NZNO Library

NZNO Library Current Awareness Newsletter

Everyone can

Search the newsletter for the topics of interest. To search:

  1. Click into the Search box below and type your keywords
  2. Click the magnifying glass
  3. Scroll down to browse the search results.

You can also browse the archives, which hold every edition from the newsletter's inception in 2009 until today.

Browse now

NZNO current members can also

Subscribe to the NZNO Library Current Awareness newsletter to get regular nursing, health and employment related content from the NZNO Library.

Subscribe now

Request copies of articles listed in the newsletter. There may be a limit on the number of articles that can be provided from any given journal, in order to adhere to copyright.

Request copies of articles

Issue 35 - 17 June 2022

Articles – Long COVID

  1. Long COVID after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection
  2. The Long Road Back for Healthcare Workers: Long COVID presents physical, psychological challenges.
  3. Long COVID and COVID-19 Omicron Variant in Children.
  4. Nutrition therapy for long COVID.

Articles – Medicinal Cannabis

  1. An overview of Medicinal Cannabis
  2. “Be ready for the change” The new frontier of Medicinal Cannabis Nursing
  3. What is medicinal cannabis?
  4. A primer on medicinal cannabis safety and potential adverse effects
  5. Medicinal cannabis use in palliative care
  6. Medicinal cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain
  7. Medicinal cannabis

Articles – Nursing Standard, June 2022

  1. Conflict with colleagues: when it’s right to say sorry
  2. Supervision and keeping the relationship positive
  3. Students: How to steer clear of academic misconduct

Articles – Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

  1. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
  2. Auditory processing deficit in a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
  3. Comparison of the efficacy of various doses of steroids for acute facial palsy.

Selected articles – New Zealand Doctor

  1. Anguish as COVID constraints eased
  2. VaccinesPlusNZ: Open letter to Prime Minister and Ministers Hipkins and Little
  3. Long COVID: Massive impact feared
  4. NPs lead primary care for Oceania

Events 

  1. Digital Health Week NZ Conference

National News

  1. Men’s Health Week: Four grim figures that should worry us
  2. Regular health checks vital to beating bowel cancer

International News

  1. Don’t be complacent, another Covid wave is coming. Here’s how we can manage it
  2. Why leaving monkeypox unchecked in Canada could put more people at risk
  3. Canadian cities are legalizing alcohol in parks. Some are celebrating, others worry it’s a slippery slope
  4. Ontario should have extended masking for all high-risk settings, says new science table head

 

Articles – Long COVID

1.Long COVID after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection

Al-Aly, Z., Bowe, B., & Xie, Y
Nature Medicine (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01840-0

The post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection—also referred to as Long COVID—have been described, but whether breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection (BTI) in vaccinated people results in post-acute sequelae is not clear.

2. The Long Road Back for Healthcare Workers: Long COVID presents physical, psychological challenges.

Hospital Employee Health. (2022, Jun). 41(6), 1-5.

Although it is more than two years into the pandemic, long COVID is poorly understood, and treatment often focuses on improving specific symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. Even definitions of the condition vary.

3. Long COVID and COVID-19 Omicron Variant in Children.

Mowery, Bernice D.
Pediatric Nursing (Mar/Apr 2022). 49(2), 101-102.

The author discusses the cases of long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome and COVID-19 Omicron variant in children. Also cited are the symptoms of COVID-19 in pre-school children like fatigue, loss of smell and taste, and muscle weakness, the negative social effects of the pandemic on children, and the effects of vaccination on long COVID-19 in the pediatric population.

4. Nutrition therapy for long COVID.

Nguyen-Hoang, Anh
British Journal of Nursing, 11/25/2021. 30(21), S28-S29.

The article presents the discussion on clinical definition of long COVID released by the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021. Topics include fatigue, poor memory and concentration, smell and taste impairment, and lack of appetite; and studies showing more emphasis on dietary and lifestyle habits associated with post-viral persisting inflammation.

Back to Top

Articles – Medicinal Cannabis

5. An overview of Medicinal Cannabis

The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme came into effect on 1 April, 2020 with the aim of improving access to medicinal cannabis products by lifting regulatory barriers to prescribing

Read more

6. ‘Be ready for the change’: The new frontier of Medicinal Cannabis Nursing

By Robert Fedele
Australia Medical Journal, May 27th, 2022

Sponsored by the ANMF, the one-day nurses’ conference, titled the ‘New frontier of medicinal cannabis nursing’, allowed nurses and midwives to learn from local and international experts about the latest research, legislation, and developments, including current opportunities for the professions.

Read more

7. What is medicinal cannabis?

NZ Medical Journal. (2019, May 3). Vol 132 No 1494

“What is (and isn’t) medicinal cannabis?” Current media use of the term medicinal cannabis encompasses everything from pharmaceutical grade plant derived medicines, such as Sativex, through to home-grown raw plant materials. From the perspective of a potential prescriber these are very different products.

8. A primer on medicinal cannabis safety and potential adverse effects

Jonathon C Arnold
Australian Journal of General Practice. (2021, June). 50(6), 345-350.

Medicinal cannabis is generally well tolerated when dosed appropriately. It is important for doctors to consider carefully the Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD) content of the products. CBD is not intoxicating and has fewer safety concerns than THC. 

9. Medicinal cannabis use in palliative care

Herbert, A., & Hardy, J.
Australian Journal of General Practice. (2021, June). 50(6), 363-368.

The evidence needed to support the use of medicinal cannabis for symptom control is limited and still emerging. It is unlikely that medicinal cannabis will be used as a first-line agent for the management of pain, nausea and other specific symptoms, but it may have an adjuvant or complementary role in symptom management within palliative care.

10. Medicinal cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain

Luke A Henderson., Vicki Kotsirilos., Elizabeth A Cairns., Alister Ramachandran., Chris C Peck., Iain S McGregor
Australian Journal of General Practice. (2021, Oct). 50(10), 724-732.

The aim of this article is to briefly review the scientific evidence related to medicinal cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain and update physicians on relevant issues and optimal prescribing practices.

11. Medicinal cannabis

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. (2020, Oct). 27(1), 38-40.

As medicinal cannabis products become more readily available to consumers for therapeutic use, nurses and midwives will be involved in the dispensing of the products and monitoring their therapeutic effects.

Back to Top

Articles – Nursing Standard, June 2022

12. Conflict with colleagues: when it’s right to say sorry

Nursing Standard. (2022, June). 37(6), 19-22. doi: 10.7748/ns.37.6.19.s12

In pressured healthcare settings, tempers can fray and staff may disagree. Advice on when an apology is appropriate, whether it is helpful and how to get it right. When did you last say sorry? In a professional capacity, perhaps it was at the height of the pandemic when you could not allow a family member to be at the bedside of a loved one.

13. Supervision and keeping the relationship positive

Trueland, J.
Nursing Standard. (2022, June). 37(6), 24-26. doi: 10.7748/ns.37.6.24.s14

Registered staff in a supervisor role need as much support as students to ensure the best practice learning environment and avoid interpersonal pitfalls. Changes to the way nursing students are supervised when on clinical placements have meant a greater number of nurses can expect to take on the role.

14. Students: How to steer clear of academic misconduct

Nursing Standard. (2022, June). 37(6), 27-28. doi: 10.7748/ns.37.6.27.s15

Even if unintentional, infringements such as plagiarism can damage your career. Find out how good study skills can keep you safe. Academic misconduct during your nursing degree could lead to serious consequences, and could also affect your future career aspirations.

Back to Top

Articles – Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

15. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

NORD, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by paralysis of the facial nerve (facial palsy) and a rash affecting the ear or mouth. Ear abnormalities such as ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss may also be present. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox in children and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults.

Read more

16. Auditory processing deficit in a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Saransh, Jain., George, Sony., Sam, Shincy Anna 
Hearing, Balance & Communication. (2014, Dec). 12(4), 189-197.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the auditory processing skills in an individual diagnosed as ‘ herpes zoster oticus with polycranialis multiplexa involving VII, IX and X cranial nerve with lacunar infarct in the right frontal cortex ’(Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II). Prior investigation on hearing sensitivity revealed that sensorineural hearing loss with both cochlear and retrocochlear involvement was frequent in these individuals.

17. Comparison of the efficacy of various doses of steroids for acute facial palsy.

Nam, Kuk Jin., Han, Mun Soo., Jeong, Yong Jun., Rah, YoonChan & Choi, June
Acta Oto-Laryngologica. (2019, May). 139(5), 451-455.

Although steroids are effective for multiple types of acute facial palsies, an appropriate dosage remains to be established. Aims/Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of high, low, and moderate doses of steroids in patients with acute facial palsy.

Back to Top

Selected articles – New Zealand Doctor

18. Anguish as COVID constraints eased

New Zealand Doctor – 8 June 2022 – Page 20

The COVID-19 threat level is getting higher by the day just as the Government strips away protections and winter chills worsen, says Auckland-based specialist GP Sandhya Ramanathan.

19. VaccinesPlusNZ: Open letter to Prime Minister and Ministers Hipkins and Little

26 April 2022

Thank you for the Government’s dedicated and evidenced-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic thus far. We request that you urgently consider the following recommendations for the implementation of a strengthened Vaccines Plus mitigation strategy.

20. Long COVID: Massive impact feared

Martin Johnson
New Zealand Doctor – 8 June 2022 – Page 20

RNZCGP Medical Director Bryan Betty is calling urgently for more studies to define long COVID, clear guidance on how to diagnose and treat it, and careful public messaging about the condition

21. NPs lead primary care for Oceania

New Zealand Doctor – 8 June 2022 – Page 26

Oceania Healthcare signed a funding contract with its fourth PHO this year as it rolls out its own nurse practitioner-led primary care service.

Back to Top

Events

22. Digital Health Week NZ Conference

Dates: 5 - 8 December 2022
Venue: Energy Events Centre in Rotorua

Back to Top

National News

23. Men's Health Week: Four grim figures that should worry us

NZ Herald - 13 June, 2022

A boy born today will live nearly four years less than a girl born in the room next door. One in four won't live to retire. What are the biggest killers of Kiwi men – and what can we do about it?

Read more

24. Regular health checks vital to beating bowel cancer

Marborough Express – 10 June, 2022

Evan Robinson is a regular letter writer to The Marlborough Express and has shared his experience of cancer, as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, to encourage men to get checked.

Read more

Back to Top

International News

25. Don’t be complacent, another Covid wave is coming. Here’s how we can manage it

Devi Sridhar​
The Guardian – 13 June, 2022

As we move into summer, more than two years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the words “new wave” are probably the last thing anyone wants to hear. Yet it is true that recent UK data (as well as data from Florida and other places) indicates that sublineages of the Omicron variant, BA.4 and BA.5, are kicking off a new wave of cases

Read more

26. Why leaving monkeypox unchecked in Canada could put more people at risk

Canada needs to act fast to get the monkeypox outbreak under control by scaling up testing, identifying cases quickly and solving key unanswered questions about the origin and ongoing spread of the virus before it takes root here and puts our most vulnerable at risk, public health experts say.

Read more

27. Canadian cities are legalizing alcohol in parks. Some are celebrating, others worry it's a slippery slope

CBC News – 12 June, 2022

Calls to allow drinking wine, beer in parks have grown because of the pandemic

Read more

28. Ontario should have extended masking for all high-risk settings, says new science table head

CBC News – 9 June 2022

The head of Ontario's expert pandemic advisory table says while key indicators suggest COVID-19 in the province is improving, he would have liked to have seen all remaining mask mandates in high-risk settings in place for a little while longer. On Wednesday, the province's chief medical officer of health announced most mask mandatory mask rules will expire Saturday, including on transit and in hospitals. Masks will still be required in Ontario long-term care homes and retirement homes after Saturday.

Read more

Back to Top

Archives, by date