Developing innovative practice.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cancer nurses around the country are developing strategies and innovative practice to meet the goals of the New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. Cancer Control Strategy (2003). (1) The aim of the strategy is to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer, and to reduce inequalities with respect to cancer. The Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005-2010 then takes the strategy further, articulating six goals which cover the cancer continuum.2 Nurses are integral to the success of the strategy through networking, forums, initiatives and active participation in the political processes necessary to improve health outcomes. As part of that networking, the NZNO NZNO New Zealand Nurses Organisation Cancer Nurses' Section's national committee provides members with a quarterly newsletter Cancernet. Over the past year we have had a theme for each edition: "Being Heard" last August; "Being Seen to Make a Difference" in October; "Getting it Right for the Tomorrow" in December; and "Getting it Right for the Future" last May. In the August 2007 issue, a summary of the terms of reference Terms of reference allude to a mutual agreement under which a command, element, or unit exercises authority or undertakes specific missions or tasks relative to another command, element, or unit. Also called TORs. for the Palliative Care palliative care (paˑ·lē·ā·tiv kerˑ), n an approach to health care that is concerned primarily with attending to physical and emotional comfort rather and Cancer Nursing Educational Working Party was introduced. This group was set up to address the education and training needs of palliative care and cancer nurses. Cancer nurses were also encouraged to take part in a study conducted by the University of Auckland Not to be confused with Auckland University of Technology. The University of Auckland (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau) is New Zealand's largest university. to determine the educational needs of nurses working with either palliative palliative /pal·li·a·tive/ (pal´e-a?tiv) affording relief; also, a drug that so acts. pal·li·a·tive adj. Relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure. or cancer patients. This study, commissioned by the cancer control implementation steering group with links to the Ministry of Health, aimed at identifying the gaps in training and educational programmes for nurses and the barriers to accessing them. A draft report was submitted to the Ministry last November. The working party, which includes the chair of the cancer nurses' section, has been working on developing a cancer nursing competency COMPETENCY, evidence. The legal fitness or ability of a witness to be heard on the trial of a cause. This term is also applied to written or other evidence which may be legally given on such trial, as, depositions, letters, account-books, and the like. 2. framework. Firstly, it is important to articulate the knowledge and skills a competent cancer nursing workforce requires. Following this exercise, the educational framework needed to train that workforce is then identified. The draft cancer nursing competency indicators were to be sent out for consultation last month. It's important for cancer nurses to be an integral part of this process and send their feedback to the working party. Further to this and emerging from the subsequent issues of Concernet have been stories of innovative practice, of the ways nursing has been putting patient outcomes first. For example, a group of determined oncology health professionals developed an oncology acute service in the abandoned space of the emergency department in the old Auckland Public Hospital. This project was designed to manage increasing patient numbers and lack of space. Patients were then kept out of corridors and provided with privacy. The focus of this unit is to manage and support the needs of patients receiving radiation and/or chemotherapy. This includes oncologic emergencies, supportive cares supportive care, n medical and other interventions that attempt to support and make comfortable rather than to cure. and palliative symptom management. The Northland north·land also North·land n. A region in the north of a country or an area. north  land Oncology Service described
how they keep patients in their own environment, saving the patient(s)
and their whanau travelling and the associated costs.
In Cancernet's May issue we heard from the case co-ordinator working for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board (DHB DHB District Health Board (New Zealand) DHB Deutscher Handball Bund (German) DHB Deutschen Hausfrauen-Bundes (Darmstadt) DHB DHB Capital Group, Inc. ), Lorraine Hammersley. Although the role covers the spectrum of cancer from diagnosis to palliation pal·li·ate tr.v. pal·li·at·ed, pal·li·at·ing, pal·li·ates 1. To make (an offense or crime) seem less serious; extenuate. 2. , she has a particular interest in "cancer survivorship survivorship n. the right to receive full title or ownership due to having survived another person. Survivorship is particularly applied to persons owning real property or other assets, such as bank accounts or stocks, in "joint tenancy. " An item on MidCentral DHB's colorectal care nursing service showed how the service is developing an advanced practice nursing service designed to ensure care is patient focused. Colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. is the most common of the 10 major cancers in New Zealand, with an incidence of 219 cases per 100,000 people. Our next issue, themed "Keep on Keepin' On: Cancer Nursing: Focus on Adolescents", includes articles from key adolescent nurses from around the country. The most recent article the committee has received is about the cancer support nurse role in Midcentral DHB region. These roles are based in the primary health sector and will provide support to GPs and practice nurses. Innovative cancer nursing roles are being developed within the auspices of the cancer control strategy and DHBs. The essence of these positions is to provide co-ordinated pathways for patients and whanau, avoiding delays in referral, investigations and thus treatment programmes. The cancer nurses' section can support nurses to develop these roles in other communities. Cancernet is one way of getting our message out to our nursing community, augmenting these developments. Comments, feedback and descriptions of innovative practices from nurses around the country are welcomed. Please make contact with your nearest committee member. This information, along with guidelines for practice and other information, can be found on the NZNO website on the cancer nurses section's homepage. Cancernet is also on this web page: http://www. nzno.org.nz/Site/Sections/Sections/Cancer/ default.aspx. The cancer nurses' section AGM AGM annual general meeting AGM n abbr (= annual general meeting) → AG f AGM n abbr (= annual general meeting) → JHV f will be held during the "Building Bridges" oncology/ haematology nurses' conference in Hamilton, September 26-27. More information from Robyn Sedgedin: sedgedinr@waikatodhb.govt.nz. Report by cancer nurses" section chair Trish Clark References 1) Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Cancer Control Trust. (2003) New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy. Wellington: authors. www.moh.govt.nz/cancercontrol. Retrieved 22/07/08. 2) Ministry of Health. (2005) The Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005-2010. www.moh.govt.nz/cancercontrol/. Retrieved 22/07/08. |
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