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

- The latest Nursing Australia News (01:25)

The rollout begins, a nurse steps in during a COVID vaccine overdosing error, the WHO warn of ‘long COVID’ and The Royal Commission into Aged Care final report handed down.

- APNA’s campaign for MBS items (03:47)

The Australian COVID-19 Vaccination program is up and running with thousands of Australians expected to be vaccinated in the coming weeks, including residents in Aged Care.  

While this implementation has been rushed, it’s great to have it underway and we wish all aged care nurses well as they take the lead.

A major concern for general practices nurses has been the Medicare Benefits Scheme items for the rollout. APNA understands that not providing a way for a nurse to bill for their time to give the COVID vaccines would restrict Australia’s 14,500 practice nurses from playing the fullest role they can in the rollout. 

In the last few days and after significant engagement with government, APNA welcomes the removal of some of the barriers that would have constrained practice nurses.

MBS factsheet: http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/CC1972BC986AAC8ECA25867D00078BDD/$File/factsheet-vacsmar21.pdf 

APNA COVID webpage: https://apna.asn.au/hub/news/coronavirusinfofornurses 

- APNA Insurance – March special: https://apna.asn.au/membership/insurance 

- Vaccine hesitancy and what to do (10:15)

To ensure nurses are up to date with the latest on the COVID vaccine rollout, APNA are hosting a special series of live webinars. The recordings of these are available here on Nursing Australia. To view the slides for the webinars, listen to Nursing Australia via the APNA website or if you are listening to audio only via a podcast listening app. 

In the third webinar Julie Leask took us through Vaccine hesitancy and what to do. 

Julie is professor and social scientist at the University of Sydney. She studies what people think and do about it, programs and policies. She has a background in public health and prior to that in nursing and midwifery. She is visiting fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance and advisor to the World Health Organization.

Webinar slides: https://apna.asn.au/files/DAM/1%20Education/Vaccine%20hesitancy%20and%20what%20to%20do%20-%20Slides.pdf 

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

- Cancer in primary health care (01:01:26)

Primary health care is playing an increasingly important role throughout a patient’s cancer journey, from prevention through to palliative care. 

We’re joined by Kristy Millie, the national manager of the primary care collaborative cancer clinical trials group, PC4. She’s also the host of ‘Research Roundup’, a podcast for people intereste

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