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The big issue: Nurse Practioner to lead walk-in centres in the ACT
 Plans for nurse-led walk-in medical centres in the ACT have been given a boost after receiving support from other health professional groups. RCNA submitted a response to a discussion paper on the walk-in centres and supported the proposed nurse-led model. ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher said the responses were all broadly supportive of the walk-in centres and the level of commitment from major stakeholders was extremely pleasing.
The first walk-in centre at the Canberra Hospital site is expected to be functional in 2010, with a further two centres to be established within three to four years. The ACT walk-in centres, like the recently established Revive Clinic in Western Australia, will offer primary care services that will make greater use of nurse practitioners and allied healthcare professionals.
The walk-in centres will aim to promote quality, accessible and equitable health care and reduce the pressure on overloaded emergency departments and GP practices. The clinics will be supported by nurse practitioners who operate autonomously as members of collaborative multi-disciplinary teams and offer high-level nursing knowledge, skills and expertise.
Ms Gallagher has said the walk-in centres would offer a unique type of service which would fill a gap in access to health care. She claimed they would provide an additional option for people with minor, less serious illnesses and injuries, allowing quicker access to medical attention. The Minister is a supporter of the role of nurse practitioners saying that in the face of increased demands there is a need to increase workforce numbers across all professions and to expand the scope of practice for nurses.
RCNA strongly believes that investing in nurse practitioner positions presents an opportunity to address increasing demand for reduced waiting times, improved access to health professionals and to alleviate the growing burden of chronic disease on the community. Greater utilisation of the nurse practitioner role would represent a significant move towards building a comprehensive health care system. RCNA supports innovation in health care and continues to urge the Australian Government for fundamental health care reform that better utilises nurse practitioner roles in health care delivery.
For more information on this topic, please see the following links:
ACT Health Information and Discussion Paper
Chief Minister's Media Release
ACT Health Ministers Health Infrastructure Announcement
Health Care Consumers' Association of the ACT Submission
ACT Council of Social Services Inc. (ACTCOSS) Submission
MJA - Advanced nurse roles in UK primary care
Policy in nursing
Rural Health
With the creation of RCNA’s Rural Nursing and Midwifery Faculty earlier this year it is timely to consider some of the issues relevant to the rural health workforce. The faculty highlights that the majority of Australians live in regional and urban areas, with people’s health outcomes worsening with remoteness. The life expectancy of people in regional areas is one to two years lower than for those in the city and in remote areas it is up to seven years lower due to coronary and other circulatory disease and accidents. It is noted that the 17 year life expectancy gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people impacts on these figures. Key concerns include the importance of community engagement, health workforce shortage and mal-distribution, a lack of specialist services, the need for interdisciplinary training, support and access to professional development, and the issue of funded patient travel.
In remote and rural areas there are fewer health services available than in cities. Access to health care is of great importance to residents in remote and rural areas, including ongoing assessment and management for chronic diseases, antenatal, birthing and postnatal care, and palliative care. Service delivery in remote and small rural areas is not well supported by current funding models. However, expanding access to rebates through MBS and PBS for remote and rural people receiving services from a range of health professionals groups, particularly nurse practitioners and midwives could lead to improved access and outcomes.
International Nurses Day 12 May 2009
Royal College of Nursing, Australia, (RCNA) and the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) represent Australian nursing within the International Council of Nurses (ICN) are proud to celebrate International Nurses Day on 12 May 2009. The theme chosen by ICN for this year is Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses leading care innovations.
With the focus of this year’s International Nurses Day on nursing innovation, ICN wants to draw attention to the new challenges and opportunities facing the nursing profession.
Nurses have been responsible for developing innovative solutions that make it possible to deliver an enhanced level of health care service to many geographically challenged and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
The landscape of Australian healthcare, characterised by ageing populations, workforce shortages, chronic disease, health inequalities and growing demand on services poses many serious challenges for all health professionals. Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions in order to provide better quality, cost effective and accessible health care services.
To read more and find out how you can participate, click here
Opportunities
For residential and community care approved providers and approved services
The Australian Government is providing $39.4 million over five years for 7,750 extra nurses and midwives in public and private hospitals and 1,000 nurses into residential aged care homes and community package aged care services to return to the workforce.
Funding is available to support Registered/Division 1 Nurses and Enrolled/Division 2 Nurses to return to employment in aged care. Funding is also available to assist employers with the re-training and re-skilling of nurses who return to work.
For further information about the Bringing Nurses Back into the Workforce program please contact the Royal College of Nursing Australia on Freecall 1800 553 252 or email BNBW@rcna.org.au.
General Practice - A safe place: tips and tools booklet
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has launched a new resource and education material designed to support practice teams to create safe working environments, prevent violent incidents and decrease the impact of violence when it occurs.
These new learning materials have been developed with financial assistance from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and outline a range of practical strategies to assist general practices to appropriately minimise risks of violence, including the means to create a safe physical environment.
A free copy of the General Practice – A safe place: tips and tools booklet will be sent to every practice in Australia. The booklet and an accompanying education module, which includes case studies and responses, are also available through the RACGP website.
The Australian Bleeding Disorders Registry
The Australian Bleeding Disorders Registry (ABDR) is a database that collects all clinical information related to the treatment of people with bleeding disorders.
The ABDR will be used to register all patients who require clotting factor replacement therapy, in order to gain a better understanding of the incidence and prevalence of bleeding disorders. This information will also be used to understand demand for, and to facilitate ordering of, clotting factor product.
Register your patients by completing the ABDR Patient Registration form and faxing it to your nearest Haemophilia Treatment Centre or Bleeding Disorders Clinic. Copies of the ABDR Patient Registration Form and a contact list for treatment centres and clinics can be downloaded here.
Further information about the ABDR can be obtained from the Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors’ Organisation (AHCDO) on (03) 9885 1777, email info@ahcdo.org.au or click here.
Research grants available
The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation in Queensland is calling for applications to compete for two seeding grants of $5,000 each to support health-related research relevant to practice and policy in Australia.
The closing date for applications is 30 April 2009.
For details and the application form click here
Videoconference: Cardiovascular disease in women and the importance of risk perception
Tuesday 28th April 2009 6:15pm - 8:30pm (AEST).
Click here for more details
Videoconference: Caring for Women with Ovarian Cancer (Part One): Diagnosis and Initial Treatment
Tuesday 12 May at 8.00pm AEST on channel 4. Repeat Friday 15 May 12.30pm AEST on channel 23. This program will also be available on Web Streaming and Pod cast.
Mulling it over: Cannabis Intervention and Primary Health Care
Tuesday 26 May at 8.00pm AEST on channel 4. Repeat Friday 29 May 12.30pm AEST on channel 23. This program will also be available on Web Streaming and Pod cast.
Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW
Caring Together: The Health Action for NSW is the first stage of the NSW Government's response to the Garling Inquiry's findings and recommendation. It includes measures that will be out in place immediately to help improve not just clinical care, but the environment in which that care is delivered, and the compassion and sensitivity with which it is delivered.
View the document here
Leadership 2009 conference - extended call for abstracts
Organisers for this year’s conference, sponsored by the College of Nursing, are looking for abstracts that address any challenges, innovations, solutions or remedies that you are involved in, the world of healthcare and nursing.
Click here to download the Abstract Documents
For conference details click here
Clinical Skills Orientation program
The Clinical Skills Orientation program has been designed for nurses who are new to the general practice environment. The program is available within the first 6-12 months of their new employment. The program will be delivered as a face to face program over two days and will be available online.
The program will be available for national roll out at the end of April 2009.
Click here for further information
International nursing news
ICN as the hub for International Nursing Networks
International Council of Nurses (ICN) is set to serve as a hub for the international exchange of ideas, experience and expertise for the nursing profession.
Previously ICN provided opportunities for nurses to meet informally at its meetings. However, living in what is becoming an increasingly complex and fast changing world, more immediate ways are needed to communicate and pursue common professional interests.
75th Anniversary of the Florence Nightingale International Foundation: new rose to honour Florence Nightingale
The International Council of Nurses and Jackson & Perkins Company have announced the exclusive debut of a commemorative floribunda rose - the Florence Nightingale Anniversary Rose. The ruffled, pure white floribunda rose was specifically chosen by the Florence Nightingale International Foundation to celebrate its 75th anniversary and to honour Florence Nightingale. The rose will be formally unveiled this year at official plantings around the world on May 12, which is International Nurses Day and the birthday of Florence Nightingale. A portion of the proceeds of the sales for the floriferous, damask-scented floribunda rose will fund the Girl Child Education Fund (www.fnif.org/girlfund.htm ), which supports the education of the orphaned daughters of nurses in developing countries.
Click here for more information
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