Update on Industrial Action - Recruitment and Retention Crisis

Dear PNA Members,

As you are aware the PNA recently conducted a ballot for action up to and including strike action in pursuit of our claim for an increase in measures to sufficiently address the recruitment and retention crisis in nursing.

The result of this ballot was 95% in favour of action. This decision followed the rejection by the PNA of the totally inadequate proposals made within the Public Pay Commission report in September.

Following a meeting of the PNA Officer Board today (10/01/196) the decision has been made to commence an escalating campaign of action beginning on January 31 st .

This will comprise of the following;

• PNA members will not be available to work additional hours (i.e. overtime) on 31 st January or 1 st of February 2019;
• PNA members will not be available to work additional hours (i.e. overtime) on 5 th , 6 th and 7 th of February 2019;
• PNA members will strike on 12 th , 13 th and 14 th of February 2019.

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PNA Position re Non Nursing Staff Administration of Medication

22/11/18

Dear Colleagues,

The position of the PNA following endorsement of the NEC on 15 th November 2018 is;

‘That no PNA member will engage in the training, supervision and assessment of non-nursing staff in the area of administration of medication'

The Following is the advice from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

Delegation takes places where the nurse (the delegator) who has the authority for the delivery of healthcare, transfers to another person the responsibility of a particular role or activity that is normally within the scope of practice of the delegator.

When delegating a particular role or activity, the nurse must take account of several principles. The individual nurse must:

1. Ensure that the primary motivation for delegation is to service the interests and needs of the patient;

2. Assess the degree of risk involved in the delegation;

3. Ensure that the delegation is appropriate with reference to the definitions and philosophies of nursing;

4. Take into account the level of experience, competence, role and scope of practice of the person taking on the delegated task;

5. Do not delegate to junior colleagues or other HCW tasks and responsibilities that are beyond their colleagues' competence to perform.

6. Ensure appropriate assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the delegated role or activity;

7. Communicate the details of the role or activity in a clear, understandable way;

8. Decide on the level of supervision and feedback required;

9. Ensure that the practice setting supports the delegation of the role or activity. Delegation of the task should be consistent with organisational PPPGs.

10. The nurse or midwife who is delegating a particular role or activity (the delegator) is accountable for the decision to delegate. This means that the delegator is accountable for ensuring that the delegated role or activity is appropriate and that resources and supervision, where required, are available. They are also accountable for appropriate assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the delegated role or activity (Scope of Practice Framework, NMBI, 2015)

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Note to All PNA Members: 18/05/18

Dear Colleagues,

The PNA met with the Public Sector Pay Commission on Tuesday 15 th May as a follow on to our detailed submission to the Pay Commission last November. The salient points of our submission were verbally presented and re-iterated with updates since our November submission.

The key points raised were:

1 . The impact on service provision due to nursing shortages, e.g.; staffing of the 20 bedded CAMHS unit in the new National Children's Hospital. Staffing of the additional 76 beds in the new National Forensic Services. 120% bed capacity in adult mental health services due to lack of community developments.

2. Competing market forces

UK relocation recruitment packages and UK additional recruitment post Brexit

Competition from the Irish private hospitals and agencies

3. Acknowledgement by HSE testament at Oireachtas Committee meetings on the Future of Mental Health Care in Ireland, i.e.;

Head of Mental Health Division stated:

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Dispute Resolution 2016 - Members Handbook

DISPUTE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED

Following the conclusion of our Industrial Action summer 2016 in relation to issues pertaining to the Recruitment and Retention of Psychiatric Nurses we are publishing in this magazine the important details around each issue and the outcome.

Please click to view / download...

Join The PNA

Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020

Dear Members,

Please click on this link for full Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020

About the PNA

Structures of the PNA.

The Branch:

The PNA is based on a strong branch structure. Each branch is responsible for representing it’s members and has significant autonomy in that respect. Each branch has a Branch Secretary, Branch Chairman and Branch Treasurer responsible for the day to day running of each branch in conjunction with the Branch Committee. Branch officers and committee are elected by the branch members annually at the branch A.G.M. The Branch Chairman and Secretary represent the Branch at the National Executive.

Annual Delegate Conference:

The A.D.C. is held annually. Delegations from each branch are entitled to attend based on each branch having two votes regardless of size provided each branch consisting of fifty members shall be entitled to one extra vote in respect of each group of twenty five members in excess of fifty up to two hundred members and one additional vote in respect of each group of fifty members in excess of two hundred members.

All National Officers, Trustees and Representatives on the Officer Board are elected by the delegates at A.D.C.

Each Branch is invited to propose motions to conference for consideration. All amendments to rules resolutions motions and all nominations for National Officers, Trustees or membership of the Officer Board intended for consideration at the Annual Delegate Conference must be received by the General Secretary at the registered office of the association not later than a date appointed each year by the Officer Board.

National Executive Council:

The N.E.C. consists of the Officer Board and two representatives from each branch. It is the ultimate decision making body of the association and is responsible for enacting policy of the Association as determined by A.D.C.

The Officer Board:

The Honorary Officers, National Chair, Secretary and Treasurer along with the Regional and Sections Reps comprise the Officer Board which is vested with the management of the Association between Annual Conferences. It is responsible for the enforcement and observation of rules, organisation of A.D.C.

Join The PNA Today by Post or Online!

Join the Psychiatric Nurses Association today and become a member of the largest Specialist Nursing Union in Ireland. Please fill the online application form fully (see below). If you just want to contact us about something else, please go to our "Contact" page....

Directions to Headquarters

From Dublin and the north

The N7/M7 south (destination Cork, Limerick and Waterford) is well sign-posted at major junctions in the city centre. Take the N7 and travel for 20 km past the ‘Red Cow’ junction with the M50 motorway. Take the exit after passing the Johnstown Garden Centre, signposted Junction 9: R445 – North Naas, Sallins. Proceed through the following roundabouts:

1st roundabout (Johnstown): 2nd exit, signposted Naas;

2nd roundabout (‘The Big Ball’): 2nd (road) exit, signposted Sallins. You should pass ‘Woodies’ immediately on your right - do not follow signposts for Naas;

3rd roundabout (entrance to ‘Woodies’): 2nd exit, straight ahead;

4th roundabout (entrance of Millennium Park): 3rd exit, straight ahead over bridge turn right at 1st set of traffic lights into Supervalu Shopping complex

From the south

Take the N7/M7 towards Dublin. Exit the motorway at the second Naas exit, signposted Junction 9: R445 – Naas. Turn right at the end of the exit fly-over, signposted Sallins. You should pass ‘Woodies’ immediately on your right – do not follow signposts for Naas. Proceed straight through the next roundabouts @the second roundabout take the third exit straight