Australian Nursing Journal articles from July 2003

Australian Nursing Journal archives from July 2003

A mental health lesson. (Editorial).
July 1, 2003... One of the first people I met after taking up my position with the ANF over four years ago, was a nurse who worked for many years in the specialist area of mental health - as a clinician and as a manager. The nurse became concerned about...

Royal Melbourne Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Royal Melbourne Hospital, January 1963 Group 40-year reunion: Contact Neilma ph: (03) 9751 1252 or email: neilmawallance@hotmail.com

Wangaratta District Base Hospital Group. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Wangaratta District Base Hospital Group, 2/83 20-year reunion: Tentative dates 2-3 August. Contact Cathy Griffin (Malone) ph: (03) 5721 8781 email: malone@netc.net.au. or Lesley Lewis (Rea) ph: (03) 5722 1028 email: lewii5@bigpond.com.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, September 1972 PTS: Is anybody out there? Contact Stephanie Gray ph: (02) 9337 2265 or email: stephgray@telstra.com.

Bethesda Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Bethesda Hospital, Vic. July 1974 Group 30-year reunion: Contact Jenny Hocking ph: (03) 6447 2716 or Thelma Fahey (kerr) ph: (03) 9853 8540.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA, Group 9/88 15-year reunion: Conctact Rosie Ratcliff (nee Barber) ph: (08) 8285 6852 email: Rosemarie.Ratcliff@nwahs.sa.gov.au.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Ballarat College of Advanced Education, Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing) Inaugural year 1986-1988 reunion: 1 November Contact Paul Smith email: pcsmithrn@hotmail.com ph: (03) 9728 1120. RSVP by 1 October.

Royal Children's Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne October 1980 3/80 20-year reunion: October date to be confirmed. Contact Kay Cruse (nee Franke) ph: (03) 9439 9158, mob: 0417 347 223 email: pkcruse@optusnet.com.au

Ringwood Private Hospital 30th Anniversary Dinner. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Ringwood Private Hospital 30th Anniversary Dinner: 20 September 2003. Contact Jenny Toohey or Ros Gale ph: (03) 8804 4000 email: jenny.toohey@maynegroup.com.

St. Vincent's Hospital. (Network).
July 1, 2003... St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, February 1988 Group reunion: 19 July. Contact A. Byrnes ph: (03) 9889 2302 email: fredeman1997@yahoo.com, or J. Mckenna ph: (03) 9484 8574.

Geelong Hospital Nurses League 70th reunion. (Network).
July 1, 2003... Geelong Hospital Nurses League 70th reunion: 20 March 2004. Contact Jill Low. Ph: (03) 5281 1460 email: jilllow53@aol.com.

It's my life.
July 1, 2003... This is me in 1983, 18 years old heading off for my first shift as a student nurse. Since that day I have worked in general surgery, neurosurgery, hospital in the home and the community. I have gained a degree and a graduate diploma and worked...

Aged care excellence. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The search has begun to find the best leaders land innovators in the aged care sector, with the launch of the Minister's Aged Care Excellence Awards 2003. The awards are open to individuals and organisations from Commonwealth funded aged care...

Transplant complication. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A 42-year-old undergoing heart transplant surgery on 25 May at Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital suffered 2% full thickness burns after his pillow caught fire during the operation. A hospital spokesperson said the pillow began smouldering as...

Managing violence. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... In a bid to reduce the number of violent incidents against NSW hospital staff, every nurse in the State will soon have to undertake aggression management training. The move is part of the State Government's push to boost hospital security....

Virus close wards. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Queensland Health put hospitals on high alert in June after an outbreak of Norwalk virus -- which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea -- infected 26 patients and 24 staff at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital. The outbreak is the third in...

New ACCNS website. (News).(Australian Council of Community Nursing Services )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The peak national body for community nurses and community nursing services -- the Australian Council of Community Nursing Services (ACCNS) -- has launched a new website to provide information about the organisation and its publications,...

Figures show nursing crisis worse. (News).
July 1, 2003... The nursing shortage crisis in Australia is getting worse, according to the latest statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Nursing Labour Force 2001 shows the number of full-time equivalent nurses has fallen...

Assault renews violence concerns. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The sexual assault of a female nurse in northwest WA has renewed concerns about the safety of remote practitioners in the State. The alleged assault occurred recently while the woman was showering and although she has since left the...

Nelson's debt plan appals ANF. (News).
July 1, 2003... Nurses who undertake specialist postgraduate courses, such as midwifery, could face debts of $37,800 or more, according to Labor Party calculations based on the Federal Government's proposed education changes. Under the Federal...

Nurses not to blame. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Nurses should not be made scapegoats for the elective surgery waiting list blowout in the ACT, the ANF ACT Branch says. ANF ACT Branch Secretary Colleen Duff made the statement as the ACT Health Minister Simon Corbell announced the number...

Nursing's night of nights. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Nurses were formally recognised by their peers at the SA Nursing Excellence Awards in Adelaide on 10 May. Presenting the awards, SA Health Minister Lea Stevens said a record 240 nurses had been nominated in 13 categories. Five nurses also...

Your chance to be a star. (News).
July 1, 2003... Would you like to become an ambassador for your profession and feature in a new advertising campaign? The Campaign for the future of nursing and midwifery is inviting nurses and midwives to participate in auditions to feature in a...

Budget fails to deliver on health. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Queensland State Budget delivers no extra health services to Queenslanders, according to the Queensland Nurses' Union (QNU, ANF Qld). QNU Secretary Gay Hawksworth said there was no real increase in nurse numbers, no increase in...

Woomera nurses launch class action. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Fifteen former nurses from the Woomera Detention Centre launched a class action against Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) on 21 May. The claim was lodged in the South Australian District Court on behalf of one of the group, RN...

NSWNA launches aged care case. (News).(New South Wales Nurses' Association )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The NSW Nurses' Association (NSWNA, ANF NSW) is calling for a 27% pay increase, work related and qualifications allowances, overtime, paid parental leave, and reasonable workloads for nurses working in the State's residential aged care sector....

Call for more Indigenous nurses. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The ANF marked Reconciliation Week, 26-30 May, by calling for an increase in the number of Indigenous nurses in Australia The call supports the recommendations from 'gettin em n keepin em' report by the Indigenous Nursing Education Working...

Survey reveals extent of violence toward nurses. (News).
July 1, 2003... Two thirds of nurses experience physical or verbal abuse in the workplace, according to the first large-scale survey of nurses in Australia. Scoping Workplace Aggression in Nursing - undertaken by the Tasmanian School of Nursing,...

Paracetamol guidelines. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Safe use of paracetamol is the aim of a new Federal Government information campaign. The campaign will educate consumers and health professionals about the possible harmful effects of inappropriate paracetamol use. Visit:...

Aboriginal men's health. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A new plan aims to reduce illness and mortality rates suffered by Aboriginal men in NSW. The Aboriginal Men's Health Implementation Plan, released on 23 May, will focus on prevention and early] intervention and aims to make health services more...

Aged care survey. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A major survey of the aged care workforce will help identify the aged care sector's workforce profile to assist in planning future directions and needs until 2010. Announcing the survey Federal Minister for Ageing Kevin Andrews said The...

Cheaper postage. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... From 1 July, people living in remote areas of Australia will get special cheaper postal rates for health and educational material. To be eligible, parcels must contain medical prescription items, nonprescription pharmacy medicines or other...

Going places in NSW. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Concord Hospital's nurses will soon be able to broaden their education with the announcement of a new $100,000 three-year scholarship. The Going Places Nursing Scholarship will assist Concord nurses to continue their postgraduate and post...

Tax time again. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Did you know you can claim the cost of journals and magazines that have content connected to your employment as a nurse as work related expenses? The Australian Taxation Offices (ATO's) Occupational Ruling Summary - Nurses explains claims...

Preparing for disaster. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Royal Adelaide Hospital went on full alert on 25 May, to respond to the country's largest mock bio-terrorism attack. Operation Supreme Truth tested the preparedness of South Australia's emergency services and its hospital system. Over 160...

National dementia action needed now. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The prevalence of dementia is growing rapidly in Australia and the condition will take over from depression as the largest cause of disability burden in the country by 2016. This is one of the startling findings of The dementia epidemic:...

Common cold sense. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The National Prescribing Service (NPS) has launched its third annual consumer campaign to help stop the spread of winter ills and reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics. The NPS says it hopes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)...

Medicines and nursing. (Professional).
July 1, 2003... I recently represented the ANF when the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC) held their meeting in Canberra. The Council brings together consumer groups, medical, nursing and pharmaceutical organisations to provide advice to...

UK still recruits from developing nations. (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The UK is still recruiting nurses and midwives from developing countries that can ill afford to lose staff, despite a 2001 UK Government ban on the practice. Figures from the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) show that almost 13,000...

Iraq health fears. (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Iraq faces a health catastrophe in the aftermath of the US-led invasion, with hospitals working well below capacity and patchy electricity supplies increasing the risk of water contamination and disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO)...

SARS affecting nurses. (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... More than 200 nurses in Hong Kong are reported to have contracted Severe Adult Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and at least one nurse has died, while working with patients with the atypical pneumonia. According to local press reports, the...

Pregnant students rights. (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Fiji Nurses Association (FNA) has called for the country's nursing schools not to expel student nurses who become pregnant. FNA General Secretary Kuini Lutua said student nurses must be treated as adults and nursing school policies must be...

Supermarket surgeries. (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A private GP service plans to open surgeries in supermarkets across the UK. U-First Healthcare has identified 250 Tesco supermarkets as potential sites for GP practice and hopes to open pilot surgeries in 2003. U-First said that if the deal...

Students taking charge. (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... More than a third of UK nursing students have been left in charge of patients in the absence of RNs and more than a quarter of first-year students have been given sole charge of patients, according to a recent Royal College of Nursing, UK, (RCN...

Conference move (1). (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The International Council of Nurses (ICN) was forced to move its biennial conference on 27-29 June from Marrakech to Geneva because of security concerns after terrorist bombings in Morocco in May 'We share the tremendous disappointment of...

Conference move (2). (World).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Canadian Federation of Nursing Union (CFNU) moved its June biennial convention to Toronto in solidarity with the city and its nurses. CFNU President Kathleen Connors said: 'Toronto was the right place to hold it. CFNU affiliated nurse have...

From the outback to the Arctic Circle. (Working Life).
July 1, 2003... RN Mark MoKenna's working life has taken him from outback Australia to the Arctic Circle and back to a small town in Tasmania. Here, he shares his story with the ANJ. 'I started my nursing training in 1989 through the University of...

Lifestyle and BP control. (Research).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Individuals with above-optimal blood pressure, up to stage one hypertension, can lower their blood pressures by making lifestyle changes that reduce their cardiovascular disease risk, a new clinical trial suggests. The trial divided 810...

Aboriginal children need extra lung care. (Research).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Aboriginal children admitted to hospital with alveolar changes on their chest X-rays are particularly susceptible to chronic respiratory illness and should be followed up for early detection and management of diseases such as bronchiectasis....

Breastfeeding reduces risk of diarrhoea. (Research).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The promotion of exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age reduces the risk of infant diarrhoea in developing countries, according to a report published in The Lancet. Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences...

Intensive users express health care dissatisfaction. (Research).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Individuals with health problems in five English-speaking nations are dissatisfied with their health system, because of problems with medical errors; poor care coordination; inadequate communication with their doctors; and, barriers accessing...

Musculoskeletal disorders in nursing. (Clinical Update).
July 1, 2003... Introduction Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) represent one of the most frequently occurring and costly occupational issues in nursing. They are significant contributors to work-related disability and a major cause of sick leave. By...

Out of hospital, out of mind: the state of mental health.
July 1, 2003... Australia's National Mental Health Strategy was developed eight years ago and is considered by many to be a world leading policy document on mental health. However, both consumers and providers of mental health service say the policy has not...

Communication revolution. (Focus).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Western Sydney Area Health Service's Blacktown Hospital is undertaking a trial of a new communication system which promises to revolutionise the way health professionals talk to each other. The Vocera Communications System has been...

Facilitating professional development. (Focus).
July 1, 2003... Leann Lancaster - coordinator for Continuing Distance Education subjects for The College of Nursing - examines the benefits of distance education. 'In my training days we adopted a catch phrase for our preliminary training school - the...

'Mateship' support for men with mental illnesses. (Focus).
July 1, 2003... A study examining the value of a support group for the self-esteem and social abilities of young men with a mental illness has received a $5,000 grant from the Queensland Nursing Council (QNC). The research, initiated by clinical nurse Dan...

Practical nursing calculations: getting the dose right. (Books).(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Valda Hext and Lidia Mayner Allen and Unwin $35 ISBN 1 86508 874 9 Visit: www.allenandunwin.com As the dust cover suggests, a 'bad maths day' for nurses can have disastrous consequences if drug doses are calculated incorrectly....

Therapeutic Guidelines. (Books).(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Therapeutic Guidelines, Antibiotic Version 12, 2003 Therapeutic Guidelines Limited ISSN 1329-5039 Visit: www.tg.com.au Therapeutic Guidelines Limited celebrates 25 years since Australia's first guideline on the appropriate use...

From Japan to Melbourne. (Focus).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The first Japanese graduands from a novel La Trobe University distance education program in advanced nursing visited Melbourne during May to receive their qualifications. All RNs, the 15 students were concluding their Master of Nursing...

Nursing: an Indigenous way of life. (Focus).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... NSW Health has released a nursing recruitment CD-ROM and video to help increase the number of Indigenous nurses in the State. Nursing: A way of life promotes nursing as a rewarding career for members of the Indigenous community; outlines...

Putting people back into health IT. (Focus).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Nursing professionals and other health practitioners will join forces in August to explore the human and technical issues surrounding technology and how to achieve better results for users - patients and staff. A one-day, national nursing...

Scholarships for aged care. (Focus).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Increasing the number of nurses in aged care both now and into the future is the main goal of the Federal Government's aged care nursing scholarship scheme. The scheme was announced in last year's Federal Budget and applications are...

Calendar.
July 1, 2003... The College of Nursing (incorporating the NSW College of Nursing): Distance education courses for RNs The College of Nursing, Locked Bag 3030, Burwood NSW 1805 Ph: (02) 9745 7500 Tailored education programs for health professionals ...

Looking back to look forward. (Ged).
July 1, 2003... I turn 40 soon. But I am not having a crisis. I am quite looking forward to it actually. It's a milestone that brings a degree of achievement with it. I feel like I can officially claim a level of experience and spout it in confidence. ...

Mail.
July 1, 2003... Breastfeeding and infant venepuncture I am a midwife and lactation consultant who does frequent heel prick venepuncture and I have very settled babies while carrying out these procedures. Thus, I was very disturbed by the research...