National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery: review: Spring/Summer 2009: issue 31.

摘要

Welcome to the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of theudNCNM Review! In this issue, our regular featureudon the Health Service Reform Programme focusesudon patient safety and the role of information andudcommunications technology. The context for this piece isudthe publication of the discussion paper and audit paperudon the Health Information Bill that is being preparedudby the Department of Health and Children. This is audkey element of the Reform Programme and I urge alludnurses and midwives to familiarise themselves withudthe potential that exists to enhance health outcomesudthrough the strategic and effective use of healthudinformation technology.udAlso in this issue we provide details of a landmarkudpublication produced jointly by the National Counciludand An Bord Altranais, i.e., the Final Report of theudImplementation of the Review of Nurses and Midwivesudin the Prescribing and Administration of MedicinaludProducts (An Bord Altranais and the National Council,udNovember 2008). Regular readers of the NCNM Reviewudwill be very familiar with the enormous amount of workudand energy that has gone into this project over recentudyears. The final implementation phase of this project hasudbeen possible because of the high level of co-operationudthat was achieved in the area of legislative changeudbetween the Minister, the two statutory agencies,udthe Department of Health and Children, educationaludinstitutions and nurses and midwives throughout theudcountry. It has been a remarkable journey and one thatudsignificantly enhances the capacity and competence ofudnurses and midwives to deliver patient-centred care. Theudfeature also contains some examples of care situationsudin which prescribing by nurses and midwives is alreadyudmaking a significant difference.