Professional Development Learning Activities

Developing a portfolio and interpreting the Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies remains a confusing landscape for many nurses. This article provides supportive advice and examples of how to effectively self-assess nursing practice against the competencies, especially for nurses randomly selected for a recertification audit. By Liz Manning

Patients from minority ethnic groups experience challenges in the healthcare system resulting from cultural and language factors. This article looks at some of the challenges that multicultural patients can experience as in-patients and suggests some strategies to help minimise those challenges.

Fundamental cares provide the foundation for all nursing care. So, what are fundamental, ‘basic’ or essential cares, and what enables or stops nurses providing this care?

Every year in New Zealand around 4,000 people develop a blood clot in a vein. This article looks at venous thromboembolism – in particular why pregnancy puts women at increased risk – and how to help prevent, diagnose and treat pregnancy-associated venous blood clots.

Workplace bullying is a pervasive problem for nursing in New Zealand, resulting in harmful consequences for individuals exposed to bullying and their organisations. This article explores the problem of bullying, strategies for its prevention and management, and the obstacles to resolving bullying complaints.

It is estimated that over half of all hospital patients have an intravenous catheter inserted. Inserting peripheral intravenous cannulae (PIVC) is now a commonplace procedure; however, more can be done to reduce the risk of complications from these invasive devices.

Eight out of 10 healthcare-associated urinary tract infections are attributed to poorly managed indwelling urinary catheters. The longer the catheter remains in situ, the higher the risk for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).

How can you as a nurse identify and manage risks around NPS in your everyday nursing practice? By David & Bernadette Solomon

This article describes the nature of aphasia and its impact on communication and outlines strategies available to nurses to help individuals with aphasia to communicate. By Marian Bland and Lesley Batten

This article briefly revisits types of serious drug allergies and presents a range of preventative nursing strategies. By Marian Bland and Lesley Batten