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

• The latest Nursing Australia News (01:05)

Ireland holts the use of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, PNG’s COVID-19 outbreak and vaccine rollout begins in Torres Strait Islands. 

• Aged Care Royal Commission Final Report (02.52)

After more than 10,000 submissions, evidence from 641 witnesses and more than two years, The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has handed down its final report. 

Royal Commissioners have made 148 wide-ranging recommendations for the fundamental reform of the aged care system in Australia. The report titled ‘Care, Dignity and Respect’ was tabled in federal parliament earlier this month.  

APNA Aged Care Planning and Advisory Group nominations: https://apna.asn.au/profession/acpag

• Setting up your COVID vaccination clinic (09:05)

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 fourth webinar we were joined by Marg Jennings and Margaret Dempsey to discuss how to set up your COVID vaccination clinic.

Marg began by speaking about Infection prevention & control and then Margaret outlines how a nurse-led clinic model can be established. 

Download the slides here: https://apna.asn.au/files/DAM/1%20Education/Other%20Events/COVID%20Webinar%204%20-%20Setting%20up%20your%20clinic.pdf 

• Nurse wellness with Sarah Cosgrave (01:04:42)

As we know there is a busy period ahead for nurses working in primary health care. It’s important to remember to take some time for us and stop. 

Nurse Sarah Cosgrave is back to run us through a meditation that will help us prepare for the future.

Visit Sarah’s website: http://sarahcosgrave.com/ 

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   

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 interested in cancer in primary care. 

Listen to ‘Research Roundup’: http://pc4tg.com.au/tag/podcast-research-roundup 

- Nurse wellness with Dr Avi: Engagement (01:04:27)

For our nurse wellness segment in this episode Dr Avi is back to speak about nurse wellbeing, resilience and self-care and ultimately self-leadership.

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   

In this episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Suzanne Blackeby, we hear: 
- The latest Nursing Australia News (01:21)
Coronavirus jumps rooms in a quarantine hotel, EOI for GP’s interested in giving out the vaccine closes and AstraZeneca vaccine may not be as effective with new variants. 

- COVID Vaccine roll-out: Alison McMillan Q&A (03:04)
To ensure that nurses are kept up to speed on the COVID vaccine rollout, APNA is hosting a series of webinars for members. In the second webinar of the series, we were joined by Alison McMillan, Australia’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. 
Subscribe to The Connect: https://www.apna.asn.au/workflows/subscribe 

APNA Professional Indemnity Insurance: https://www.apna.asn.au/insurance

- COVID vaccines: Challenges for nurses (52:36)
It’s a busy time in primary health care, particularly in general practice due to the imminent arrival of both the COVID and flu vaccines. In the next few months there will be some unique challenges for nurses to navigate.
FIVEaa Radio: https://www.fiveaa.com.au 

- Two Humerus Nurses (01:00:56)
Nursing is challenging, confronting and serious – people’s lives are in our hands. It is said that if you don’t laugh you cry – a lot. Working in such serious roles, nurses need a good laugh from time to time. We introduce you to Kelly and Alisha and their new podcast Two Humerus Nurses: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VHiOub0iSRuTSTFmtOZWe?si=qktKWR35SfC1B9x7m3jy9A

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   

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

-        The latest Nursing Australia News (02:15)

Australia’s holiday break and new year celebrations marred by outbreaks, lockdowns and border closures, the government sets out its plans for the COVID 19 Vaccine rollout and the death toll in the US reaches 400,000 Americans. 

-        COVID vaccination planning for primary health care nurses (05:09)

### To view the slides for this presentation, please click here: https://apna.asn.au/education/nursing-australia-podcast/ep6#s1

There’s a lot of content out there at the moment about the Australian rollout of COVID vaccines and the topic is moving so fast. It’s hard for nurses to keep up. 

That’s why APNA is hosting a series of webinars to keep members up-to-date with the latest. 

In the first webinar we discussed the Australian Government COVID vaccination policy and subsequent planning requirements relevant for primary health care nurses.

-        Nurse wellness with Dr Avi – emotional intelligence (48:30)

Keeping ourselves well this year is key to ensure that as nurses, we can help others as the global pandemic continues. Dr Avi is here to tell us how to connect into our emotional intelligence and how to better help our patients. 

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   

In this episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Suzanne Blackeby, we hear:
- The latest Nursing Australia News (01:34)
COVID jabs have begun, Melbourne emerges from its lockdown, 15,000 new nurses and midwives graduate, ANMF voices concern over retirement policies and record APNA Workforce Survey.

- Your year (05:44)
Nurses this year have done some amazing things this year, keeping people alive and safe in some really hard conditions.

Some nurses have not been put off by all the change and disruption that they have faced, and have continued to push the boundaries and grow their scope of practice, to better help their patients and their communities.

Rebecca, Nadine and Shelly are great examples of this. This is a snapshot of their 2020.

- COVID vaccine rollout (07:55)
Next year is going to bring us nurses the next challenge, the COVID 19 vaccine rollout. A national cross-population immunisation program that has never been done before in Australia.

Professor Michael Kidd is the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Principal Medical Advisor for the department of Health and Professor of Primary Care Reform at The Australian National University.

He is a world-leading authority on primary health care, having worked in senior leadership positions in Australia and around the world, including the World Health Organization. He has vast experience of national and global health systems.

Additional resources:
Long version of interview - https://apna.asn.au/hub/covid-vaccine-rollout---december-2020
APNA immunisation page - https://www.apna.asn.au/nursing-tools/clinical-resource-information/immunisation
ATAGI paper - https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/atagi-preliminary-advice-on-general-principles-to-guide-the-prioritisation-of-target-populations-in-a-covid-19-vaccination-program-in-australia
National COVID-19 Vaccination Policy - https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australian-covid-19-vaccination-policy

- Student Nurse Placement Program: Grace’s story (18:42)
Over the last few months and with the help of APNA, Monash University nursing students have been supported to complete their clinical placements that were disrupted by COVID-19.

This has been a mammoth task and has taken the collaboration of Monash, APNA, registered nurses, nurse practitioners and general practices throughout Victoria.

Impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions at hospitals and aged care facilities, some settings were unable to offer their usual placements, so Monash Nursing and Midwifery and APNA came to the rescue, organising placement alternatives for 400 student nurses.

Clinical placements are an integral part of Monash University's Bachelor of Nursing course,
with students needing to complete approximately 840 clinical hours during the three years of
the course in a variety of clinical and health settings.

Thanks to the program, next-generation nurses like Grace MacKay are getting the
opportunity to hone their clinical skills while experiencing the diversity of primary health care. This is Grace’s story.

APNA is expanding the program in 2021 and is searching for Nurse Supervisors from across the country to host students. If you’re interested, email Sam Moses – [email protected]

- APNA Christmas Elves (25:33)
With the turbulent year that 2020 has been, the team here at APNA wanted to give you a little laugh, so the APNA elves are here to send you some festive cheer.

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   

In this episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Karen Cook, we hear:

• The latest Nursing Australia news (01:39)

 Nursing degree fees have been reduced, APNA’s Workforce Survey has opened and new guidelines for spirometry testing have been released. 

• Melissa’s story: the joys of working in aged care (06:22)

 Whilst aged care has attracted negative headlines this year, many nurses find it incredibly rewarding. Hear from APNA Board Member, Melissa Cromarty, as she shares another side to aged care. 

Catch Melissa’s full interview with ABC Radio Brisbane here: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/drive/aged-care-nurse/12833784 

• Q&A: The importance of scheduled vaccines and catch-up programs (11:01)

 In this segment, you will learn why scheduled vaccinations and catch-up programs are so important, especially in the aftermath of a global pandemic.   

Health care professionals can listen to the extended version here: https://apna.asn.au/hub/scheduled-vaccines-and-catch-up-programs 

Additional resources

• https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/health-professionals/catch-up-immunisations
• https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/immunisation-references/catch-up-immunisations/
• https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/why-is-the-national-immunisation-program-schedule-the-way-it-is-fact-sheet
• https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/catch-up-calculator/calculator
• https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-immunisation-program
• http://talkingaboutimmunisation.org.au/

• APNA Highlight: Student Nurse Placement program (21:36)

 Due to COVID-19, many student nurses have been at risk of not graduating, as ongoing restrictions have made it difficult for mandatory clinical placement hours to be completed. In response, APNA partnered with Monash University and developed the Student Nurse Placement Pilot Project. Learn more about this program as APNA Founder, Sam Moses, interviews one of the amazing Nurse Supervisors. 

If you’re an Australian based registered nurse or nurse practitioner and would like to host a student nurse for a three-week placement, please email [email protected].

• Nurse wellness with Dr Avi (32:20)

 Because wellness is multifaceted, it can be hard to identify which aspects of life are affecting us the most. This short self-care exercise will help you understand all the domains of life and identify the areas to hone in on.

 The self leadership scan is part of Dr Avi’s Self Leadership Experience program. He developed the program to help nurses become more successful in their work and life, especially in this ‘new normal’ we find ourselves in. Find out more here: selfleadershipfornurses.com

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   

In this episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Nurse Robbie, we hear:

-        The latest Nursing Australia News (02:08)

A nurse practitioner earns the right to prescribe HIV medicines, nurses speak up for primary health care reform, infection control checks still lacking in aged care and remembering nurses killed by COVID-19. 

-        COVID vaccine: Immunising the nation (06:41)

When a COVID vaccine arrives in Australia, primary health care nurses will play a key role in immunising the Australian population. Learn about what nurses need to do to prepare for the mass-vaccination and the logistics of getting the vaccines into your clinic or facility. 

-        Vaccines: Recommended vs funded (12:29)

Nurses know the NIP funded vaccines inside-out, but how often do you speak to your patients about the recommended vaccines, but not funded ones? We discuss how to raise this sometimes-tricky conversation and share the reasoning behind recommended vs funded vaccines. 

For health care professionals, there is an in-depth discussion available centered around the meningococcal vaccines. Find that here: https://apna.asn.au/hub/bexsero-gsk 

-        Jane’s story: Helping the homeless (21:23)

Driving into the gym carpark in Launceston one morning, Nurse Practitioner Jane Laidlaw was surprised to see a person rough sleeping in a car. She felt compelled to do something to help and the result is a thriving nurse-led clinic that has helped hundreds of homeless people. 

-        Financial wellness for nurses (32:03)

When we think of wellness, physical and mental health often come to mind. But financial wellness is just as important. In this segment, tailored for nurses, hear some tips and tricks to maximise your potential tax refund. 

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   

In this episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Karen Cook, we hear:

- The latest Nursing Australia News (01:53)

The Federal Government extend Medicare-subsidised telehealth for 6-months, APNA supports nurse prescribing for early medical abortions, COVID-19’s deadly toll on nurses around the world, a new nurse-led clinic opens in Canberra, and high praise from Federal Ministers for primary health care nurses. 

- Race for the human race: COVID vaccines which, how and when? (07:17)

Nine months into this pandemic, there is hope of a vaccine being successfully developed, with over 30 candidate vaccines now in clinical trials around the world. Which vaccines are the front runners and how do they work? 

For APNA members, find an in-depth extended interview with Professor Katie Flanagan on the COVID-19 vaccines that are currently in development: https://apna.asn.au/hub/covid-vaccines-which--how-and-when- 

- COVID aged care: What's gone right? (14:20)

It has been well publicised that there have been serious issues within the aged care sector over the last few months, but there are some positives that have come from the pandemic. These have led to better patient care and a better environment for aged care nurses.  

- APNA PulseCheck: What we have been hearing and what we have been doing (21:31)

Over the last few months APNA has been conducting ‘PulseCheck’ surveys to see how frontline nurses are fairing during the pandemic. APNA’s Policy Manager, Shanthi Gardiner explains what nurses have been saying and what APNA has done to advocate for positive change. 

Guide: Why general practice needs nurses more than ever: https://apna.asn.au/files/DAM/8.%20Nursing%20Tools/TheValueofGeneralPracticeNursesJune2020.pdf

Quotes from nurse respondents: 

“It is extremely stressful for every nurse trying to deal with changes in workflows, insufficient human and PPE resources to keep the clinics safe, trying to deal with flu clinics, telehealth CDM, the constant fear of being infected, and trying to keep our patients safe.”

“It highlights the disadvantaged role caused by the MBS system as practice nurses don't count, or are a financial burden in the mind of the practice team.”

“Telehealth has been VITALLY important. Patients have been afraid to come into the practice during isolation either because they are high risk patients or afraid to come to a practice where they may catch COVID-19. Without telehealth our patients would not have been serviced at all and patients’ other health needs would have been neglected.”

“I feel only hospital staff are getting recognised for what they are doing. In a small community like mine, the general practice is usually the first port of call before the hospital, yet we just get forgotten about.”

- Nurse wellness with Casey Mannix (32:55)

Join APNA’s own Casey Mannix for a relaxing session to help you channel your generosity, clarity, steadiness and love. 

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   

In the first episode of Nursing Australia, hosted by Nurse Robbie, we hear:

- The latest Nursing Australia News (02:56)

Calls to grow the workforce of skilled nurses in aged care to stop the COVID spread, fresh data on the effect of coronavirus on the nursing workforce and eye protection for all Victorian GP nurses becomes mandatory. 

- Aimee’s story: Catching COVID in the clusters (07:00)

Aged care, disability, and mental health nurse Aimee Sibson was let go from her job at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and put her hand up to work on the Victorian COVID Response Taskforce. She was sent into Melbourne’s housing commission towers under the Government-imposed hard lockdown and caught COVID in the line of duty. 

Aimee wrote a letter to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews about her experience, you can read it here: https://apna.asn.au/files/Aimee%20Sibson%20-%20Letter%20to%20Daniel%20Andrews.pdf 

- Kids' vaccination drop: The effect of COVID-19 on early childhood vaccinations (14:28)

During COVID-19, nurses have observed that some patients are reluctant to attend clinics to receive scheduled immunisations. We explore the risks associated with children missing their early childhood vaccinations. For health care professionals find our more information about routine childhood immunisations here: www.apna.asn.au/hub/rotavirus-vaccine 

- Panel discussion: The future of primary health care nursing in a post-COVID world (18:07)

Once the pandemic has passed and we all return to a more normal life, what will be the lasting effect on primary health care nursing as a profession? Hear from APNA Founder and Nurse Ambassador, Sam Moses and APNA Program Manager, Nursing in Primary Health Care, Lisa Collison.

- Nurse wellness with Sarah Cosgrave (30:15)

In these crazy times, we all need to take some time-out for ourselves, especially nurses. Join nurse Sarah Cosgrave for a guided meditation that will leave you feeling relaxed, reconnected and re-energised. 

Sarah is a Nourished Nurturer and founder of the global community, ‘The Nurtured Nurse Project’. Trained as a Critical Care Nurse, Sarah knows firsthand that nurses are facing a global epidemic of nurse burnout. It is Sarah’s mission to empower nurses with the tools and techniques to support their wellness so that they can continue sustainably supporting the journey of wellness in others. As a wellness consultant Sarah supports nurses guiding them to feel relaxed, reconnected and re-energised within their mind, body and soul.

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   

Coming soon, Nursing Australia. A brand-new news and education podcast for Australian nurses, working together towards a healthier Australia. Presented by APNA, the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. Listen to keep up-to-date with the latest news you need to know, powerful interviews, education segments and stories from nurses on the front-line of Australian health. 

To find out more visit www.apna.asn.au