Financial stress and your mental health
A higher cost of living has increased financial hardship for many Australians. Since 2020, interest rates, mortgages and inflation have risen fast, but real wages have gone down [1]. Despite low unemployment, higher living costs are affecting our living standards. This challenging economic climate has seen more people experience financial stress. And increased financial stress […]
Advocating for sustainable and accessible breastfeeding support for Australian mums and families
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has urged the Australian Government to ensure ongoing and comprehensive funding for the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) as one of the outcomes of the 2023 Biennial National Conference resolutions. This vital commitment would help to foster a supportive environment for breastfeeding across the nation and would recognise the […]
Beyond judgement: A nursing perspective on obesity, medications, and the path to health
Recently, while waiting at a pharmacy, I witnessed an interaction that has stayed with me. A young man, around 30 years old, stood at the counter, visibly uncomfortable. He was breathless and sweating slightly, despite the cool, air-conditioned environment – signs of the physical and maybe emotional burden he was carrying. The pharmacist, with a […]
Introducing a person-centred approach to indwelling urinary catheter care in aged care homes
The care workforce is central to the quality of care in aged care homes in Australia. The knowledge, confidence and skill of the aged care workforce is fundamentally important for the quality of life and wellbeing of people in aged care homes. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has identified the need […]
Enhancing clinical placement learning for nursing and midwifery students: A national quality assurance project
The National Placement Evaluation Centre (NPEC) was established in 2018 to provide an Australian national approach to monitoring nursing and midwifery student evaluations of their professional experience placements (PEP). The lack of a national monitoring system was questioned in a review of nursing.1 Initially funded by the Council of Deans Nursing and Midwifery Australia and […]
Targeting unnecessary use of medical consumables
Designing material waste out of our clinical workflow improves efficiency while reducing the environmental and financial cost of healthcare without compromising patient outcomes. This case study demonstrates how our knowledge on the ward can target unnecessary use of medical consumables and advocating how an apparent small change can lead to a big impact. Working as […]
What a time to be an ANMF member as we celebrate our proud 100-year history
From humble beginnings of some 700 members over a century ago, we now mark a national membership of over 326,000, making us the largest union in the country. This year is especially important as we reflect on ANMF’s proud history and all it has achieved over the past 100 years to improve the working lives […]
The ANMF leadership is in good hands
This is my last article for the ANMJ, as I am standing down as ANMF Federal Vice President. Usually in my articles I write about something I am passionate about, such as critical thinking, vicarious trauma, or burnout amongst people in our professions. But today I want to tell you about the ANMF Federal Executive/Council, […]
Decades of advocacy for NPs
In the late 80s, early in my grad year, I recall telling my mum I was puzzled that the most experienced nurses were the furthest from the bedside. Pathways to promotion led away from clinical practice to management and education roles. The 90’s saw the introduction of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Clinical Nurse Consultants, followed […]
Developing digital health capability in residential aged care
Recommendation 68 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Report1 outlined implementation of digital technology and My Health Record into residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Progress on implementation of Recommendations2 focus on My Health Record (MHR) and several funded projects to support registration of MHR and electronic medication charts.2 Further projects are […]