Medical Imaging Nurses New Zealand (MINNZ)

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Benefits of Joining the Perioperative Nurses College for for Medical Imaging Nurses

Since 1985 medical imaging nurses have been meeting yearly at national conference. However, due to financial demands and a lack of infrastructure there was limited opportunity to grow the professional voice of medical imaging nurses.   In 2009, the Medical Imaging Nurses New Zealand (MINNZ) network voted to join the Perioperative Nurses College (NZNO).

As integrated members of the Perioperative Nurse College (PNC) medical imaging nurses have the benefit of having:

  • A medical imaging voice within NZNO, New Zealand’s largest nursing network supporting over 46,000 nurses and health workers
  • Contributing to PNC submissions on a range of perioperative continuum specialty nursing issues and wider health care issues
  • Participating in regional PNC activities with the opportunity  to progress into elected regional and national committee positions
  • Membership rates to attend the Perioperative Nurses College, Australian College of Operating Room Nurses and Medical Imaging Nurses Association (Australia) conferences
  • Access to web-based information and PNC guidelines on the  PNC website
  • Quarterly issues of The Dissector, Journal of the Perioperative Nurses College (NZNO). The Dissector provides a range of informative articles which are of interest to all nurses working across the perioperative continuum.  Each issue of The Dissector also has dedicated medical imaging focused papers
  • Access to NZNO and PNC grants and scholarships, whilst retaining MINNZ awards
  • To join the PNC, you can fill in your application online.

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History of MINNZ Nurses

Cardiology and Radiology Interventional and Special Procedures (CRISP) Nurses NZ, renamed Medical Imaging Nurses New Zealand (MINNZ) is a national body set up to help bring nurses working in the Cardiac Catheter Lab and Interventional Radiology field together and facilitate sharing of information and experience.

The inaugural meeting was held in 1985 and the founding members were Linda Robert (Managing Director, OBEX), nurses Debbie Booth, June Carpenter, and Jenny Smith.

For many years OBEX organised the annual CRISP conference, which enabled nurses working in radiology departments and cardiac cath labs to meet annually. They were able to spend valuable time networking and sharing specialised knowledge and ideas.

Eventually Radiology and Cardiac Catheter Lab Nurses managed this responsibility and each year a different area of New Zealand hosted the conference. However, OBEX continued to be a major part of the CRISP conference.

Due to CRISP nurses re-assessing their current practice and roles, foreseeing the many advantages of being part of a larger professional nursing college group, and the fact that the current nature of radiology nursing is becoming more closely related to peri-operative nursing, the decision was made to change our name to MINNZ and join our colleagues in the Perioperative Nurses College (NZNO).

The 25th and final CRISP conference was held in Invercargill in October, 2009.

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Medical Imaging Nurse NZ (MINNZ) Contacts

The PNC has a long established communication network to ensure that all members of the Perioperative Nurses College are able to contribute and be kept informed of PNC activities.

There are three national working party committees and nine regional PNC committees.

  • PNC national committee:  Membership includes the Chair, treasurer /secretary and 9 regional representatives.  (Vice chair, if applicable, for 1 year as incoming chair).  National committee meets 4 times a year, typically February, June, pre & post AGM.   An NZNO professional advisor always attends PNC national committee meetings and provides leadership oversight. 
  • Dissector editorial committee:  Membership includes The Dissector chief editor, national committee representative along with PNC representatives.  The editorial committee meet 3 times a year, either face to face or through a virtual meeting.
  • The Education committee:  Membership includes a national committee representative along with PNC representatives.  The education committee meet 3 times a year, either face to face or through a virtual meeting.

To build a strong integrated MINNZ voice within PNC structures there are medical imaging nursing contacts in each PNC region. The medical imaging nurse contact provides a conduit between medical imaging nurses and the regional PNC representative. Typically any queries regarding PNC activities are directed through regional representation which is forwarded on to national committee if required.   

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Regional Medical Imaging Nurse Contacts

Auckland/Northland (Auckland, Whangarei & Kaitaia)

Gillian Martin
gmartin@adhb.govt.nz

Radiology Nurse Specialist
Radiology Department
Level 5, Auckland City Hospital
2 Park Road, Grafton
Auckland 1023

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Central North Island (Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Tokoroa, Thames & Whakatane)

Sue McAlister
C/- Cardiology Department
Waikato Hospital
Private Bag 3200
Hamilton

Hawkes Bay (Gisborne, Napier/Hastings)

Fiona Unac
fiona.unac@hawkesbaydhb.govt.nz
Radiology Nurse
Radiology Department
Hawkes Bay Hospital
Omahu Road
Hastings 4120 

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Ruahine/Egmont (New Plymouth, Wanganui & Palmerston North)

Wendy Davidson 
wendy.davidson@midcentral.co.nz
Radiology Nurse
Radiology Department
Mid Central Health
50 Ruahine Street
Roslyn
Palmerston North 4144

Wellington (Wellington, Hutt Valley & Masterton)

Breen Lewis
Breen.Lewis@ccdhb.org.nz
Radiology Department
Wellington Hospital
Riddiford Street
Newtown
Wellington 6021

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Nelson/Marlborough (Nelson, Blenheim & surrounds)

Jane Besley
jane.besley@nmhs.govt.nz
Radiology Nurse
Radiology Department
Nelson-Marlborough Hospital
Private Bag 18
Tipahi Street
Nelson 7010

Canterbury/West Coast (Christchurch, Greymouth, Timaru & Ashburton)

Pip Francis
philippa.francis@cdhb.health.nz
Charge Nurse Manager
Radiology Department
Christchurch Hospital
Riccarton Avenue
Private Bag 4710
Christchurch 

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Otago (Dunedin & surrounds)

Vanessa Cocks
Vanessa.cocks@otagodhb.govt.nz 
Radiology Charge Nurse Manager
Radiology Department
Dunedin Hospital
Private Bag 1921
Dunedin

Southland (Invercargill)

Jacquie Hazlett
jacquie.hazlett@sdhb.govt.nz
Radiology Nurse
Radiology Department
Southland Hospital
Kew Road
PO Box 828
Invercargill 9840 

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Awards and Funding

Every year at the PNC annual general meeting many awards are presented. All PNC members are eligible to apply for any of the awards. Traditionally there are very few applications. It would be a shame to lose these awards due to a lack of interest. Click on the awards link to find out more information. Since joining the PNC,  medical imaging nurses have been recipients of not only the Debbie Booth Memorial Travel Award but also the Stryker Award, Dallas Jessiman Award, and J&J De Puy NZ Award.

Medical Imaging Nurses Paper

  • At the Perioperative Nurses College National conference, members presenting a medical imaging focused free paper will be eligible to contest the Debbie Booth Memorial Travel Award
  • The main award of up to $1,500 is sponsored by OBEX, and the runner-up award of $500 is sponsored by Boston Scientific.
  • Get full details on the PNC Awards page.

Anne Chatterton Trust Fund and Funding

The Anne Chatterton Trust Fund was established to assist medical imaging nurses with educational opportunities. The funds were used up in 2012 and the account has been dissolved. PNC members should enquire within their PNC region if any funding is available. There are also NZNO travel grants and conference attendance grants available on the Scholarships link on the NZNO website www.nzno.org.nz


Useful resources for Medical imaging nurses:  

USA

United Kingdom

Australia and New Zealand

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