Nurse living with obesity champions fight to help others
Catherine Smith’s relationship with obesity runs deep. There’s a strong family history – one of her parents underwent bariatric surgery. While a close relative died from obesity-related conditions. Her own experience emerged in her mid-to-late 30s, triggered by having an early hysterectomy to help prevent ovarian cancer, which her mother passed away from, that caused […]
Q&A: A day in the life of an Organ Donation Specialist Nurse
Samantha Stones is a Donation Specialist Nurse at Western Health. She chatted to the ANMJ about her role in the lead up to annual DonateLife Week. What inspired you to become a Donation Specialist Nurse? I feel that I have lived a life that has been touched by organ donation. When I was younger, I […]
Still nursing at 83, Rosemary remains a staunch union member
Whenever registered nurse Rosemary Power gets the chance to share her wisdom with young nurses and midwives, her message is clear: join the union. “I’ve been a union person from day one,” she says proudly. “Whatever you do, join the union. Because when the chips are down, the union has got your back.” Born in […]
Why nurses and midwives need to get political
In the early days of her career, Juliane Samara often heard people suggest nurses shouldn’t engage in politics. She never shared the view.
Inside Maggie Beer’s ‘Big Mission’ to transform food in aged care
“I’m on my way to a lunch appointment but I’ve got to say, I’m a little nervous,” says Australian food icon Maggie Beer, in the opening scene of her new TV series for the ABC, Maggie Beer’s Big Mission, which premieres tonight. This is not your typical lunch but rather Beer’s “groundbreaking experiment” aimed at […]
Fair Work Commission hands down decision on timing of pay rises for aged care workers
Historic wage increases awarded to aged care workers will be delivered in two tranches from the start of next year, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has decided. In March, the FWC handed down final increases in its Stage 3 decision of the ANMF’s Aged Care Work Value Case for aged care workers except RNs and […]
‘You’re not alone’: Nurses open up on battle with Long COVID
A year ago, RN Bronwyn led an active and outgoing lifestyle, even captaining her local footy team. Then, Long COVID struck.
Achieving health equity for women and girls
“It’s high time that our nation, and indeed the world, had a serious discussion about women’s health,” declared Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, at the 2024 World Health Summit Regional Meeting, held in Melbourne earlier this year. Speaking on a panel of women’s health experts discussing key challenges to achieving health […]
‘Believe in yourself’: Why I returned to nursing after a 20-year break
Victorian registered nurse Sally Baker’s life changed dramatically after discovering she had lipoedema, a chronic health condition often mistaken for obesity or lymphoedema. The connective tissue disorder, which mostly affects women, is characterised by abnormal growth of adipose tissue in the legs, buttocks and, sometimes, arms, resulting in a disproportionate body shape, often accompanied by […]
Nurses in GP clinics stuck ‘doing paperwork’ instead of treating patients
Four out of five nurses working in GP clinics are being bogged down with a long list of non-clinical, administrative work, rather than being fully utilised.