Practical COVID-19 policy decisions: Fit checking and testing for P2/N95 respirators
Nurses and care workers account for a notable and likely underestimated proportion of COVID-19 infections and deaths around the world. This is likely to be underpinned by the fact that these workers provide more frequent direct care for people with COVID-19 exposing them to higher viral loads. Further, many workers do not have access to […]
Don’t worry about the debt!
In meeting the challenges posed by COVID-19 our nation’s focus has primarily been on ensuring the continued delivery of world-class healthcare in the face of potentially overwhelming demand. The pandemic however, continues to challenge our welfare in other ways, not least of which is the impact we are seeing throughout our economy. This is perhaps […]
What it’s like working between states when the borders are closed
For Charmian Jamieson, a Victorian-based ICU nurse who works at the NSW Albury Base hospital, the NSW government’s enforced border permit system along the NSW-Victorian border for essential workers has created significant stress and extra travel time to and from work. As Victoria suffered a second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, the NSW government moved to […]
Confusion over the provision of PPE putting NSW nurses and midwives at risk
Confusion over the provision of PPE putting NSW nurses and midwives at risk
Extra funding to support Victorian nurses, midwives and carers during COVID-19
The Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV), a support service for Victorian nurses, midwives and carers experiencing health issues related to mental health or substance use, has received an additional $250,000 in funding to provide greater help and counselling during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The Andrews Government announced the funding boost yesterday as […]
Plant-based for the planet
We are in the midst of a climate crisis. Almost half of the world’s forests have been cut down, four hundred billion tonnes of ice are melting every year, sea levels and temperatures are rising, weather patterns have become unstable, rainfall is decreasing, and global emissions are rapidly increasing. Across 185 countries there have been […]
Using evidence to make a difference in infection control and COVID-19
This year, International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife may not have been celebrated as festively as many would wish; COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 has derailed many plans and sadly led to the death of over 300,000 individuals globally, including 102 Australians at the time of report. Unfortunately, these numbers will undoubtedly grow as the pandemic […]
A virtual nurse practitioner led clinic during COVID-19
Never before have we seen such a rapid change in the way we practice diabetes education and management. This is a perspective from a nurse practitioner led clinic in South Australia. During March 2020, face to face consults became challenging for reasons that were unforeseen and unexpected. COVID-19 changed the way we provide Diabetes management […]
Think before you send: Professional conduct and online communication
Health practitioners, nurses and midwives are bound by a code of conduct and professional standards. In addition, many workplaces will have policies setting out the standard of behaviour expected with regard to electronic communication with colleagues, patients, clients and residents as well as their families and representatives. During the period of lockdown, we have all […]
Australians are using and accessing medical histories on My Health Record
Nearly 70% of Australians registered with My Health Record have their medical histories recorded in the system, according to research by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA). According to the ADHA report, Statistics and Insights to April 2020, there were 22.75 million records stored by My Health Record, with more than 10 million records filled […]