nzno.org.nz  25 May - apologies  for the short time frame but this is due on 30 May.

PHARMAC's OPP are a key mechanism that outlines PHARMAC'S processes for funding and policy proposals and provides guidance to stakeholders.   This is a core document outlining how PHARMAC conducts its business and a good opportunity to identify what you think should be the key guiding principles to medicines procurement  and management in Aotearoa New Zealand i.e. the Government’s expenditure on subsidies for pharmaceuticals used in the community and on the procurement of pharmaceuticals provided to patients for use while in hospital. PHARMAC's role includes activities relating to the supply of pharmaceuticals (for example, negotiating with pharmaceutical companies over the subsidisation or procurement of their products) and activities influencing the demand for pharmaceuticals (for example, promoting appropriate prescribing and best practice initiatives).

http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/haveyoursay/OPPReview.  

The closing date for submissions is 5pm, Friday 1 June 2012.

Comments to Policy Analyst marilynh@nzno.org.nz  by 21 May 2012.

NO RESPONSE IS NECESSARY IF YOU DON’T THINK IT REQUIRES ONE. 

The St Johns Ambulance are currently reviewing their  Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and  are  inviting professional bodies who have a vested interest in the CPG to provide us with their comments and feedback on the existing guidelines.   Please if you wish to review the guidelines and provide feedback to Policy Analysts.  The timeline for the St John consultation process is outlined below:

1 March 2012 – 30 September 2012
Invitations to participate in consultation sent along with an electronic copy of St John 2011-2013 Clinical Practice Guidelines. 

30 September 2011 – 1 December 2012
St John will review all responses and engage with participants on their comments.

1 January 2013 – 31 March 2013
The CPG is signed off by the National Clinical Leadership Working Group and published by 1 July 2013. 

1 October 2013 – 31 December 2013
Education will be undertaken by St John staff on any changes to procedures in preparation for the official roll out from 1 September 2013.

Feedback to Marilyn Head, Policy Analyst, marilynh@nzno.org.nz  by   7 September 2012