NurseClick – Issue 2 – delayed delivery

The big issue - NHHRC Interim Report

The release of the interim report from the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC) took place at the National Press Club earlier this week, and sparked rigorous debate throughout the health care sector.

Dr Christine Bennett, who headed up the NHHRC, gave a brief presentation outlining key issues. The report was divided into four themes – Taking Responsibility, Connecting Care, Facing Inequities and Driving Quality Performance. These were identified as the main strategic themes for a redesign of the health system. The report focused on a renewed push towards a solid primary health care strategy, which is good news for consumers of care in Australia. In general, the health sector seems to agree that this focus is appropriate and timely.

However, nurses were in for a surprise – despite media attention prior to the report around the need for a greater focus on multidisciplinary care, including an expanded scope of practice for nurses and the need for nurses to play a much broader role in relieving pressure on an overstretched health system, the nursing profession rated only a brief mention in Dr Bennett’s presentation.

Send your views to RCNA!

What do you think of the Interim Report? RCNA members interested to share their views on the NHHRC Interim Report with RCNA are invited to visit our Call for Comments page and submit a comment or attach a formal submission using the online form on this page. Help shape RCNA’s response to the NHHRC by sharing your thoughts with us. Please submit comments to RCNA by 5 March 2009.

The big issue - Report on the Maternity Services Review

The release of the maternity services review received mostly favourable responses from nursing and midwifery groups around Australia. The report, released on 21 February 2009, outlined a need for an expanded role for midwives, including access to MBS and PBS schedules for their services. Nursing and midwifery groups, including RCNA, have been quietly optimistic about the move, which acknowledges the need for a more flexible workforce to serve the diverse needs of Australian women, their families and communities. Medical groups such as the Rural Doctors Association of Australia have also expressed confidence in the report so far, but the AMA remained less than enthusiastic. The Report is the first stage of the review; watch this space.

Policy in nursing

DoHA/Pharmacy Guild submission

In late January, RCNA provided a submission to the Review of the Existing Supply Arrangements of PBS Medicines in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and Private Hospitals being undertaken by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) and Pharmacy Guild of Australia. RCNA’s submission focused on Discussion Paper - Part C - Supply Arrangements of PBS Medicines in Residential Aged Care Facilities.

The submission will be available on RCNA’s website in the near future. RCNA is grateful for the substantial contribution provided by Professor Tracey McDonald FRCNA and for advice received from Sue McKechnie FRCNA and Donna Watmuff MRCNA. Visit our submissions page.

Project Update - National Registration and Accreditation

In March 2008 the Federal Government announced that a single national registration and accreditation process would be formalised by July 2010 for 10 key health professions, including nursing and midwifery. RCNA has and continues to collaborate with the Australian Peak Nursing and Midwifery Forum (APNMF), a coalition of the peak nursing and midwifery organisations in Australia, to provide joint submissions on the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. This collaborative approach aimed to ensure that the nursing and midwifery professions agreed on key issues relating to the development of the Scheme and were able to provide consensus advice on the design and implementation of the Scheme. Click here for an update on the Scheme.

Opportunities

Acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brochure available

The Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health has issued a summary brochure for health professionals based on the The Australian Guidelines for Treatment of Adults with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The brochure has been developed to assist healthcare practitioners to provide best practice clinical care for patients coping with ASD and PTSD.

The brochure is available free of charge in either hard copy or electronic format. To order your free copy of the brochure please click here. Alternatively, you can download a PDF version of the brochure by clicking here. Please use the username: acpmh and the password: acpmh_pcl to access the document.

Nursing resources

The International Centre for Human Resources in Nursing (ICHRN) is dedicated to strengthening the global nursing workforce through the development, monitoring and dissemination of information, tools and resources on nursing human resources policy, management research and practice. As part of this effort, the ICHRN undertakes a number of activities aimed at making sure up-to-date information is available, and knowledge is shared, through ICHRN eNEWS, an electronic publication which provides up to date news on national, regional and global issues and trends in nursing HR; the Knowledge Library, an extensive database of publications relating to human resources in nursing and in other areas of health; and the Events Calendar, which provides a hand reference point for upcoming events related to human resources in nursing. Click here to find out more.

Last chance to register for APEC Hobart workshop

The RCNA APEC team is holding a combined workshop for new or renewing APEC representatives in Hobart on 11 March 2009. This is a great opportunity for nursing and health groups to get on board and become an industry-standard endorser of educational activities through the RCNA Authorised Provider of Endorsed Courses (APEC) program.
As an APEC organisation, you can:

endorse your own educational activities/events on behalf of RCNA
allocate RCNA Continuing Nurse Education (RCNA CNE) points to all your activities during your two year APEC status
receive free advertising of your activities on RCNA's website
have full use of RCNA's logo on your promotional material.

To register or to find out more, click here or call the APEC team on 02 6283 3403.

ACT nursing and midwifery awards

ACT Health is pleased to announce the opening of the 2009 ACT Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards, to be announced during International Nurses and Midwives week in May 2009. Accompanying these awards is a photographic competition that invites nurses and midwives to submit photographs of their profession. These photos will be included in a montage to be shown on the awards night.

Click here for more information on ACT celebrations for International Nurses and Midwives week.

Princess Srinagarindra Award

The Pricess Srinagarinda Award is an international award for nurses and midwives established in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Mahidol of Thailand. The award recognises exemplary contributions towards the progress and advancement of nursing and midwifery. Please click here for more information.

RCNA can endorse the nomination of one RCNA member for this award. Members are invited to contact RCNA on 02 6283 3400 for more information.

Education consultant sought for VEA

VEA is an Australian producer and supplies of education and training DVDs and is seeking nurses to work as education consultants on a series of health related DVDs. Contact jessh@vea.com.au or 0407 506 179 for further information.

Grants available

The Department of Health and Ageing offers a series of grants and tender for application from eligible health care practitioners. Projects with currently available funding include:

Delivery of Social and Emotional Wellbeing Workforce Support and Training
Review of Cord Blood supply, demand and use in Australia
Residential Aged Care Certification Assessment
Chronic Disease Self-management/Lifestyle and Risk Modification Grants
Hearing Loss Prevention Program – Prevention Grants

Click here to visit the Department of Health and Ageing website.

Men’s Health Policy

The Federal Government is in the process of developing a men’s health policy to address issues surrounding the access of Australian men to timely and appropriate health care. Consultations continue around Australia in 2009.
Click here for more information.

News from ICN

As the voting Australian member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), RCNA is pleased to bring you the latest ICN news.

Applications open for ICN Global Leadership Institute
Applications for the International Council of Nurses Global Leadership Institute are now open. In 2009 the institute will look at the global economic downturn and challenging demographic patterns.
Applications close 21 April 2009.
Click here for more information.

Media release
International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®) now included as a Related Classification in the WHO Family of International Classifications. Click here to view.

Position statements
The following position statements have been created or revised by ICN in 2009. Click the links below to view:

Assistive or Support Nursing Personnel
Continuing competence as a professional responsibility and public right
Cultural and Linguistic Competence

Click here to visit the ICN website.

About RCNA

RCNA member benefit

The language of nursing - collaboration or teamwork?

And...RCNA turns 60!

Top links

This month's top story - nurses at the forefront of the Victorian bushfires

What else happened this month?