In this episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Suzanne Blackeby, we hear:  

• The latest Nursing Australia News (01:31) 

Mandatory vaccines for residential Aged Care workers; The Commonwealth revises its national vaccine allocations as COVID reignites; a blood-test to diagnose Alzheimers; and Chris Hemsworth delivers vital equipment to a regional clinic.  

• 2021 Influenza vaccine update (03:58) 

The last 18 months has seen COVID stifle the conversation and awareness of other communicable diseases. Therefore, it may not surprise some of us to learn Influenza vaccination rates in Australia have waned recently. Is this COVID driven complacency? Or perhaps the decreased community mobility explains the lull?  

Year-to-date we are some 1.5 million flu jabs behind last year. So, it is vital that we continue to fly the health promotion flag for Influenza vaccination.  

This year the Australian Immunisation Handbook has heralded an exciting newcomer to the influenza vaccine game. A cell-based vaccine, which has only recently been approved for use in Australia. 

We caught up with two of our resident nurses here at APNA, RN and Nurse Immuniser Jo Millard and RN Matt St Ledger. 

APNA Members can catch the full panel discussion here: https://www.apna.asn.au/education/nursing-australia-podcast/ep14/what-s-new-in-flu-2021-

• Wound care online learning (14:37) 

Wound care, wound management, all things wounds are trending topics for nurses. Hear how Smith & Nephew are delivering free online learning modules for healthcare professionals and hosting specialised wound workshops at the upcoming 2021 APNA Conference Roadshow. 

https://closertozero.com.au 

https://www.apna.asn.au/education/roadshow  

• Exploring nurse clinics (20:08) 

Matt St Ledger caught up with APNA's Marg Dempsey and Chronic Disease Management Nurse Di Mears. Di has demonstrated amazing success in establishing a nurse-lead clinic in her practice in Toowoomba, Queensland. A brilliant initiative which ensures coordinated care for patients with coronary heart disease within a regional community. 

https://nurseclinics.apna.asn.au/ 

• Episode Outro (30:55) 

On the next episode of Nursing Australia, we are getting ready to hit the road so grab the latest on the 2021 APNA Conference Roadshow; discover how nurse certifiers are optimising diabetes management; and a new program which promises to enhance nursing practice for autism. 

Subscribe to The Connect: https://www.apna.asn.au/workflows/subscribe 

Click here to get in touch with Nursing Australia (send a text for free from anywhere in the world) #askusanything

Hosted & Produced by: Matthew St Ledger & Leith Alexander 
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger