Australian Nursing Journal articles from December 2004

Australian Nursing Journal archives from December 2004

A chief nurse this Christmas.(editorial)
December 1, 2004... Last month, Australia hosted the 2nd Asia Pacific Nursing Congress in Sydney. The 12th South Pacific Nursing Forum in Raratonga, Cook Islands, followed the Congress. The issues raised by nurses across the Asia Pacific region were similar...

Support ENs.(mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I write in reply to Wendy Graham's letter 'EN opportunities' (ANJ, August 2004, p.3). I too am an EN (RN Div 2), but I have been lucky enough to work in a specialist acute care environment, practising nursing procedures not normally...

Poor students.(mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I am a third-year nursing undergraduate student currently doing a clinical rotation. I certainly sympathise with 'Placement crisis' (ANJ, October 2004, p.3), but sincerely hope universities do not follow the example of my university, which...

Ask nurses.(mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... Recently an article appeared in a national newspaper ('Proposal to pharm out GPs' duties', The Australian, Monday 25 October, 2004, pp.1-2.) outlining a plan for pharmacists to take the pressure off GPs by checking people with chronic health...

Give the right message.(mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I have encountered a number of nursing students in Victoria who have been told they will be qualified as both general and psychiatric nurses on completion of their undergraduate program. In my view, this is unrealistic and erroneous--it...

Network.
December 1, 2004... Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Group 1-1970, 35-year reunion Contact: Jeanette Turner (nee Silke) Ph: (03) 9557 1414 or 0409 004 899 Email: collint18@optusnet.com.au Royal Adelaide Hospital, Group 851, 20-year reunion January 2005....

Asia Pacific Nursing Congress.(NAT)
December 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: [NAT] Samoan nurse Pelenatete Stowers joined more than 150 nurses from across the Asia Pacific region at the 2nd Asia Pacific Nurses Congress in Sydney last month. Opened by the Federal Minister for Health...

Productivity commission supports calls for reform.(NAT)
December 1, 2004... [NAT] The Productivity Commission has called for a major review of Australia's health system, saying it is 'beset with structural problems', and requires 'nationally co-ordinated action', but has warned against embracing a USA-style health...

Farewell to nursing leader.(NAT)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
December 1, 2004... [NAT] Former ANF Federal Secretary Mary Patten died on 13 November 2004 after a period of illness. An esteemed nurse, Ms Patten served as ANF Federal Secretary from 1970 to 1980. Under her leadership, the ANF (then the Royal...

ENs call for consistency.(NAT)
December 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: [NAT] Enrolled nurses from every state and territory in Australia were on hand for the launch of the Tabbners Nursing Care 4E book at the 6th National Enrolled Nurses Association (NENA) conference (held in...

Don't blame the oldies.(NAT)
December 1, 2004... Older people waiting for musing home beds are not responsible for declining access to hospital beds, according to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia. Professor Len Gray, head of geriatric medicine at the University of...

Push for overseas nurse not on.(news)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ANF NT Branch Secretary Denis Blackford has criticised NT Government efforts to recruit overseas nurses, particularly those from developing countries, saying the practice was taking away sorely needed resources from countries with their own...

Green light for transfer.(news)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Sydney University will proceed with the transfer of undergraduate nursing places to other universities after the university senate approved the move. Although it has been vigorously opposed by the New South Wales Nurses Association (NSWNA, ANF...

Abortion figures unreliable.(news)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The number of abortions in Australia may well be as low as 25,000 and not 100.000 as currently suggested. according to AMA obstetrics spokesman Dr Andrew Pesce. While the health insurance commission said there were 72.554 procedures 'to...

Satisfying but costly.(news)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... An international survey has found most Australians are satisfied with their health services, but face more out-of pocket expenses than people in any other country. Conducted by the New York based Commonwealth Fund, the survey found...

Change ideas, not governments!(NSW)
December 1, 2004... The NSW Nurses' Association (NSWNA, ANF NSW) has challenged the view that giving control of public hospitals to the federal government would fix the system, and called on state and federal governments to change their thinking about hospital...

Pharmacy clinics need regulation.(QLD)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Nurse-run mother and baby clinics in suburban Queensland pharmacies are in urgent need of regulation, according to a Queensland academic. Dr Karen Flowers, head of the school of nursing at Queensland's Australian Catholic University, said...

Wage parity in sight.(TAS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Tasmanian nurses working in aged care have accepted a 20% pay increase, in addition to the 5% interim increase 2 of May 2004, which will significantly reduce the wage disparity between nurses in the public sector and those in aged care. ...

Correction--November 2004 ANJ feature.(news)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2004... Paragraph two on p.16 should read: According to a United Nations index that measures human development, Indigenous Australians now experience a quality of life similar to that in China. (1) Reference no. 1 on p.18 should read: Cooke, M., et...

United front on mental health.(NSW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Nurses have united with doctors, police and ambulance officers to address the NSW mental health crisis with the launch of the Mental Health Workers' Alliance (MHWA) last month. The Alliance said a shortage of psychiatric beds and lack of...

Ethics in nursing.(issues)
December 1, 2004... We're all highly ethical people in health care, right? After all, we entered health care to help people. So what's the fuss about ethics? My work in ethics has demonstrated to me how the culture of health care is changing, and how this...

Training package under review.(professional)
December 1, 2004... Education for enrolled nurses (RN Div 2 in Victoria) is to comprise part of a national health industry training review. The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC) is currently reviewing the health training package...

Wound healing and maturation: clinical considerations.(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Leading medical and health care company, Paul Hartmann Pty Ltd, invests considerable resources in clinical education and training on wound management for nurses around Australia. As part of its commitment, the Company has sponsored a series of...

Are AWAs better? Do Australian Workplace Agreements really give workers a better deal? Not compared to union negotiated collective agreements.(industrial)(Australian Workplace Agreements)
December 1, 2004... Over the forthcoming months, we are likely to hear a great deal about the benefits of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) and how they are the answer to fairness and flexibility in the workplace. However, as one of the central planks of...

Scrubbing in the tearoom: perioperative nursing in volunteer aid programs: a lot goes on behind the closed doors of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, as RN Helen Postma reveals.(working life)
December 1, 2004... 'Have you ever walked past the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) in Melbourne and wondered what goes on inside? Well, on the third floor, in the west wing, seven dedicated people work in a small department called "International...

Walking away: leaving home and leaving nursing.(2004 Asia Pacific Nursing Congress)
December 1, 2004... The impact of nursing workforce shortages was the subject of discussion at a recent international meeting of nurses in Sydney, where nursing representatives from Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, the Maldives, Fiji, Vanuatu,...

Emergency mental health nursing for refugees and asylum seekers.(clinical update)
December 1, 2004... Summary The key to applying the above strategies involves drawing on the valuable time-honoured relationships between 'trusted others' and asylum seekers, and to integrate these networks with local community health, community services...

Medical editors unite.(research)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The editors of dozens of international medical journals have joined forces to prevent the selective reporting of clinical trials by researchers and companies. A statement by the editors of 11 medical journals including the Medical Journal...

Patients tell nurses more.(research)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Communication between patients and health professionals is distinctly different, depending on whether patients are talking to a doctor or a nurse, according to a UK study. The University of York study of 100 patient-professional...

Specialist breast nurses needed.(research)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Researchers have recommended the establishment of specialist breast nurse positions in Australian breast cancer treatment centres, after finding more than 80% of women considered they were effective in providing information and emotional...

Change hurts.(research)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Organisational change contributes to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in nurses, research reported in the American Journal of Public Health has found. The study, which sought to determine whether aspects other than the physical demands of...

Kiwifruit for heart health.(research)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Eating two or three kiwifruit a day has been found to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. A new study from Norway suggests a compound in the fruit may have anti-clotting properties and may lower triglyceride levels in the...

Australian nurse wins military medal.(world)
December 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Australian nurse Sarah Longshaw has been awarded a Nursing Service Cross for providing medical treatment to seriously injured Iraqi soldiers and civilian workers in northern Iraq. An Australian army...

Overtime cut to worsen USA nursing shortage.(world)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Nurses are expected to be among millions of professionals who will be affected by changes to the labour laws regulating paid overtime in the USA. Under the new rules, the number of workers whose duties would be considered exempt from...

Environmental health on the curriculum.(world)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A new USA study in Environmental Health Perspectives has called for the addition of environmental health topics to all nursing and medical schools to assist health professionals prevent, recognise and treat diseases caused by environmental...

Ratios under threat in LA.(world)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Hospitals in Los Angeles are unable to maintain the number of nurses they need to comply with state laws on nurse-patient ratios, according to news reports in the Los Angeles Times. The California Healthcare Association said about 85% of...

WHO to target safety.(world)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Australia is to join a Word Health Organisation initiative to promote a culture of safety in health care, as evidence mounts that the incidence of preventable medical errors may be as high as 17% across all hospitals. Director of the Agency for...

First nursing PhD in Pakistan Aussie trained.(world)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The first nurse to obtain a PhD degree in Pakistan was educated at the University of Ballarat in Victoria. Dr Khurshid Khowaja, director of nursing services at the Aga Khan University Hospital, complete her PhD on clinical pathways for the care...

Redesigning care reduces emergency waiting times.(Emergency nursing/Education)
December 1, 2004... A project to reduce waiting times and overcrowding in the emergency department of a South Australian hospital is showing significant results. Initial results of the Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) 'Redesigning Care' project show a 20%...

Nurses work with NICS to bridge the emergency/mental health chasm.(Emergency nursing/Education)
December 1, 2004... The National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) is harnessing the energy and motivation of emergency nurses, along with their mental health peers, to drive improvements in patient care through a national emergency mental health initiative....

Emergency behaviour 'resuscitation'.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Providing a dedicated area for the initial management of behaviourally disturbed patients in emergency departments can help create a safer environment for staff and enhance care, according to a study from the emergency department at St...

Computers aid care.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... New computer software has been developed at the University of Ballarat in Victoria to support accurate and timely decision-making by intensive care nurses. The program assists intensive care nurses to make decisions about pulse oximetry (levels...

Alcohol nurses for EDs.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A new report into alcohol use in young people in Ireland has recommended the appointment of specialist alcohol nurses in hospital emergency departments. The recommendation comes after a report found young people are getting hooked on...

To Russia with love.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Australian College of Emergency Nursing (ACEN) is inviting emergency nurses to participate in an international delegation to Russia in April 2005. Developed by People to People Ambassador Programs in conjunction with ACEN, this...

Nurses prepare for terrorist attacks.(Emergency nursing/Education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... NSW nurses and other health personnel have been involved in simulated responses to terrorism attacks, as part of a national project to prepare emergency services for such events. Over 170 staff from NSW Health participated in the exercise,...

EDs can help drinkers.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Referring people who drink heavily for counselling when they attend emergency departments for alcohol-related health problems could help reduce alcohol consumption and further hospital visits, according to a UK study. A trial of 600...

Nursing places at ACU.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Australian Catholic University (ACU National) will offer an additional 135 places in its Bachelor of Nursing program at the University's North Sydney campus (MacKillop) in 2005. ACU National executive director of university services, Mr...

Breast cancer scholarships.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The National Breast Cancer Centre (NBCC) is offering scholarships to nurses and community health workers in Australia to develop their skills in caring for women with breast cancer. With 30% of women with breast cancer in Australia living...

EDs included in drug data.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A Queensland researcher has called for early warning systems monitoring changes in the patterns of drug use and drug related harm to include data from emergency departments, following the release of a report into drug use by patients of...

Improving patient flows to radiology.(Emergency nursing/Education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A new project in the Emergency Department (ED) at Frankston Hospital in Victoria aims to reduce the turnaround time for ED patients waiting for radiology services. It is hoped the project will contribute to improved patient flow throughout...

Emergency can be a private matter.(Emergency nursing/Education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Is there a place in our current health industry for private emergency departments and the emergency nurses that work there? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes! We acknowledge there is a shortage of nurses Australia wide and...

Nurse Managers: a Guide to practice.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2004... Nurse Managers: A guide to practice Edited by Andrew Crowther Ausmed Publications $109.95 ISBN 0-9751585-0-3 Nurse Managers: A Guide to Practice aims to address core issues associated with nurse management to assist all nurses as they...

Emergency Nursing Procedures (3rd edition).(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2004... Emergency Nursing Procedures (3rd edition) Edited by Jean A Proehl Elsevier Australia $93.50 ISBN 0-7216-0341-6 Written by expert emergency nurses from across the UK, this book provides step-by-step guidance for almost 200 emergency...

Paperwork making a difference.(Emergency nursing/Education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Revamping hospital documentation has led to improvements in patient monitoring at the John Hunter Hospital in NSW. According to RN Kate King, the old documentation created an 'invisibility' in the work conducted by nursing staff. The...

Emergency departments under pressure.(Emergency nursing/Education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The changes that have occurred in emergency departments over the last 10 years have had a significant impact on the role of emergency nurses. Emergency nurses who are skilled appropriately to manage patients with many and varied...

Are nurses using the MET effectively?(Emergency nursing/Education)(Medical Emergency Team)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The emergency response concept known as the MET system has recently been introduced into the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Newcastle, NSW. The Medical Emergency Team (MET) is an outreach team that replaces or augments a traditional...

New cancer nursing specialisation at UTS.(Emergency nursing/Education)(University of Technology, Sydney )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Nurses in NSW keen to specialise in cancer nursing can now do so through a coordinated postgraduate study program at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). UTS is offering an advanced cancer nursing curriculum at diploma, masters and...

Nurse practitioners in emergency.(Emergency nursing/Education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Emergency Nurse Practitioner (NP) Project, funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS), is one of the most exciting initiatives in emergency nursing in Victoria. The project aims to develop, implement and evaluate the NP...

Calendar.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... Distance education courses for RNs Conducted by the College of Nursing (incorporating the NSW College of Nursing) The College of Nursing, Locked Bag 3030. Burwood, NSW 1805 Ph: (02) 9745 7500 Childbirth education training programs...

Getting ready.
December 1, 2004... It's hard to believe it's December already. My friends are discussing the Christmas roster, my nose is turned fairly and squarely toward holidays in the northern sun, and the kids are fretting over exams. This is a tumultuous time of the...