WHO declares coronavirus a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the deadly coronavirus that broke out in China and is now sweeping the world a public health emergency of international concern. WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus announced the decision on Thursday after the global health authority’s Emergency Committee convened at Geneva headquarters to update its course […]
Australians to be evacuated from Wuhan over coronavirus and quarantined on Christmas Island
The federal government has revealed plans to evacuate “isolated and vulnerable Australians” stuck in the coronavirus-plagued Chinese city of Wuhan and send them to Christmas Island for quarantine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on Wednesday morning, saying young people, especially infants, and the elderly would be prioritised. The operation will involve the Australian […]
Taking a stand against occupational violence
In the past year, nurses and midwives were punched, stabbed, threatened with weapons and assaulted all too frequently. Escalating occupational violence within the health professions is causing untold physical and psychological harm and urgent action is required so nurses and midwives working across all settings can feel safe on the job. Robert Fedele investigates. New […]
Mandated ratios could improve the health of older aged care workers
Mandating the minimum hours of care residents living in aged care homes receive per day can improve the health of older aged care workers and quality of care, according to a new report. Undertaken by the Brotherhood of St Laurence and University of Melbourne, the Improving the health of older aged care workers study investigated […]
Nurse Practitioner Day – How NPs are making an impact in aged care
Tenacity, an inquiring mind and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients are some of the key attributes personified by nurse practitioners, says aged care NP Kaye Coates. “It’s being able to see the bigger picture, the whole person, not just going in to put a Band-Aid on a particular issue […]
Meet Nurse Practitioner of the Year Chris Helms
In his first few years of university in his native United States, Chris Helms ironically wanted to take on any subjects bar nursing. His broad areas of study included marine biology, chemistry and Spanish and at one point involved aspiring to undertake medicine in the hope of becoming a doctor. It eventually led to him […]
Nursing Education Review unveils vision for nurses of the future
Exams to assess whether graduates are fit for registration, extending the length of the Bachelor of Nursing Degree, boosting the minimum number of clinical placement hours, realigning NP education towards primary care and establishing a national campaign to attract under-represented groups to nursing such as men are among 26 recommendations outlined in the Report of […]
Q&A with a school nurse
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) released updated national practice standards for school nurses earlier this year to provide a contemporary overview of the unique role’s broad scope of practice and its significant impact in improving health and education outcomes for children and youth. The ANMJ spoke to South Australian school nurse Anita Greco […]
8 reasons why nurses and midwives should embrace social media
Nurses and midwives working across all settings should take advantage of social media by using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to build relationships, share research and solutions, advance the professions and above all improve patient care, according to two leading academics. “It has the opportunity, ultimately, to improve patient care,” says Associate Professor Deb […]
Sarah Holland-Batt: ‘My Father’s Story in Aged Care’
Australia’s deteriorating aged care sector cannot wait until the findings of the Aged Care Royal Commission are handed down in November next year and urgently needs mandated ratios to address its chronic understaffing issues as well as greater transparency to ensure billions in government funding is tied to care. That was the powerful message from […]