Reducing low value and unnecessary care
A national scale-up of an initiative to reduce low value care and reduce unnecessary treatment was the focus of a nationwide meeting recently. The Choosing Wisely Australia national meeting was held in Melbourne in late May and showcased innovative projects both national and international. A nurse discontinuation protocol of telemetry implemented at Johns Hopkins Hospital, […]
Nurse-to-patient ratios have saved lives in Qld
A world-first evaluation of Queensland’s legislated nurse-to-patient ratios has confirmed they have resulted in a significant reduction in avoidable deaths, hospital re-admissions and reduced bed days. The findings were presented at the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Annual Conference in Brisbane last Friday. The extensive international research was undertaken by Qld Health, the Queensland […]
Reducing low value and unnecessary care
A national scale-up of an initiative to reduce low value care and reduce unnecessary treatment was the focus of a nationwide meeting recently. The Choosing Wisely Australia national meeting was held in Melbourne in late May and showcased innovative projects both national and international. A nurse discontinuation protocol of telemetry implemented at Johns Hopkins Hospital, […]
Going Green
Green crusader and anaesthetic nurse Darren Bradbrook has been on a sustainability campaign in the operating room at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) in South Australia since 2017. As a result, FMC has diverted over 60–70% of its operating room waste from landfill to a number of renewable streams in just over 18 months. “I was […]
New Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse for the Top End
New Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse for the Top End, Ruby Hilario, says she will be able to increase the level of support for the 100 Territorians diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. A joint funding agreement with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) and the NT Government has resulted in the new dedicated Prostate […]
10 tips to effective mentorship
Mentoring has proven to be a successful way of facilitating the professional growth and development of recently graduated nurses and other nurses transitioning to a new role. So what makes a good mentor? A willingness to give your time, an ability to connect with the person and to recognise your own limitations, says Professor Marion […]
The NET Nurse: A unique role
Problem solving, creativity, and being able to see outside the square are key attributes of the RN Kate Wakelin’s role providing support to people with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Ms Wakelin has been the NET Patient Support Nurse with the Unicorn Foundation since October 2015. The Unicorn Foundation, a not-for-profit medical charity, works with people affected […]
Democracy improves health outcomes
Democracy is linked with decreases in mortality caused by cardiovascular disease and road deaths, as well as increases in government health spending. The global study published in international journal The Lancet found that democracy appears to play a bigger part in health outcomes than a country’s GDP. Democratic governance accounted for about 25% of the […]
Aboriginal healers treat patients in SA hospitals
Aboriginal traditional healers are working alongside health professionals in Adelaide hospitals to treat patients’ physical, emotional and cultural health and wellbeing. The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) Aboriginal health team has developed the first formalised and clinical endorsed procedure to support Ngangkari healers working in a health setting, including mental health. “It’s another resource […]
The community remote area nurse
“We sometimes laugh that we are coiled springs – waiting to respond,” says Kelly Lynch of her role as a community remote area nurse. Kelly has been in the Cape, far north QLD for seven years. Originally from New Zealand, having raised five children, a marriage break up prompted a life change. “Half of my […]