Nursing Australia

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