What do nurse practitioners think about registered nurse (RN) prescribing?
While acknowledging that Registered Nurse (RN) prescribing offers an opportunity to potentially improve patient access to medicines and enhance healthcare system efficiency, many nurse practitioners remain equally concerned about how it will be implemented, possible role ambiguity, and patient safety, a recent study has revealed. The survey of 229 Australian nurse practitioners, about 10% of […]
Midwife pilot inspires next generation of nurses and midwives to aim high
“My advice for those that are starting out is that you’ve got to believe in yourself,” says midwife, helicopter pilot and CEO Captain Jan Becker who has spent years saving babies’ lives in Africa. Dr Becker gave some advice to those starting out in nursing and midwifery as she graduated in early October with a […]
Emergency Department nurses of Flinders Medical Centre drive wellbeing initiatives
Each Friday, nurses working in the Emergency Department at Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia don vibrant scrubs to uplift the mood in the consistently hectic and high-stress ward. This uncomplicated gesture to boost morale is just one of numerous initiatives led by ED nurses to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of staff members. […]
Industrial relations expert supports reform to gig economy, labour hire
New protections are needed to account for the emergence of the gig economy and the rise of labour hire operators, says an Australian academic in Industrial Relations who has given evidence to the Senate Inquiry into the Closing Loopholes Bill. “The Closing Loopholes Bill will help address wide cracks in Australia’s regulatory framework, which have […]
How I became Australia’s first authorised nurse practitioner
More than two decades ago, on 12 December 2000, Jane O’Connell became the first nurse practitioner to be authorised in Australia.
Digital camera and AI algorithm can now detect facial palsy
Computer scientists have developed a new diagnostic tool using artificial intelligence (AI) and a digital camera to detect facial palsy, with 98% accuracy, including the patient’s gender and age. Researchers from Iraq and Australia say the tool can reduce diagnostic errors that often occur with the common and treatable neurological disorder, caused by an impairment […]
Nursing students can now access supported clinical placements in aged care
Bachelor of Nursing students can now apply for supported clinical placements in aged care through the federal government’s new Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program. The program involves clinical facilitators providing specialist support to nursing students, who must complete a minimum of 800 hours of clinical placement as part of their courses, while they are […]
Telehealth reform key to making voluntary assisted dying work long-term, clinicians say
How can voluntary assisted dying (VAD) be improved across Australia over the next two years? According to hundreds of clinicians working in the field who attended the country’s first national VAD conference in Sydney last week, run by charity Go Gentle Australia and VADANZ, improved access to telehealth, which involves some consultations via phone, video […]