Nurses and midwives to have a voice on the new Strengthening Medicare Taskforce
Nurses and midwives will be represented at the Federal Government’s new Strengthening Medicare Taskforce with the appointment of The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s Federal Secretary Annie Butler. Health Minister Mark Butler said members of the Taskforce would work together to identify key recommendations for the Government to deliver on its pre-election pledge to strengthen […]
Aged care reform bill, including RN 24/7 mandate, introduced to Parliament
On the second sitting day of federal parliament, the new Labor government has introduced an historic aged care reform bill that, if passed, would legislate registered nurses on site and on duty 24/7 across all nursing homes. The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill, crafted to “give older Australians the dignity and respect they […]
Defence force support in aged care extended amid rising COVID-19 outbreaks
The federal government is extending and expanding Australian Defence Force (ADF) support for aged care homes battling COVID-19 outbreaks until the end of September. Defence force personnel have provided clinical and non-clinical support to aged care homes experiencing COVID-19 related staff shortages since February. In response to the latest surge, which shows more than a […]
Continence nursing offers opportunities for autonomy and direct client feedback
Janie Thompson, a continence nurse and Clinical Services Manager at the Continence Foundation of Australia, has spent more than two decades working as a continence nurse. She says being able to make a difference to improve people’s lives through continence management has sustained her in her speciality. “When you do a continence assessment and then […]
National study to track nursing grads for 10 years to find out where they end up working and why
National study to track nursing grads for 10 years to find out where they end up working and why
Nurses feel unsupported by their organisation after workplace violence
Nurses who experience workplace violence feel unsupported from formal support services and are instead finding solace from fellow nurses, research has found. “We have to support each other because that is all we have, especially senior staff members,” one study participant said. The findings were made as the result of a quantitative study from Flinders […]
Historic win- 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence leave granted
On 16 May 2022, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down a decision advising that its provisional view was that Modern Awards should be amended to include an entitlement to 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) leave. The decision comes after years of campaigning led by the ACTU and the union movement to […]
Researchers pair with boot maker to develop smart shoe for nurses and doctors
Iconic Australian bootmaker Blundstone has been making its popular brand of robust footwear for 150 years. Now, it has paired up with Monash University researchers to create a hi-tech smart boot to ease the heavy load on nurses, doctors and other health professionals. The intelligent boot is fitted with sensors that can detect problem areas, […]
Facing challenges and discovering opportunities
Have you ever commenced work in a new area of nursing practice, one where you have no previous experience? You may have felt nervous with a sense of trepidation, unsure, excited, and motivated all at the same time. If you have found yourself in such a situation, you are not alone. Whether commencing work as […]
The pivotal role of nurses in pain management: impacts of a revised definition of pain and review of opioid analgesia practice for the future
Pain assessment is a critical component of optimum nursing care to enable effective pain management.1 Introduction Advances in the understanding of pain mechanisms and management, as well as increasing concerns regarding an opioid crisis in the developed world, have brought the importance of accurate, valid and reliable pain assessments into focus for the future. The […]