Ugandan attempts to con Australian millionaire

Douglas J. Rathbone is the Managing Director, Nufarm Australia Ltd, one of the world’s leading producers of crop protection drugs. He is an industrialist with vast experience in the agrochemicals, an international businessman, and one of the richest men on earth. He is also philanthropist.

Sometime between August and September this year, Mr. Rathbone received a request from a Ugandan named Namugenyi Christabell begging him to finance her course in nursing and midwifery. She presented supporting documents from the Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery and a list of her requirements. The total bill was US$ 20,000 (about Shs 33 million).

Before receiving this request, Rathbone had neither known Namugyeni nor heard from her. As a philanthropist, however, this was not the first time he had received calls for financial help from strangers. Touched by this e-mail, Douglas Rathbone decided that he will help Namugyeni.

From past experience Mr Rathbone knew that he needed to ascertain the authenticity of this request. He contacted Mr Andrew Mwenda, Managing Editor of The Independent magazine. The revelations Mwenda and his team dug up were shocking. Douglas Rathbone could have lost US$20,000 to Ugandan internet fraudsters.

A visit to the Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery revealed that the admission letter sent to Mr. Rathbone was a forgery. The layout of this letter, its logo, and the website provided for further reference (www.msonm.com), the names and signatures of the so called dean and principal of the institution, the postal address, e-mail addresses and phone numbers did not belong to the institution.

On the site are photographs of people purported to be members of its staff, information about courses offered, and a contact postal address together with a mobile phone number.

When The Independent called on one of the number, a female voice answered. She however hung up as soon as she was asked if this was the school of nursing. In another attempt, nobody could pick the phone.

At the genuine Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery, the administrators said the Namugyeni incident is not the first of its nature. Last year, seven people reported to the school ready to study, complete with fake letters of admission. The school, which is under the stewardship of the Ministry of Education and Sports, said it has lodged several complaints to the police about these incidents.

Mr. Rathbone’s experience is just the tip of the iceberg. Recently, a mobile phone technician was arrested in Kampala with networking equipment that had been stolen from MTN and allegedly used in internet, ATM, bank, and phone airtime fraud.

Cyber or internet fraud comprises use of one or more online services - such as chat rooms, e-mail, message boards, or websites - to either present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims or conduct fraudulent transactions.

It thrives on illegally acquired information of potential victims, who may be individuals or organisations.

Simeo Nsubuga, the Kampala Extra Region Police Spokesman says: “Fraudsters at times connive with the secretaries of busy people who leak information from their bosses’ inboxes to these fraudsters.”

In other cases the fraudsters collaborate with people who work in banks to give them clients’ account information.

Mr Nsubuga said a cyber-criminal was arrested after impersonating a bishop to get money from the bishop’s friend in the United States of America. He claimed the bishop’s wife was seriously injured in an accident and admitted to hospital. After a week, the bishop’s friend called the bishop in Uganda, to inquire about how the wife was doing. They discovered the fraud and, together with the police, trapped and caught the conman.

The local CID often works with the International Criminal Police Organisation, (Interpol) to investigate such crimes but Nsubuga says it is very difficult; it involves only two people without witnesses, is complicated by the distance between the two parties, and the victims often cannot travel to give evidence.

He also cites the weak laws that haven’t been amended to incorporate the ever changing technology. “We know the fax machines where these people send their messages from, but you can’t go and ask its operator that who sent and received such a message because that the law doesn’t oblige him/her to record the details of who receives what and who sends what,” he laments.

Simeo Nsubuga says fighting this crime is very complicated because under the Penal Code, the crime invites only a five year prison sentence and bail can also be sought from the magistrate’s court. He suggests that such crimes be tried only in the High Court.

The police may also lack incriminating evidence against the culprits because it lacks personnel competent in cyber crime.

Internet fraud in Uganda has steadily risen since 2005. In 2006, this form of crime had become so prominent that the police decided to train an elite squad to track it.

Meanwhile, cyber crime may appear distant when heard of but it’s actually next door and your money may no longer be as safe like you may think. To avoid falling victim, try protecting your personal information. If that fails, do what Mr Rathbone did – check the authenticity of that SMS, letter, email, fax, or website.

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Is satisfactiona direct predictor of nursing turnover

The theory of planned behaviour states that attitudinal variables (e.g. job satisfaction) only have an indirect effect on retention, whereas intentions have a direct effect.

This study uses secondary data from a longitudinal cohort of newly qualified nurses to test for the direct and indirect effects of job satisfaction (client care, staffing, development, relationships, education, work-life interface, resources, pay) and intentions to nurse on working as a nurse during the three years after qualification.

Methods: A national sample (England) of newly qualified (1997/98) nurses (n=3669) were surveyed at six months, eighteen months and three years . ANOVA and MANOVA were used for comparison of mean job satisfaction scores between groups; intentions to nurse (very likely, likely vs.

unlikely, very unlikely and unable to say at this stage); working (or not working as a nurse) at each time-point. Indirect and direct effects were tested using structural equation and logistic regression models.

Results: Intentions expressed at six months to nurse at eighteen months were associated with higher scores on pay and relationships, and intentions at three years were associated with higher scores on care, development, relationships, work-life interface, resources, and pay respectively.

Intentions expressed at eighteen months to nurse at three years were associated with higher scores on development, relationships, education and work-life interface. Associations with actual nursing were fewer.

Those working as a nurse had higher satisfaction scores for development (eighteen months) and relationships (three years). Regression models found significant associations between the pay and staffing factors and intentions expressed at six months to nurse at eighteen months, and between pay and intentions to nurse at three years.

Many of the associations between intentions and working as a nurse were significant. Development was the only job satisfaction factor significantly associated with working as a nurse and just at eighteen months.



Conclusions: Results partially support the theory of planned behaviour. Intentions expressed by nurses are stronger predictors of working as a nurse than job satisfaction.

Retention strategies should focus on identifying nurses showing early signs of departure with emphasis on developmental aspects, mentoring and support.

Author: Trevor Murrells, Sarah Robinson and Peter Griffiths
Credits/Source: Human Resources for Health 2008, 6:22

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Nursing home probe nets mixed results

A federal agency investigating allegations of unfair labor practices at Iroquois Nursing Home in Jamesville has determined some of the complaints may have merit and others are unfounded.

The National Labor Relations Board launched its probe after 1199 SEIU filed several complaints accusing the nursing home of disciplining or harassing employees for their union activities. Workers voted to join the health care workers union in March. The union and management began negotiating a contract in May.

When the NLRB conducts an investigation and determines a violation may have occurred, it gives the parties time to settle matter. If there is no voluntary remedy, the NLRB issues a formal complaint and the case is heard by an administrative law judge.

"We have decided if the case doesn't settle, we will issue complaints on some of the allegations," said Rhonda Ley, the NLRB's regional attorney.

She would not discuss which allegations may trigger complaints.

Ross Andrews, a lawyer for 1199 SEIU, said the allegations include accusations that the nursing home denied weekend shifts to an employee because of her union activity and denied employees their right to have fellow union members present while being questioned by supervisors.

Andrews said the NLRB is prepared to issue complaints on most of the union's charges.

In a memo issued to Iroquois staff, Iroquois administrator Sonya Moshier said the NLRB dismissed allegations that Iroquois improperly disciplined two employees for neglect of resident care and allegations that the home denied union representation to two employees.

The NLRB has determined a trial is necessary to determine if some disciplinary actions and scheduling changes were appropriate, she said in the memo.

" . . . the NLRB has decided that a trial must be held so a judge can decide who is telling the truth," Moshier said.

The union contends Iroquois has continued to intimidate and harass workers since they voted to join the union. Iroquois says the union is waging a smear campaign against the nursing home as a bargaining tool.

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Students flood nursing programs

Marissa Perry was only 16 when she discovered her purpose in life.
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It's unfortunate, she says, that a drunken driver had to crash head-on into her car for that purpose to be made clear. But the months of therapy that followed instilled in her a calling.

Now 19, the 2007 Tate High School graduate is in her first semester at Pensacola Junior College earning a degree to be a registered nurse.

"I had to spend a lot of time in rehab," said Perry, who was injured while heading home from a baby-sitting job. "Being around nurses during that time made me respect what they do. I wanted to be able to give people the same care I was given."

Perry is just one of more than 500 nursing students who move about campus, work in simulation areas and study in classrooms at PJC's Warrington Campus, the home of the school's nursing program.

The University of West Florida offers a bachelor's degree in nursing, which is also gaining momentum.

Programs at both the UWF and PJC remain immensely popular with students.

Judy Bense, interim UWF president, said during a recent presidential address that the school turned has away about 360 nursing applicants over the past two years.

PJC turns away even more students annually.

"We have 1,273 applicants for 110 slots in January," said Marcia Williams, provost of PJC's Warrington campus. "We could take all 1,200 of them, but we don't have enough spaces in clinic for them to go to the hospitals and practice."
A popular field

With the promise of a starting salary upwards of $35,000, area college students are packing school nursing programs in the hopes of filling the national nursing shortage gap.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing says the nation is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and health-care needs grow.

But some local health-care officials say the number of nursing jobs awaiting area students may be decreasing. Some, in part, cite the slowing economy as a factor in more closely matching supply and demand.

Daphne Scordato, vice president of patient care services at Baptist Health Care, said the recent influx of new graduates found a little bit tighter job market than they found in the past.

"We were able to be a little more selective for the first time in years," she said.

But that doesn't deter students like Brandy Hines, 30, from signing up. Hines, a UWF nursing student, will finish her degree next spring.

"The program has prepared me as far as introducing me to all aspects of nursing, wherever I go from here," she said.

And though the need for additional faculty remains high, local nursing programs are filled to the brim with students — and they could take more, but area hospitals cap the number of students receiving clinical training at a given time.

PJC offers seven nursing programs, including a two-year registered nursing Associate of Science degree. The school also offers several advanced certificates for students who want to specialize in operating room or critical care nursing.

UWF alone graduates between 50 and 60 students with bachelor's degrees in nursing each year. PJC's numbers are even higher.

"On any given day we have somewhere between 450 and 500 nursing students in the pipeline somewhere," Williams said.
Tough job market

Scordato said market projections show that hospitals nationwide should experience a nursing shortage through 2010.

"We're pretty much on target with that except those projections may have not factored in the downturn in the economy," Scordato said. "Due to the economy the demand is catching up with the supply."

Nursing officials at area hospitals say they are well staffed at the moment.

"Right now we're in a very good situation, better than we've been in the past three years," said Gail Ewing, director of associate health and employment at Sacred Heart.

"This past year we've probably had an excess of 500 applicants a week," she said. "Probably 50 to 100 are nursing applicants.

"Our current needs are our critical-care areas," Ewing said. "Those positions require experienced nurses."

Heather Phillips, 21, a senior UWF nursing student, is optimistic about her job prospects after graduation.

"I've been really impressed with our cultural competency training," said Phillips who plans to serve on a mission trip after completing school. "Every course we've taken has introduced different cultures and what our response should be as nurses."

Perry feels confident that in two years when she completes her degree she won't have a problem finding a job.

"I feel pretty confident in being able to get a job pretty much right when I get my licence," she said. "It probably won't be where I want to build my career. But you have to work your way up to where you want to be."

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Hickory Creek nursing facility showed caring

The family of June Blaich would like to thank the employees, nursing staff, administration of Hickory Creek nursing facility for their dedication, knowledge, care giving and being kind to each and every one of us on behalf of my mother. She wasn't with you very long, but you picked up the pieces the other nursing facility neglected to detect of her health.
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The nurse at the other facility refused to help me put my mother in the car. The clerks were asked to help me. Little did I know I was transporting her myself to your facility with her having pneumonia. You picked right up on what was wrong with her and dealt with the circumstances. All of you work so hard to take care of your patients with love, kindness and understanding of your patients' needs. Words just can't sum up to how thankful we are she was in your hands.

Unfortunately she was with you only two weeks. You became part of our family in a short time. We are grateful she was in your care at the end of her life

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Jean And Ric Edelman Honoured By The American Journal Of Nursing

The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) announced that this year's AJN-Beatrice Renfield Caring for the Caregiver Award is being given to Jean and Ric Edelman, founders of Edelman Financial Services, for their commitment and generosity to nursing. The Award, recognizing individuals or organizations that have provided generous financial support for nurses and excellence in nursing practice, was presented on October 25 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tyson's Corner, Virginia. AJN is the largest circulating nursing journal in the world, and is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.

"The Edelman's generosity has been instrumental in our efforts to help create an environment of caring, learning and opportunity for nurses," said John Fay, vice president, Inova Health System Foundation. "While Jean and Ric frequently speak about how much they appreciate the daily role of nurses, we would like them to know how grateful we are to them for caring so much about us."

The commitment and generosity to nursing by the Edelmans began in 2004 when they donated $250,000 to the Inova Health System Foundation for the Edelman Nursing Career Development Center. More recently they contributed $1 million to expand the Center's services. During that time, Jean Edelman has represented and supported the Center by serving on the Inova Nursing Advisory Council for five years, volunteering at numerous nursing events and presenting at Inova nursing conferences. Ric Edelman, who with his wife founded Edelman Financial, has given presentations to the Center where he shared his expertise on financial planning with nurses to help them plan for secure futures.

The Edelman Nursing Career Development Center fosters the professional development of Inova nurses and nursing students, through staff development, conferences, mentorships, academic planning, scholarships and funding for continuing education. The Center provides Inova nurses with a place to go for career counseling, advice on certification and rejuvenation. In three years, more than 2,500 nurses have benefited. The Center also supports a summer camp for middle and high school students to explore career options in nursing.

The AJN-Beatrice Renfield Award

The AJN-Beatrice Renfield Award is named in honor of the late Beatrice Renfield who donated millions of dollars to various nursing programs and was a patron and trustee of the Beth Israel Medical Center and Visiting Nurse Service in New York City. Philanthropist Beatrice Renfield was committed to "caring for the caregivers" after witnessing the impact nursing care had on her husband, who had struggled for years with the debilitating effects of a stroke. As she became more familiar with the scientific underpinnings of nursing and the potential for research to inspire nurses, she supported several small studies by nurses at Beth Israel Medical Center, and later provided significant funding for clinical research initiatives at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Yale University School of Nursing.

The annual award, created in 2003, honors a recipient selected from nominations submitted to the AJN by institutions across the country. The selection committee is composed of AJN editorial staff members, registered nurses in New York City, and representatives from the Beatrice Renfield Foundation.

"AJN salutes Jean and Ric Edelman for their steadfast efforts and support as philanthropic leaders in health care," said Diana J. Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN, editor-in-chief of the AJN. "Philanthropic efforts supporting nurses are relatively rare, yet those individuals and organizations who do make an effort can dramatically improve the quality of life for nurses and quality of care that patients receive."

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UNMC Prepares For New Nursing Building That Will Help The School Train More Nurses

Preparations have been made for a new building project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha that will help the school train more nurses.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was recently held for the new Center for College of Nursing Sciences, next to the campus' current nursing facilities.

Plans for the 43,000-square-foot building include space for classrooms, research labs and faculty offices. It's expected to open in March 2010.

The $14 million project is being funded through private donations.

UNMC officials say the facility will allow the campus to enroll more nursing students.

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