EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND - NZNO

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND - NZNO
February | 2021

EMERGENCY NURSE
NEW ZEALAND
The Journal of the College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (NZNO)
ISSN 1176-2691

                                                                    Image Credit: Natalie Anderson
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND - NZNO
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND         COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                       FEBRUARY 2021

In this issue

Features

            CENNZ Chairperson’s AGM Report                                Snippets Autumn 2020
     07     2020 – Dr Sandra Richardson                        28

            Irritable Hip in Kids                                         Book Review by Matt Comeskey
     09                                                        29

            CENNZ Conference 2021                                         ACEM Conference 2021
     26                                                        30

Regulars

            A Word from                                                   Regional Reports
     03                                                         11
            the Editor

            Chairperson’s                                                 College Activities
     05                                                       25-27
            Report

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND - NZNO
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                     COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                   FEBRUARY 2021

A Word from the Editor

Matt Comeskey
Editor | Emergency Nurse NZ
mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz
Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters      I feel that collectively, in our work places     expanded and improved by having
should be no more than 500 words, with          we have demonstrated a capacity to               a ‘fresh’ editor every few years. I have
no more than 5 references and no tables         absorb change and manage the unknown             enjoyed the role and the support I have
or figures.                                     to a degree that I’ve not seen before. This      received from a few regular contributors,
                                                gives me some hope that no matter what           the CENNZ National Committee and
                                                the coming year throws at us, we will get        Sean McGarry - who does a lot to make
                                                through. That’s not to say it will be easy.      my shambolic editorial efforts look great.
                                                It probably won’t. There will be family,
                                                colleagues and patients who will struggle.
The big lesson I learnt last year is that the
                                                But if we remain kind to others (and
future isn’t what it used to be.
                                                ourselves), together we will get through
A year ago we could travel without              another year of challenges.                      Matt
restriction, we could openly sneeze
                                                In this issue please check out the Snippets
without being socially shamed and we
                                                section. There’s new research from
could shake hands to greet strangers –
                                                Auckland ED, published in the Annals
because that was, well… normal. The
                                                of Emergency Medicine on commonly
difficulty in predicting the future is that
                                                prescribed analgesia. The findings can
it’s unknown. So, as we stagger away
                                                be easily incorporated into practice
from the year that many would happily
forget, we head at pace towards a year          Finally, it’s time for me to move on and
that’s entirely unknown. It feels like the      let someone else inject new ideas and
only certainty is more uncertainty.             energy. I believe the journal can be further

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                       COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                      FEBRUARY 2021

Editorial Info

Subscription:                                     Journal Coordinator/Editor:                      Dr. Natalie Anderson: RN, PhD, Senior
                                                                                                   Lecturer, University of Auckland.
                                                  Matt Comeskey:
                                                                                                   Auckland City Hospital Adult
Subscription to this journal is through a         Nurse Practitioner, ADHB
                                                                                                   Emergency Department, ADHB.
membership levy of the College of Emergency       Email: mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz
                                                                                                   Dr. Sandra Richardson: Dr Sandra
Nurses New Zealand - NZNO (CENNZ).
The journal is published 3 times per year         Peer Review Coordinator:                         Richardson : PhD Senior Lecturer,
                                                  Matt Comeskey:                                   School of Health Sciences, University
and circulated to paid Full and Associated
                                                  Nurse Practitioner, ADHB                         of Canterbury.
members of CENNZ and other interested
                                                  Email: mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz
subscribers, libraries and institutions.                                                           Deborah Somerville: MN. Senior
                                                                                                   Lecturer. Faculty of Medical and Health
Copyright: This publication is copyright in its   Peer Review Committee:
                                                                                                   Sciences, University of Auckland.
entirety. Material may not be printed without
                                                  Margaret Colligan: MHsc. Nurse
the prior permission of CENNZ.
                                                  Practitioner. Auckland City Hospital             Submission of articles for
Website: www.cennz.co.nz                          Emergency Department, ADHB                       publication in Emergency
                                                  Lucien Cronin: MN. Nurse Practitioner.           Nurse New Zealand.
                                                  Auckland City Hospital Emergency                 All articles submitted for publication should
                                                  Department, ADHB                                 be presented electronically in Microsoft

Editorial Committee                               Prof. Brian Dolan: FRSA, MSc(Oxon),              Word, and e-mailed to mcomeskey@adhb.
                                                                                                   govt.nz. Guidelines for the submission
                                                  MSc(Lond), RMN, RGN. Director
                                                  of Service Improvement.Canterbury                of articles to Emergency Nurse New
Emergency Nurse N.Z. is the official journal                                                       Zealand were published in the March
                                                  District Health Board.
of the College of Emergency Nurses of New                                                          2007 issue of the journal, or are available
Zealand (CENNZ) / New Zealand Nurses              Nikki Fair: MN. Clinical Nurse
                                                                                                   from the Journal Editor Matt Comeskey
Organisation (NZNO). The views expressed          Specialist. Middlemore Hospital
                                                                                                   at: mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz Articles
in this publication are not necessarily those     Paediatric Emergency Care, CMDHB
                                                                                                   are peer reviewed, and we aim to advise
of either organisation. All clinical practice     Paula Grainger: RN, MN (Clin),                   authors of the outcome of the peer review
articles are reviewed by a peer review            Nurse Coordinator Clinical Projects,             process within six weeks of our receipt of the
committee. When necessary further expert          Emergency Department, Christchurch               article. CENNZ NZNO Membership:
advice may be sought external                     Hospital.                                        Membership is $25.00 and due annually
to this group.                                                                                     in April. For membership enquiries
                                                  Libby Haskell: MN. Nurse Practitioner.
All articles published in this journal remain     Children’s Emergency Department                  please contact: Kathryn Wadsworth
the property of Emergency Nurse NZ and            Starship Children’s Health, ADHB.                Email: cennzmembership@gmail.com
may be reprinted in other publications if
                                                  Sharon Payne: MN. Nurse Practitioner.
prior permission is sought and is credited to                                                      Design / Production / Distribution:
                                                  Hawkes Bay Emergency Department,
Emergency Nurse NZ. Emergency Nurse NZ                                                             Sean McGarry
                                                  HBDHB.
has been published under a variety of names
                                                                                                   Phone: 029 381 8724
since 1992.
                                                                                                   Email: seanrmcgarry@gmail.com

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                    FEBRUARY 2021

Chairperson’s
Report
                                              2020 has been a year of challenging and at times, distressing
                                              events, and one that many of us will be happy to see the end of.
                                              However, there have also been some unexpected opportunities,
                                              and times when emergency nursing has moved forward in
                                              positive and compelling ways.

                                              in aged care and long term or chronic            They both involved unexpected, and
                                              care settings, we have faced the reality of      horrific scenarios. Both resulted in staff
                                              the outbreaks, the management of these           witnessing injuries which, while taken in
                                              and considered the impact on those with          isolation, are not unknown to ED staff.
                                              co-morbidities.                                  Serious burns and gunshot wounds are
                                                                                               never pleasant, but are not unfamiliar.
                                              In short, emergency nurses have assessed,
                                                                                               The quantity, nature and circumstances
                                              responded to, and problem solved across
                                                                                               associated with these events were. The
                                              the breadth of the pandemic possibilities.
                                                                                               overwhelming outpouring of national
                                              We have struggled with the ethics and
                                                                                               concern is tribute to the degree of impact
                                              the implications of some of the decision
                                                                                               associated with both event. While we
                                              making that has occurred, and we have
                                                                                               know that individually and collectively,
                                              spoken out about the need to protect
                                                                                               there was so very much to be proud of in
Too often we are poorly understood by         ourselves, and the need to have safe
                                                                                               the responses that resulted, we also need
members of the general public – not           working environments.          Access to
                                                                                               to be mindful of the impact such events
intentionally, but as a result of the media   appropriate PPE and clear, consistent
                                                                                               have. It is increasingly important that
representation of nursing, or our own         information, is not a luxury, it is an
                                                                                               as a profession, and as colleagues we are
reluctance to talk about what we do, and      essential. And ED nurses, despite the
                                                                                               aware of the effect of our work. For too
what really matters in our work. 2020         difficulties, have worked incredibly hard,
                                                                                               long, it has been an accepted aspect that
was The Year of the Nurse. It was also        and worked together, to find solutions.
                                                                                               ED nurses are simply ‘tough’, and nothing
the year of the COVID-19 pandemic,            We have been a nationwide team, drawing
                                                                                               really bothers them. Often we appear
highlighting the role of nurses around        on experiences and learning from the
                                                                                               that way. But when this is truly the case,
the world, in all specialties. For those of   challenges as they have eventuated, and
                                                                                               we should worry. There are long term
us in NZ, the roles of emergency nurses       using this knowledge to strengthen other
                                                                                               consequences to being exposed to trauma,
alongside public health and primary care      areas in turn.
                                                                                               to violence, to grief. As our health system
nurses have been highlighted in terms
                                              We cannot forget that two devastating            continues to struggle, out patient numbers
of providing first contact, screening and
                                              events impacting emergency response              rise and the acuity also. We need to be
immediate response to a pandemic.
                                              also occurred recently – the mass shooting       responsive, but also responsible, and that
For emergency nurses, ICU and high
                                              in Christchurch, and the Whakaari White          includes looking after ourselves.
dependency nurses, we have been looking
                                              Island eruption.       While emergency
at the impact and decision making that                                                         We have shown how well we can manage in
                                              nurses are capable and competent, both
would follow on from an outbreak and                                                           terms of disasters – this is what emergency
                                              of these events, although very different,
the possible scenarios that might follow.                                                      nurses do. We have shown how well we
                                              triggered similar responses in many ways.
For emergency nurses and those working

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND - NZNO
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                   FEBRUARY 2021

Chairperson’s
Report Cont.
care for each other – again, the outpouring   of violence and aggression against
of support from the EDs around the            emergency nurses, and highlighting the
country to those who have experienced         risks we face. The establishment of the          Dr Sandra Richardson
difficult times is humbling. We can           nurse educator’s network is offering a           Chairperson
continue to build on the professionalism      new forum for the exchange of ideas and          College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand
and knowledge we hold as a group – there      sharing of experiences, and it is hoped
have been significant advancements in         this will continue in a similar manner to        Contact: cennzchair@gmail.com
emergency nursing in 2020 as well as          that of the Nurse Manager network.
overcoming the problems.
                                              I wish to thank you all for your
We have successfully maintained a             contributions to emergency nursing over
platform in the media, addressing issues      2020.

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND             COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                FEBRUARY 2021

Chairpersons Report 2020 Annual
General Meeting NZNO College of
Emergency Nurses New Zealand

I am pleased to be able to present      identifying new ways in which we                 collaborations, networks and the
the Chairperson’s Report to the         can meet the needs of patients and               ability to offer support has become
2020 Annual General Meeting of          colleagues.                                      increasingly apparent in all aspects
the NZNO College of Emergency                                                            of our professional and personal
                                        We have had to prioritise some
Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ).                                                              lives, and we have developed closer
                                        activities, and to limit others – the
                                                                                         links with the Australasian College
This has been an extraordinary year     decision to hold an online AGM and
                                                                                         of Emergency Medicine (ACEM), as
for all nurses, and has produced a      to cancel the planned symposium
                                                                                         well as exploring areas of mutual
number of specific challenges for       this year being examples. However,
                                                                                         interest within NZNO nursing
emergency nurses and for CENNZ. It      we have focussed on responding
                                                                                         groups, in particular the NZ College
has also offered opportunities for us   to the key needs within the sector
                                                                                         of Critical Care Nurses and Mental
to work together and see significant    – speaking out in relation to PPE
                                                                                         Health Nurses Section.
achievements and developments           shortages, mixed messages around
within our specialty. 2020 is the       expectations during lockdown, the                It would take too long to review all
Year of the Nurse – and nurses have     implications of quarantine and have              the items covered by CENNZ in
certainly been at the forefront of      continued to fight for safer EDs and             the past year, but before providing
public attention, with the value        reducing violence and aggression.                a summary of the key achievements
and contribution of our profession      A major impact arising from the                  I do wish to highlight our work with
highlighted in the response to the      pandemic has been recognition of                 regard to violence and aggression,
Covid-19 pandemic. But this is not      the need for highly trained triage               which remains a priority for the
our only public presence – emergency    nurses – a core element of CENNZ                 committee. As you will be aware,
nurses have also been recognised for    business. The triage portfolio has               CENNZ has continued to make
their response to natural and man-      always been a busy one, but in the               submissions on this topic, and this
made disasters, their willingness to    current circumstances, the workload              includes both written and oral (in
advocate for patients, speaking out     has increased significantly as we                person) submissions to the justice
on the need to address inequalities,    have striven to find ways to offer               select committee which considered
and advocating for safer working        courses to a greater range of areas.             the Protection for First Responders
environments.                                                                            and Prison Officers Bill. As a direct
                                        In order to support staff working in
                                                                                         result of our submission, changes
CENNZ, through the Committee            difficult situations, and to facilitate
                                                                                         were made to the definition of a scene
and its members, has not only           the sharing of knowledge and
                                                                                         of emergency, to allow this to include
accepted the challenges of this past    innovations around responses to
                                                                                         an emergency department, and a
year, but has been in a position        Covid-19 an on-line Charge Nurse
                                                                                         new definition of first responder. We
to respond in an effective and          Managers group was established,
                                                                                         are currently awaiting the review of
strategic manner. As the voice of       to enable regular zoom meetings
                                                                                         the bill. CENNZ also challenged the
New Zealand emergency nurses,           for support as well as mutual
                                                                                         NZNO Strategic Plan at the recent
the College has been privileged to      assistance. This has been followed
                                                                                         AGM, successfully lobbying to have
showcase the determination and          with the introduction of on line
                                                                                         violence and aggression formally
commitment of its membership,           ED educator meetings, and the
                                                                                         included as a specific issue in this
with a highly motivated committee       continuation of support for the
                                                                                         document.
who have worked above and beyond,       AENN group. The importance of

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                     COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                   FEBRUARY 2021

Chairpersons Report 2020 Annual General
Meeting NZNO College of Emergency
Nurses New Zealand Cont.

Summary of Work 2019-2020

•    Provision of NZ Triage Course remain       •   Development of the CENNZ media
                                                    profile and press releases relating to
                                                                                                 office and Suzanne Rolls our NZNO
                                                                                                 Professional Nurse Advisor.
     a key activity for the College
                                                    topical issues, with associated media

•    12 National Triage Courses were held           interviews and publications                  I will shortly step down from the

                                                •
     (compared to the usual 8)                                                                   CENNZ committee as my 4-year
                                                    Continuation of the submissions

•
                                                                                                 term comes to a close. It has been a
     CENNZ Journal continues to flourish            process, highlighting our engagement
                                                                                                 privilege to represent the Canterbury
     in the electronic format, but with             with political and professional issues
                                                                                                 Westland region and to contribute
     sadness we acknowledge that the                of relevance to emergency nursing
                                                                                                 to the emergency nursing in New
     current editor is looking to step down,
     and we will be seeking nominations         •   Recognition of the hard work of all
                                                    emergency nurses, and celebration
                                                                                                 Zealand. I hope to be able to continue
     for a new Journal Editor                                                                    to contribute to the College, and to
                                                    of emergency nursing with the

•
                                                                                                 offer support to future committee
     Support continues for the Advanced             distribution of the international ED
                                                                                                 members. Being part of CENNZ,
     Emergency Nurses Network                       Nurses day CENNZ gift baskets.
                                                                                                 and having the opportunity to take
•    Establishment of on-line CNM
     meetings as part of the National
                                                I would like to thank all of the
                                                CENNZ Triage Instructors for
                                                                                                 an active role is professionally
                                                                                                 challenging but also very rewarding
     Charge Nurse Managers Network              the success of the Triage Course’s               role. I thank the CENNZ committee

•    Establishment of
     Educator meetings
                              on-line   Nurse   undertaken over the past year, and
                                                take this opportunity to welcome
                                                                                                 for their support and look forward to
                                                                                                 future ongoing opportunities with

•    CENNZ as an invited member of
     the NZNO Addressing Violence and
                                                the new instructors and thank
                                                those who are leaving. The revenue
                                                                                                 the College.

     Aggression in Nursing (AVAN)               received from the national triage

•
                                                course enables CENNZ to maintain
     CENNZ as an invited member of the
                                                its significant grant and education
                                                                                                 Dr Sandra Richardson
     National Sepsis Core Working Group,                                                         Chairperson
                                                programmes. While this has been
     Sepsis Trust
                                                limited by the impact of Covid-19
•
                                                                                                 College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand
     The CENNZ social media platforms           and the subsequent travel and group              Contact: cennzchair@gmail.com
     have of Facebook and Twitter               meeting restrictions,
     experience increased activity and
     provide clinically relevant resources      we will continue to support
     and communication.                         individuals where possible, with

•    Review and update of CENNZ position
     statements: New Nursing Graduates in
                                                regard to educational and leadership
                                                development.
     Emergency Departments; Emergency           I would like to also acknowledge
     Nursing Education                          the tremendous work, support,

•    Development     of   new   Position
     Statement: Clinical Nurse Specialists
                                                knowledge and skills of Sharyne
                                                Gordon at the NZNO Wellington
     in Emergency Departments

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                   FEBRUARY 2021

Irritable Hip in Kids
Transient synovitis, commonly called irritable hip, is the most common cause of limping in
children. Irritable hip is most often seen in children aged between three and 10 years of age.

     History                                                                           Red Flags
     In most cases of irritable hip, the child will have recently recovered            - Fever
     from a viral infection. Sometimes, the condition occurs after a                   - Night pain
     minor fall or injury.
                                                                                       - Constant, worsening pain
     Some children may just be refusing to walk, without explanation.                  - Complete refusal to weight bear
     The pain is often worse in the morning on waking and improves                       post analgesia
     over the day
                                                                                       - >8yrs of age
     Usually only one side is affected.                                                - Greater than 3 days of symptoms
     The child is usually well.                                                        - Unexplained bruising.

     Assessment:                                                                       Investigations:
     The majority of your exam                                                         Repeat examination is essential. Make this
     will be focused on the MSK                                                        your first priority after analgesia has been
     system.                                                                           given.
     - Joint examination using                                                         Use both paracetamol (15mg/kg/dose) and
       "Look, Feel, and Move"                                                          Ibuprofen (10mg/kg/dose)
       including joints above and
                                                                                       No investigations are generally warranted.
       below area of pain.
                                                                                       X-rays are usually unhelpful except in older,
     - Usually able to elicit reduced
                                           The pain is caused by                       adolescent children (SUFE) or specific
       internal and external rotation
                                           inflammation (swelling) of                  situations such as suspected fracture.
       of the affected hip joint on
       exam                                the lining of the hip joint                 Blood tests are only indicated if red flags
                                                                                       are present (see above). Obtain FBC, CRP
     - Assess gait if possible –           (Click on image for hyperlink)
                                                                                       and ESR, and consider blood culture if
       walking +/- running.
                                                                                       infection is suspected.

                                                                                       Cont. overleaf…

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                              FEBRUARY 2021

Irritable Hip in Kids Cont.
       What is the treatment?
       • Pain relief such as ibuprofen and paracetamol should be prescribed and parents should be advised to use this
         medication on a regular basis for the first 2-3 days.
       • Irritable hip usually gets better with rest and simple analgesia within one week. Pain that has persisted longer than
         this should always be reviewed.
       • Parents should be advised to bring their child back for review if:
         - the pain is getting worse despite regular analgesia
         - the pain is waking them at night
         - they develop a fever with no other obvious source of infection.
       https://www.starship.org.nz/guidelines/limp-assessment-of-paediatric-limp-in-the-emergency-department

Kathryn Johnson NP
Starship Children’s Emergency Department

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                               FEBRUARY 2021

Regional
Reports
Northland/Te Taitokerau | Auckland
Midland | Hawkes Bay/Tarawhiti
Mid Central | Wellington | Top of the South
Canterbury/Westland | Southern
                                                                                     Vacancy
                                                                               The position representing
                                                                                Hawkes Bay/Tarawhiti
                                                                                on the CENNZ National
                                                                                Committee is currently
                                                                                        vacant.
                                                                                  Please see application
                                                                                     information on
                                                                                         page 18

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND      COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                 FEBRUARY 2021

Northland/Te Taitokerau Region
                                 Looking back over 2020 has been                  The interactive workshop focus is
                                 an opportunity to recognise our                  on de-escalation and staff safety. ED
                                 resilience and teamwork, and to                  nurses are being rostered to attend
                                 appreciate the knowledge that                    these courses.
                                 we have gained in meeting the
                                                                                  The challenge of improving equity
                                 challenges of this year. We all had
                                                                                  and culturally appropriate care is
                                 important roles to play in responding
                                                                                  underway with an ED working group
                                 to Covid as well as continuing
                                                                                  established. One of the first steps has
                                 business as usual. It still amazes me
                                                                                  been focused on the use of Te Reo.
                                 how we adapted so quickly (and still
                                                                                  The ED Grand Round presentation
                                 continue to adapt) to new processes
                                                                                  this month was “Decolonising the
                                 and environments.
                                                                                  ED: An answer to Healthy outcomes
                                 Active recruitment is underway                   for All?
Sue Stebbeings
                                 to fill several current ED nursing
Nurse Practitioner                                                                The ED ‘Peep of the Month’
                                 vacancies. There are many shifts that
                                                                                  nominations continues to be an
Emergency Department             are not fully staffed, which increased
                                                                                  excellent way of acknowledging our
                                 the demands on staff. Looking at
Whangarei Hospital                                                                colleagues for the ways they make a
                                 recent articles on facilitating
                                                                                  difference - their commitment, input
Contact: sstebbeings007@yahoo.   resilience, I was reminded of what
                                                                                  and skills.
co.nz                            we all know - the importance of
                                 social connection, self-care, and                In development: An Assessment
                                 looking for positives in situations.             Unit for Whangarei campus was
                                 So heading into 2021, let’s encourage            announced in mid-November to
                                 ourselves to prioritise self-care, and           relieve congestion in ED – this is
                                 connect with our whanau & our                    planned to have 12 beds and is part
                                 colleagues so that we can take care              of the hospital plan to manage acute
                                 of our communities.                              demand. The unit is being located
                                                                                  in a renovated medical outpatient
                                 Recent positives: We now have more
                                                                                  clinic, and involves several teams
                                 distraction tools through the efforts
                                                                                  moving to re-purposed areas –the
                                 of a paediatric focused ED group.
                                                                                  medical outpatient team move to
                                 There are two tablets that have
                                                                                  the physiotherapy department
                                 preloaded games and apps, as well
                                                                                  …who are moving to a renovated
                                 as toys and activity kits. A buzzy bee
                                                                                  administration area… who have
                                 to reduce pain during procedures
                                                                                  been moved. The unit will open
                                 involving needles has also been
                                                                                  once staffing has been established.
                                 introduced.
                                                                                  Hopefully, sufficient staff can be
                                 An ED Ball was held in November                  recruited to allow the unit to function
                                 to connect and relax outside of work.            at its planned capacity.
                                 Many thanks to our event organising
                                                                                  Challenges: Whangarei ED has
                                 committee for all their inspiration
                                                                                  experienced sustained high demand
                                 and efforts. There is also Scott’s
                                                                                  and acuity with noticeably high
                                 summer party in early February to
                                                                                  number of trauma presentations.
                                 look forward to.
                                                                                  The last fortnight, in particular, has
                                 CALM – “Workplace violence – It’s                seen daily presentation numbers
                                 not OK” training courses are being               similar to last summer’s surge
                                 rolled out across the organisation.              numbers. Our resources have not

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND           COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                               FEBRUARY 2021

Northland/Te Taitokerau Region cont.
been adequate to manage the surges    Hokianga Hospital: - This small                  emergency care clinic alongside the
of people arriving – and despite      rural hospital facility is run by                doctors and nurses. The paramedic
everyone’s best efforts, our 6-hour   the community trust and strongly                 also works in the community
length of stay was 85% in November.   reflects the identity and strengths              making home visits including follow
                                      of the community. There are 2 acute              up assessments. The establishment
The usual summer seasonal rise in
                                      treatment rooms and a 1 – 2 bed                  of red and green zones during early
population has been predicted to be
                                      resus room. The local Rawene GP                  Covid preparations was facilitated by
higher with more people holidaying
                                      clinic is co-located. After hours                2 negative pressure rooms installed
in New Zealand rather than
                                      emergency care is provided from the              during renovation in 2019.
overseas. This increase is noticed
                                      10 bed inpatient ward. The nurses
by the smaller services as well as
                                      are supported to develop their skills
in Whangarei. The background
                                      and become PRIME trained. A 12                   Sue
increase in population has already
                                      month trial has commenced using
increased overall demand for health
                                      an advanced care paramedic in the
care in the community.

Contributions for Publication
We are always open to receiving submissions for
publication. Submissions in the form of case studies,
research posters and practice guidelines are welcome.
There is a modest contribution for featured articles.

You can find guidelines for publication here: https://www.nzno.org.nz/groups/colleges_sections/colleges/
college_of_emergency_nurses/journal

Alternatively, email and enquire: mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz

P 13
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND        COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                               FEBRUARY 2021

Auckland Region
                                   Starship Children’s ED                           We have had staff celebrate
                                                                                    weddings, a 65th birthday and
                                   After the COVID impacted winter
                                                                                    passing NP panel.
                                   with reduced numbers and the
                                   viruses going into hibernation,                  We hope everyone has a Merry
                                   November turned out to be our                    Christmas
                                   busiest on record!
                                                                                    From the regional meeting this week
                                   The viruses came back and with                   it sounds like Counties have also
                                   a sharp increase so did the kids!                been seeing increased numbers and
                                   Croup was the main culprit along                 the kids’ side has shot up similar to
                                   with some good old D and V likely                CED.
                                   Noro.
                                                                                    They are also seeing a lot of croup
                                   We are also seeing an increase in                and youth mental health challenges.
Anna-Marie Grace
                                   young people who are struggling
Nurse Unit Manager                 with the challenges of this year.                Anna Marie Grace
Children’s Emergency               What a year it has been it does feel
Department                         like it’s been three years in one and
                                   our team are all looking forward to
Starship Children’s Health         some summer holidays!

Auckland City Hospital             Whilst its been a challenging
                                   year it has also brought about so
Contact: annamarieg@adhb.govt.nz   much poistive- a better way of
                                   communicating with our teams both
                                   ways, a strong morale, our team
                                   really did just kept going and carried
                                   on!

                                   Auckland Adult ED                                Thanks to all of my colleagues at
                                                                                    Auckland ED, we have not worked
                                   In keeping with all regions,
                                                                                    tirelessly – I see how tired many
                                   Auckland ED has seen an increase
                                                                                    are - but we have worked safely,
                                   in presentations and acuity as 2020
                                                                                    competently and compassionately
                                   draws to a close. We’re proud of
                                                                                    though an unforgettable year of
                                   all we’ve achieved to get through
                                                                                    uncertainty and change.
                                   this year, with major changes to our
Natalie Anderson                   department staffing, processes and
Staff Nurse                                                                         Natalie
                                   infra-structure. Although 2020 was
                                   the Year of The Nurse it possibly
Adult Emergency Department,
                                   should have also been The Year of
Auckland City Hospital             The Cleaner. We’re grateful for the
                                   incredibly hard-working team of
Senior Lecturer
                                   cleaners who have kept staff and
University of Auckland             patients safe with fastidious room
                                   cleaning under time pressure.
Contact: na.anderson@auckland.
ac.nz

P 14
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND              COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                FEBRUARY 2021

Auckland Region cont.
Middlemore Hospital ED                   smoothed out with the late Dr Chip               the addition of two Charge Nurse
                                         Gresham, stepping into the role of               Managers (CNM), a new role to
Titiro whakamuri kookiri whakamua
                                         Medical Director/Clinical Advisor                Counties ED, and 12 new Associate
Look back and reflect so that you        of the National Crisis Management                CNMs; many of whom have been
can move forward                         Centre, as part of New Zealand’s                 promoted from Staff Nurse Positions.
In 2020, Middlemore Emergency            All of Government Response to                    2020 has also seen significant growth
Department (ED) mourned the              Covid-19; and the introduction                   within the Clinical Nurse Specialist
loss of Emergency Medicine (EM)          of a Counties Covid-19 Response                  and Nurse Practitioner (NP) team;
Specialist, Dr Chip Gresham. Chips       Manager, ex-ED Nurse, Stacey                     congratulations to Beccy Fenn who
significant contributions went           Wilson. Further, Counties Manukau                has recently achieved the NP scope
well beyond EM, to toxicology,           Health (CMH) is the DHB lead for                 of practice. While the department
humanitarianism and disaster             the Northern Managed Facilities                  is still on the hunt for a Nurse
medicine just to name a few.             on behalf of the region, and our                 Manager to rise to the challenge
                                         very own Chief Nurse, Jenny Parr                 of leading Australasia’s busiest dual
No reira e te Rangatira, moe mai, moe    was seconded with Rebekah Irwin,                 ED in providing optimal emergency
mai, moe mai ra. Hoki atu ki te Ukaipo   Clinical Nurse Director, to the                  care to the population of South
o Papatuanuku. Ka hoki inaianei ki te    Regional Isolation and Quarantine                Auckland; with increased senior
hunga ora, tena hoki tatou katoa.        Command Centre, to develop an                    nursing leadership, and the Staff
Along with every other New               effective DHB employed nursing                   Nurse roster now running at near
Zealand ED, Middlemore rose              structure and workforce. While we                full capacity, 2021 is already looking
to the many challenges of Covid-         still, and will continue to, be subject          prosperous.
19, reviewing infection control          to further challenges as a result
                                                                                          To the Middlemore ED whaanau,
processes, adjusting models of care,     of this deadly virus, Middlemore
                                                                                          thank you for all the hard mahi
and adapting to constant changes in      and it’s ED, have demonstrated
                                                                                          in 2020, your work ethic and
practice in order to keep pace with      that through living our values of
                                                                                          perseverance  have    not  gone
the current risk posed by the virus.     Manaakitanga,        Rangatiratanga,
                                                                                          unnoticed.
Situated only 10km from Auckland’s       Whakawhanaungatanga               and
International Airport, and with six of   Kotahitanga, we can get through                  Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa
New Zealand’s 31 Managed Isolation       this.                                            pounamu te moana, kia tere te
Facilities within its catchment,                                                          kaarohirorohi I mua I to huarahi.
                                         In 2020, Middlemore ED bid farewell
including       Auckland’s       only    to many members of the Senior                    May peace be widespread, may the
Quarantine Facility, Middlemore          Nursing team; not least, the Nurse               sea glisten like greenstone, and may
ED worked tirelessly to make sure        Unit Manager (NUM) and Clinical                  the shimmer of light guide you on
that additional risks posed by any       Nurse Director (CND). While change               your way.
necessary movement between these         comes with many challenges, it
facilities and the hospital were kept    also generates opportunity. So far,              Wendy Sundgren
to a minimum. This process, and          a new nursing structure has seen
Middlemore’s Covid-19 response was

P 15
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND         COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                 FEBRUARY 2021

Midland Region
                                    Rotorua ED:                                      Wellness and wellbeing in ED is
                                                                                     becoming our big focus leading into
                                    Heading into summer we have yet
                                                                                     2021. We did plan some work around
                                    to see the usual lull pre-Christmas
                                                                                     wellbeing in 2020, but it was derailed
                                    we would “normally” see. We have
                                                                                     by the need to simply survive COVID
                                    been inundated with large volumes
                                                                                     planning and the impact on our
                                    and high acuity. We are currently
                                                                                     daily work. So, rather than wellbeing
                                    working on a few large projects
                                                                                     feeling like a tick box exercise or a
                                    to enhance the care between the
                                                                                     one-off big impact event we want to
                                    community and the hospital, with
                                                                                     make wellbeing our normal focus.
                                    a focus on developing plans for
                                                                                     We are looking at opportunities to
                                    high ED attenders and building
                                                                                     improve our wellbeing that are large
                                    strong links with our Maori health
                                                                                     or small. Wellbeing means different
Kaidee Hesford                      colleagues to support these patients
                                                                                     things to each of us, so we are all part
                                    both in and out of the hospital.
Nurse Manager                                                                        of the conversation about how we
                                    We are working on developing a                   can improve it in our department.
Lakes District Health Board         strong nursing workforce who can                 We have put up a suggestion box for
Emergency Department                work to top of scope. With currently             staff to put their suggestions in with
Rotorua Hospital                    95% of our ED team efficiently                   no limits on what can be suggested
                                    trained and working in both resus                but trying to stay away from things
Contact: kaidee.hesford@lakesdhb.   and triage we are now looking at                 like “we need more staff ” or “we
govt.nz                             carrying out regular study days for              need more beds” – yes we do need
                                    ED staff to encourage further growth–            these - but that is not within the
                                    mental health training, second-tier              focus of this project. Suggestions
                                    resus training and practical stations,           can be as crazy as they wish –Kaidee
                                    suturing, USS guided cannulation,                Hesford.
                                    radiology limb assessment and xray
                                    ordering and second-tier plastering
                                    training.                                        Kaidee

                                                                                     Cont. overleaf

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND             COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                              FEBRUARY 2021

Midland Region cont.
                                        I have spent the last 14 years working           Waikato ED:
                                        at Middlemore Hospitals Emergency
                                                                                         2020 has brought is share of
                                        Department, 10 of these years as an
                                                                                         challenges and we look forward to
                                        Associate Clinical Nurse Manager. I
                                                                                         2021 and we hope that we will see
                                        have gained invaluable experience
                                                                                         things settle back to ‘normal’
                                        over these years which has made me
                                        the nurse and leader I am today. I               In the interim we continue to screen
                                        am also currently studying through               all patients who come to our ED and
                                        Auckland University my Master in                 run two separate areas in our ED,
                                        Health Leadership, which I hope to               one for those who are of suspicion
                                        complete by the end of 2021.                     as per the MOH questions around
                                                                                         COVID 19 and one for all others.
Taupo ED:                               Moving from such a large Emergency
                                                                                         During these times of change our
                                        Department to a considerably smaller
Introduction of new ED CNM of                                                            staff continue to band together and
                                        Rural Emergency Department has
Taupo ED.                                                                                provide great team work to keep this
                                        been a big learning curve for me;
                                                                                         functioning.
Hello my name is Michelle Knight        unlike Middlemore ED I no longer
and I am the new Clinical Nurse         have access and resources at my                  We send all our colleagues New
Manager for Taupo ED. It has            finger tips. It has shown me that                Zealand wide all the best for 2021.
been a long term goal of mine to        no matter what size department you
move to Taupo and continue with a       are working in staffing levels are
                                        relevant and all places have their
                                                                                         Naomi Knight
leadership role.
                                        own set of challenges.
My entire nursing career has been
spent at Counties Manukau Health.       I am looking forward to the
I registered in 1996 and my first job   challenge of working in and leading
was working in AT&R, following this     the team at Taupo Emergency, and
I did a small amount of General         providing excellent care to the Taupo
Medicine Nursing, followed by           community.
a number of years working on a
General Surgical ward.
                                        Michelle Knight
Having young children during this
time made me decide to leave my
permanent job in General Surgery
and join the Nursing Bureau at
Middlemore Hospital, it was during
this time that I was first introduced
to Emergency Nursing, this is when
I developed a passion for it.

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO   FEBRUARY 2021

Hawkes Bay/Tarawhiti Represenative

The position representing Hawkes Bay/
Tarawhiti on the CENNZ National Committee
is currently vacant.
If you have an interest in representing the
CENNZ membership of this region and a
passion for the professional development of
emergency nurses nationally – please contact
the board chair Sandy Richardson.
cennzchair@gmail.com

Article submissions for the mid year issue of
the journal are now open. Please contact the
Editor Matt Comeskey for more information!
email Matt at: mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND        COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO   FEBRUARY 2021

Mid Central Region

                                                                No report
                                                              this edition
                                                               as regional
                                                            representative
Katie Smith                                                 is on maternity
Nurse Practitioner, ED
(Knowledge & Skills Framework
                                                                  leave.
& Website/Social Media)
NZDF
Palmerston North Hospital
Midcentral DHB
Contact: katie.smith@nzdf.mil.nz

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND               COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                  FEBRUARY 2021

Wellington Region
                                          Advancing roles within nursing are               On a positive note, there is some
                                          slowly becoming a norm within our                great work happening out there.
                                          areas with interest in postgraduate              Hutt ED is working closely and
                                          education now very high. Many staff              teaching collaboratively with all front
                                          have been successful in securing                 line officers in the Police and from
                                          health    workforce      development             next year working with staff from
                                          funding and with this comes wide-                Rimutuka Prison. They have also
                                          reaching opportunity to not only                 celebrated receiving the HVDHB
                                          develop advancing skills but open                Quality award in Clinical Excellence
                                          the scope for multiple staff driven              - The Chief Executives’ Award for the
                                          quality initiatives and service                  Whakaari/White Island collaboration
                                          development driven by those within               and care Hutt ED contributed to this
                                          it. The Wairarapa has been successful            disaster.
Kathryn Wadsworth                         in supporting another Nurse
Clinical Nurse Manager                    Practitioner in training for next year           The current focus in the Wairarapa
                                          taking the total to three by 2022. Hutt          is to identify and facilitate those
Acute Services                            and Wellington ED is focusing on                 patients not enrolled in a GP practice
Wairarapa District Health Board           implementing pathways for senior                 and assist them in doing so at the
                                          roles and are also committed to                  point they present to the ED. This
Contact: Kathryn.wadsworth@                                                                has been a far larger cohort than
                                          developing the advancing nursing
wairarapa.dhb.org.nz                                                                       expected with wider concerning
                                          workforce.
                                                                                           community issues identified and
As 2020 rolls to an end looking           Trendcare within the Wellington                  addressed. Running alongside this
back seems a little unproductive          region is either being discussed,                piece of work is the redirection
although the lessons learnt by us all     implemented or underway. This piece              project which required significant
will without doubt follow us into the     of work alone is considerable for those          collaboration with our Primary Care
future. The Wellington region is no       departments involved and with the                colleagues and has saved many
different to all the other ED’s around    significant increase in presentations            patients hours of wasted waiting time
the country with the need to rapidly      being felt particularly in the last two          in our department. Audited results
respond to the changing care needs        months, the results will be of interest          suggest that care is being achieved
within our community this year. The       to many. As we all know, ED is not               effectively and efficiently in this
toll of that is now being felt amongst    always a numbers game with high                  group.
those team members that were              acuity a factor impacting on flow and
                                          workload. Wellington Emergency                   It feels like it’s nearly safe to breathe
directly faced with the uncertainty,
                                          Department have nearly doubled                   out as the year draws to a close
risk and management of constant
                                          their ATS1 and ICU admissions from               but in the back of all our minds
change. Some staff have moved out of
                                          this time last year. Hutt ED have                is the increasing demand we are
the Emergency Department setting
                                          increased their average volume of                all experiencing. Summer holidays
because of this prompting a focus
                                          presentations by approximately                   with closed borders brings another
on wellbeing, leave management
                                          30 to 40 patients per day. All three             unanticipated wave of challenge to
and team resilience. This, coupled
                                          hospitals have experienced bed block             our doors but gratitude that this is
with multiple pregnancies within the
                                          with areas designed for lower acuity             what we are managing and not the
departments, has opened up FTE
                                          patient management being utilised                alternative like many countries and
availability and a huge recruitment
                                          for inpatient units. It’s fair to say            colleagues in the world.
drive. The result of this has been an
influx of new staff members excited       that despite the considerable effort
                                          put into achieving the shorter stays             Kathryn
to be part of our teams with a broad
range of experience from novice to        in ED health target, it is not being
expert. The challenge of maintaining      achieved by any of us.
a safe skill mix is ongoing for us all.

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND             COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                               FEBRUARY 2021

Top of the South Region
                                        Hello from NMDHB. We continue                    ED's. There are plans, however, in
                                        to have increased presentations,                 Nelson, to create a negative pressure
                                        high acuity and staffing issues.                 room and more monitored bed
                                        In addition, some of our patients                spaces to help mitigate these issues.
                                        are experiencing double breaching                A proposal has also been made for
                                        due to a lack of isolation beds on               additional staffing and a flow nurse
                                        the wards and overworked medical                 for our PM shifts. Despite this, we
                                        teams. Most days we are in VRM                   have a great team of ED nurses and
                                        (Variance Response Management)                   I want to take this opportunity to
                                        red or orange. We also expect an                 thank them all for their hard work in
                                        influx of visitors into the region               these challenging times.
                                        over the Christmas period which
                                        will put additional pressure on our              Louise
Louise Holland
Registered Nurse
Emergency Department,
Nelson Hospital
Contact: louise.holland@nmdhb.govt.nz

If you would like to submit an advertisement
or article for the next issue of the journal
please contact the Editor Matt Comeskey
for more information!
email Matt at: mcomeskey@adhb.govt.nz

P 21
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                 COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                  FEBRUARY 2021

Canterbury/Westland Region
                                            refurbish and update equipment and               patterns across the country.
                                            resources. The staff are now walking
                                                                                             This, in addition to the stresses
                                            a much greater distance each day, so
                                                                                             expected with such a major
                                            the average fitness level is increasing!
                                                                                             re-location, inevitably impact on
                                            The opportunity for collaboration
                                                                                             staff at this time with acuity and
                                            and meaningful interaction between
                                                                                             any staff shortages is likely to be an
                                            what were previously separate area -,
                                                                                             added concern. Considerable effort
                                            for example the integration of acute
                                                                                             is being made to try and support
                                            orthopaedics and paediatric nursing
                                                                                             staff and to ensure best possible care
                                            staff into the main ED - has been well
                                                                                             can be provided for patients. It was
                                            received. Inevitably there are also
                                                                                             recognised prior to opening the new
                                            issues that have arisen that are both
                                                                                             ED that not all the physical bed spaces
                                            frustrating and limiting in the initial
Dr Sandra Richardson                                                                         would able to be opened, unless
                                            ‘settling in’ phase, but these are being
                                                                                             additional staff were authorised, and
Nurse Researcher                            addressed as quickly as possible.
                                                                                             efforts to achieve this are continuing.
Emergency Department,                       What     has     proven    especially            The ED is also trialling the Trendcare
                                            challenging is the increase in patient           program, and while this had only just
Christchurch Hospital
                                            presentations that has occurred,                 been introduced prior to moving, it
Canterbury District                         despite widespread publicity asking              is hoped it will prove a useful tool to
Health Board                                the general public to be mindful of              capture some of the staffing issues as
                                            the shift, and to limit attendances              they arise. However, this is still not
Contact: sandra.richardson@cdhb.            where possible. It had been hoped                fully embedded, and is not a priority
govt.nz                                     that with this publicity, numbers                at this time. The importance currently
                                            might be reduced so that staff could             is to let staff become familiar and
                                            adapt to the new systems and layout              comfortable in the new environment,
Christchurch ED                             more easily, instead we have seen                and to develop workable and effective
                                            patient numbers reach highest ever               models of care.
There has been a lot happening in
                                            levels, with 365 presenting patients
the Christchurch ED since the last                                                           It was great to see some of our
                                            in one 24 hr period recorded in the
update, with the move into the new                                                           staff on the cover of the recent Kai
                                            first week, over 80 patients still in
build (Waipapa) finally occurring,                                                           Tiaki, celebrating international
                                            the department at 4 in the morning.
and the transfer into the new ED                                                             emergency nurse’s day, and the gift
                                            Pre-November, there was an average
complete. While this has not been                                                            boxes provided by CENNZ were well
                                            of 286 patients per day, this has
without its challenges, there is no                                                          received in the department.
                                            now increased to 312. Much of this
doubt that the venue is larger and well
                                            is acute care, rather than urgent                Sandy
laid out, with a light and modern feel,
                                            or emergency, and mirrors similar
and has provided the opportunity to

The New Christchurch ED - (Images by Natalie Anderson)

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND       COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                               FEBRUARY 2021

Southern Region
                                  What a year 2020 has been! A more                Dunedin News:
                                  settled 2021, should definitely be on
                                                                                   16th November, saw the opening
                                  the cards. I have only been on the
                                                                                   of Wāhi Taupua (Ambulatory Care
                                  CENNZ committee since February
                                                                                   Unit) in Dunedin’s Emergency
                                  2020 and I have to say they are a
                                                                                   Department. This has been in
                                  wonderful group to work with and
                                                                                   the pipeline for some time and
                                  the committee members have a
                                                                                   was delayed due to Covid, as our
                                  wealth of knowledge that they are
                                                                                   department continues to try to
                                  willing to share with everyone. The
                                                                                   make do with the current physical
                                  work going on behind the scenes is
                                                                                   restraints. In Wāhi Taupua, there
                                  amazing.
                                                                                   are eight reclining chairs that allow
                                  A huge thanks to the Triage                      patients who are able to walk and
Tanya Meldrum                     co-ordinator     and   the    triage             have been appropriately assessed,
                                  instructors for running a successful             not be confined to a bed, to be more
Associate Charge Nurse
                                  course in the Southern region in                 comfortable and to be reviewed
Manager                           late August, to meet the need of                 or discharged by the emergency
                                  the Southern region. We appreciate               department team.
Southland District Health Board
                                  the time and effect that goes into
                                                                                   The department has seen a significant
Dunedin Hospital Emergency        organising these courses, especially
                                                                                   increase in violence toward staff,
Department                        when there was several flight
                                                                                   these are being followed up with
                                  cancelations and changes.
                                                                                   through the appropriate channels.
Contact: Tanya.Meldrum@
                                  CENNZ recently appointed four                    There is currently a Security review
southerndhb.govt.nz
                                  new triage instructors, three of                 taking place within the Southern
                                  which came from the Southern                     DHB. We are looking forward to the
                                  region. This will be a great asset               outcomes of this.
                                  for Southern region, as these nurses
                                                                                   Recent Awards in the Department:
                                  have a wealth of knowledge and are
                                  keen to share this with other nurses.            CENNZ AGM Kristy Morton Award
                                  Two are based in Dunedin and one                 (Achievements in the New Zealand
                                  is based in Invercargill.                        Triage Course): Erica Panelo (RN -
                                                                                   Dunedin Emergency Department).

                                                                                   Southland Medical Foundation's
                                                                                   Thursa Kennedy Memorial Award
                                                                                   for 2020. (The award recipient is
                                                                                   nominated by course tutors and
                                                                                   takes into consideration academic
                                                                                   achievement and contribution
                                                                                   to excellence within the class
                                                                                   environment): Ben McDowall (Nurse
                                                                                   Educator – Dunedin Emergency
                                                                                   Department).

P 23
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND             COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                FEBRUARY 2021

Southern Region Cont.
Invercargill News:
There have been some recent
changes to the Senior Nursing team
in Invercargill, with the appointment
of a new Nurse educator. I know they
will be making you feel welcome.

There has been significant increases
in Mental Health presentations in
southern emergency departments
and we have been implementing
the guidelines from CENNZ Triage
around appropriate patient safety
and waits. Southern DHB has
                                        Thanks CENNZ, from the Southern Region (Invercargill, Dunedin, Lakes and Oamaru) for the
recently employed into the role
                                        Goodie Boxes!
of Mental Health & Addictions
Crises Support nurse educator in
the Emergency Department, which
is exciting and we look forward to
the evolution of this role. They will
be working across the Southern
region, starting initially in Dunedin
and Invercargill. The departments
are looking forward to having this
additional support and guidance.

Next year, I am hoping to run a
Southern    CENNZ      Study    in
September. It would be a great
opportunity for members in the
Southern area to network and learn
from each other.

Tanya
                                        Ben McDowall – Dunedin Nurse Educator

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO   FEBRUARY 2021

College
Activities

P 25
EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND     COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO   FEBRUARY 2021

CENNZ Conference,
Christchurch 2021

                                  Save
                                the Date
                                 The 29th College of
                              Emergency Nurses New
                                Zealand Conference
                              5th & 6th November 2021
                               Christchurch, NZ
                                        (Venue TBC)

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                      COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                         FEBRUARY 2021

Triage Courses 2021
Please continue to check the CENNZ web page for ongoing updates / details:
https://www.nzno.org.nz/groups/colleges_sections/colleges/college_of_emergency_nurses/courses

       Region                 Dates                Venue                                                         Closing date
                                                                                                                 for booking

   Waikato                    11/12 April 2021     Clinical Skills Centre (under the library) Waikato Hospital   15th February
                                                   Campus, Corner Selwyn and Pembroke Street, Hamilton           2021
                                                   West

   Tauranga                   15/16 May            Tauranga Hospital Education centre, 889 Cameron Road,         20th March
                              2021                 Tauranga.                                                     2021

   Wellington                 12/13 June           Education Centre, Level 11, Ward Support Block, Wellington    17th April 2021
                              2021                 Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown

   Christchurch               10/11                Manawa Building [Registration 3rd Floor] Health Education     16th July 2021
                              September            & Research Facility, 276 Antigua Street, Christchurch
                              2021

   Wellington                 25/26                Education Centre, Level 11, Ward Support Block, Wellington    31st July 2021
                              September            Hospital, Riddiford Street, Newtown
                              2021

   Waikato                    9/10 October         Clinical Skills Centre (under the library) Waikato Hospital   14th August
                              2021                 Campus, Corner Selwyn and Pembroke Street, Hamilton           2021
                                                   West

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND                COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                FEBRUARY 2021

Snippets
Summer 2021
Chest ultrasonography versus supine chest                           The Safety and Effectiveness of On-Site
radiography for diagnosis of pneumothorax in                        Paramedic and Allied Health Treatment
trauma patients in the emergency department.                        Interventions Targeting the Reduction of
                                                                    Emergency Department Visits by Long-Term
Cochrane Systematic Review. July 2020                               Care Patients: Systematic Review. Prehospital
                                                                    Emergency Care. 2020 Jul 20:1-10.
The diagnostic accuracy of Chest Ultrasonography (CUS)
performed by frontline non-radiologist physicians for the
                                                                    Social Science and Medicine. Jan. 2020
diagnosis of pneumothorax in ED trauma patients is superior
to supine CXR, independent of the type of trauma, type of CUS       This study is a review of pre hospital care with the objective
operator, or type of CUS probe used.                                being to decrease ED visits. The study identifies five types of
                                                                    programs/interventions which all demonstrated a decrease
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/
doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013031.pub2/full                             in ED visits or hospitalization. However, most studies were
                                                                    observational and few assessed patient safety. Many identified
A Pilot Trial of Topical Capsaicin Cream for                        programs focused on increased primary care for patients, and
                                                                    interventions addressing acute care issues, such as community
Treatment of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis
                                                                    paramedics, deserve more study.
Syndrome. Academic Emergency Medicine. 2020
                                                                    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10903127.20
This exploratory study examined the potential effectiveness of      20.1794084
topical 0.1% Capsaicin in patients with nausea and vomiting due
to a suspected Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)
exacerbation.                                                Can an Emergency Department-Initiated
                                                             Intervention Prevent Subsequent Falls and
This double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial had a Health Care Use in Older Adults? A Randomized
small sample size (30). Adults who presented with vomiting Controlled Trial. Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Aug 24th.
suspected to be from CHS were eligible for enrollment.
Following randomization, topical 0.1% capsaicin or placebo          The authors determine whether an emergency department
cream was applied to the anterior abdomen in a uniform              (ED)-initiated fall-prevention intervention can reduce
manner.                                                             subsequent fall-related and all-cause ED visits and
                                                                    hospitalizations in older adults.
The study concluded the application of topical capsaicin
cream was associated with a significant reduction in nausea at      They conclude that a multidisciplinary intervention with
60 minutes and provided more complete relief of nausea.             pharmacists and physical therapists, reduced 6-month ED
                                                                    encounters in 2 urban EDs. The intervention could provide a
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acem.14062         model of care to other health care systems aiming to reduce
                                                                    costly and burdensome fall-related events in older adults.

                                                                    https://www.evidencealerts.com/Articles/
                                                                    AlertedArticle/94406

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EMERGENCY NURSE NEW ZEALAND   COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY NURSES NEW ZEALAND - NZNO                                   FEBRUARY 2021

The Quick and the Dead.
Cynric Temple-Camp. 2020
Book Review                                            I’m usually loathed to read medical or nursing books in my
                                                       down-time. However this book was given to me as a birthday
                                                       present and I felt I should take a tentative dive into it out of
                                                       politeness. It grabbed my attention quite quickly.

                                                       I’ve always marvelled at how some patients can be subjected to

By Matt Comeskey                                       the most extreme, violent trauma and survive – and yet another,
                                                       equally fit person, may be unlucky enough to have a single
                                                       microorganism lodge in the wrong place, at the wrong time and
                                                       be dead within hours. I’ve seen both happen and in recalling
                                                       those patients I can’t help but marvel at how robust and yet
                                                       incredibly fragile we are. The same conundrum is addressed in
                                                       this book.

                                                       The author, Cynric Temple-Camp is a pathologist, trained in
                                                       Zimbabwe and practicing for many years in Manawatu. He is an
                                                       easy story teller – clearly passionate about his job and also taken
                                                       with the mystery of why some die and others don’t. The book
                                                       is in chapters related to cases he has worked on. These include
                                                       medical misadventure, high profile crimes, sad misfortune and
                                                       disease. The cases read in-part like mysteries – the unexpected
                                                       emerging from the seemingly obvious, to present an unlikely
                                                       conclusion. There are salient lessons here – listen carefully to
                                                       your patients, don’t swim with crocodiles, be wary of walking
                                                       through stinging neetle bushes and always thoroughly iron the
                                                       seams of your shirts. That last, unlikely piece of advice applies
                                                       to living in East Africa where strange burrowing insects can
                                                       wreak havoc on those, like me, who seldom iron our collars. The
                                                       subject of the life cycles of maggots and crawly things is dwelt
                                                       on a little too extensively for my liking – but it is equally both
                                                       informative and revolting at the same time.

                                                       My only misgiving in this book is that the people involved are
                                                       named. The details of their deaths are sad reading. Despite
                                                       the author’s respectful tone, there is no attempt to disguise
                                                       identity and yet there’s no explicit statement in the text of
                                                       permission having been given to disclose quite intimate detail.
                                                       Presumably this must have been done - but it’s not mentioned.
                                                       This significant point aside, this book is a reminder of how
                                                       lucky we are to simply wake up and greet each day. If I’m ever
                                                       lucky enough to get back to the remote, but equally stunningly
                                                       beautiful East African wilderness, – I will definitely take an iron
                                                       for my shirts.

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