Australian Nursing Journal articles from July 2004

Australian Nursing Journal archives from July 2004

Political parties must deliver on health reform.(editorial)
July 1, 2004... This issue of the ANJ brings you the second of our features in the lead-up to the 2004 federal election. The ANF is campaigning on three major issues: aged care, health and the nursing workforce. Our first election feature in the June edition...

ENs be proud!(mail)(enrolled nurses)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Thank you for the article 'Will nurses in aged care lose out again?' (AN J, June 2004, pp.22-24). I fully support the comments made in the article and would like to add my view as an EN (RN Div 2) in the private aged care sector. There are...

Self worth the key.(mail)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... In response to: 'The world is loud but nurses remain silent' (Barry Morley, ANJ, May 2004, p.15), I ask: Why? Could part of the reason nurses don't speak out be that they don't value themselves highly enough? The fight for personal and...

EN training farce.(mail)(enrolled nurses )(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I fully agree with Carol Macleod in her letter: 'Enrolled nurses unwanted' (ANJ, June 2004, p.3). I am a mature-age person who completed my EN (RN Div 2) training in 2003. At the time I enrolled, I was told ENs were in great demand and...

Network.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Group 72-1 reunion Date to be organised. Contact Wendy Fuessel (Hedges) Ph: (03) 5144 4020 Email: wendyfuessel@hotmail.com Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne, April 64 If you know the whereabouts of...

ANF commences aged care training.(news)(Australian Nursing Federation )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... [SA] ANF Federal Assistant Secretary Ged Cowin (right) joined Branch Secretary Lee Thomas, RTO Coordinator Cherie Coppins and ANF trainers Helen White, Kathy Jones, Faye Watson, and Marion Pecock, for the launch of the branch's aged care...

Major uni dumps nursing.(news)
July 1, 2004... [NAT] The announcement by Sydney University that it will stop accepting undergraduate nurses next year, closing the faculty to all but postgraduate students, has prompted fears the move could be adopted by other universities because of the...

Errors should be named.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Most people think health care workers who report errors should be identified, a survey published in the Medical Journal of Australia has found. Researcher Sue Evans from Adelaide's Queen Elizabeth Hospital said the survey found 66% of...

Doctors won't share.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... An initiative to provide a Medicare rebate to allied health workers to assist chronically ill people has been slammed by GPs, who say only doctors and optometrists should have access to Medicare rebates. The plan would allow chronically ill...

Lose a tonne of weight.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Residents of Wellington in western NSW have developed a model of weight loss they hope to share with other rural communities. When a recent health survey found two-thirds of the town's residents were overweight, a community effort to lose...

Nurse rebate takes off.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The new rebate for practice nurse services under MedicarePlus is proving very popular, with almost 740,000 services claimed in the first three months. Immunisations and wound care accounted for around $6 million of HIC spending, with almost all...

Detention of children 'cruel and inhumane'.(news)(Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission )
July 1, 2004... [NAT] A two-year inquiry into the detention of children in Australian immigration detention centres has found they suffer numerous and repeated breaches of their human rights, and are subject to 'cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment'....

Violence in nursing investigated.(news)
July 1, 2004... [QLD/VIC] Two more state governments have established a taskforce on violence, following calls from the ANF at state and federal levels to address the endemic problem. A steering committee in Queensland, which includes three...

Emergency a disaster.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... [ACT] The emergency department at the Canberra Hospital was understaffed and would not be able to cope if a disaster occurred in the capital, ACT Branch Secretary Colleen Duff has warned. Many nursing positions remain vacant in the...

Tasmanian nurses look to the future.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... [TAS] More than 80 delegates attended the ANF Tasmanian Branch Annual Delegates conference, where aged care and mental health were the main issues of concern. ANF Branch Secretary Neroli Ellis said nurses used the conference both as a time...

Fight for wage parity.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... [NSW] Nurses working in aged care in NSW have taken their case to the NSW industrial Relations Commission (IRC) in an effort to address the low wages and excessive workloads for nurses in the sector. Wages for nurses working in aged...

Indigenous health $300 million short.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The latest budget has failed to adequately fund Indigenous health by $300 million, according to Democrats spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs, Aden Ridgeway. Mr Ridgeway said although urgent action was required to address the desperate health...

[N.sup.3]ET now online.(news)(National Nursing and Nursing Education Taskforce )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The National Nursing and Nursing Education Taskforce (abbreviated to N3ET) has launched a website to keep nurses informed about their activities. The taskforce has been jointly funded by state/territory and the federal government to implement...

EBA win for SA nurses.(news)(enterprise bargaining agreement)(South Australia )
July 1, 2004... Public sector nurses in South Australia will receive a 17.6% pay increase over three years as a result of their recently settled enterprise bargaining claim. ANF industrial officer Rob Bonner said the increases would take SA nurses to first or...

Women who dare.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Family Circle is searching for everyday women who have dared to pursue their passions. Whether it be leaving the security of a full-time job to start a successful business, conquering a fear of heights to become a mountaineer, or lobbying...

Opposition anger over Medicare advertising.(news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... [NAT] The Opposition has accused the federal government of 'crossing the line' with their Medicare promotional campaign, with government advertising reportedly costing taxpayers more than $20 million. Shadow Finance Minister Bob...

Aged care not fixed yet.(professional)(Australian Nursing Federation)
July 1, 2004... The ANF has met with the Department of Health and Ageing to discuss the funding for nurses and other aged care workers announced in the May 2004 Federal Budget. An additional 400 undergraduate nursing places each year for four years will...

Family matters: the federal government has introduced several financial measures to assist some Australian families. However, as Nick Blake explains, these benefits could be negated by industrial relations policies that remain unfriendly to families.(industrial)
July 1, 2004... Over the past year, the federal government appears to have taken a number of positive steps in support of Australian families. These initiatives have been marketed as recognising and addressing both the financial burden of raising a family...

PCs in aged care--problems and possibilities.(issues)(personal care assistants or attendants)
July 1, 2004... As professional leaders, nurses have a duty of care to ensure client safety and well-being, as well as a professional accountability for the work of those under their supervision. This involves the requirement to demonstrate continuous...

'It's your move' health professionals tell ministers: Australia's health system has recently been described as a 'dog's breakfast'. The ANF, along with many other health professionals, is calling for sweeping reform. Is there a government brave enough to tackle reform head on?(Federal Election 2004)
July 1, 2004... You don't have to go far in Australia at present to find a critic of the health system. Eighty-five per cent of the population rate health as a priority issue. (1) Seventy per cent say they would prefer to see more funding go to health before...

Hepatitis C: a medical and social diagnosis.(clinical update)
July 1, 2004... Abstract Hepatitis C has reached epidemic proportions in Australia. Because of its association with injecting drug use, which is a main transmission mode, hepatitis C is a highly stigmatising health condition. In fact, the stigma attached...

Rural nursing brings rewards: ever wondered what it's like working in a remote area? WA nurse Andrew Cameron explains.(working life)
July 1, 2004... 'The latest Australian Nursing Awards were presented on International Nurses Day at Victoria University in Melbourne. These awards honour a nurse from each state and territory "for their professional accomplishment and individual excellence in...

Woman performs own caesarean.(world)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The only woman ever to survive after performing a successful caesarean section on herself has just made international obstetric history--four years later. Ines Ramirez performed her own caesarean in her small village in Mexico in March...

Adverse events in Canada.(world)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nurses in Canada have welcomed the findings of the country's first ever study of adverse events, saying it provides important data to support system reform to improve patient safety. The 'Canadian Adverse Events Study', published in the...

Environmental action to improve health.(world)(Institute for Public Policy )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new report from the Institute for Public Policy (ippr) in the UK suggests tackling environmental problems is an important public health measure for governments, and advises linking social and environmental policy to tackle the root causes of...

Kenyan nurses demand improved pay.(world)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nurses in Kenya have increased pressure on the government to improve wages and conditions for the nation's 17,000 nurses in an effort to combat falling morale, according to the Kenyan Professional Nurses Association (KPNA). Nurses have given...

Squalor and chaos in UK mental health.(world)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new report into mental health services in the UK has found psychiatric wards are overcrowded, unhygienic, chaotic and run-down, despite 650 national strategies, guidelines and protocols. The Behind Closed Doors report also found patients were...

Ratios catch on in USA.(world)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The campaign for mandated nurse to patient ratios by the Massachusetts Nurses Association has finally borne fruit, with the passing of legislation in the Massachusetts Senate. The Senate measure will see minimum nurse to patient ratios phased...

Health promotion up in smoke.(research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nursing students don't practise what they will preach, with a new study revealing the level of smoking by undergraduate female nursing students is higher than that of the general population. The study of 366 second and third-year nursing...

Depression has ancient links.(research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Signals in the brain, which assisted the survival of women in early civilisatious, are the same signals responsible for causing anxiety and depression in modern women, according to recent research from the Black Dog Institute. Two studies...

Spinal cord regrowth may be possible.(research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Researchers in the USA and Brazil have significantly improved spinal cord function in paralysed rats, prompting suggestions the research may lead to the reversal of spinal cord injury. Using a combination approach to treatment, researchers...

Intensive care fluid comparison.(research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Uncertainty about the best fluid to use for resuscitation in intensive care has been allayed by new research from Australia and New Zealand. The landmark study of 7,000 patients in 16 intensive care units compared the survival of patients...

Asthmatics should avoid aspirin.(research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... An Australian study has found one in five people with asthma are sensitive to aspirin, and suggests asthmatics should use paracetamol, and avoid aspirin. People who were found to be sensitive to aspirin were also sensitive to other...

Ethno-specific homes help dementia patients.(Aged Care/Education)
July 1, 2004... Elderly patients with dementia from non-English speaking backgrounds communicate more with others and take fewer psychiatric medications when living in ethno-specific nursing homes, according to research from Monash University in Victoria. ...

Idealism in palliative care.(Aged Care/Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A research study involving palliative care nurses from northern NSW has found their idealist views can cause them unnecessary stress while caring for people who are dying. Researcher Professor Bev Taylor from Southern Cross University...

Mental health and aged care nursing.(Aged Care/Education)
July 1, 2004... Attracting and maintaining a workforce with adequate mental health nursing skills and knowledge has become a challenge for Aged Persons Mental Health (AMPH) services. Researchers and policy makers are again debating theoretical and...

Support for aged care scholarships.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is developing a system of resources to support students on Australian Government aged care scholarships. Resources include: a mentoring program; a dedicated website with links to relevant on-line...

Aged care nurse practitioner trial.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Expressions of interest are being sought from advanced level nurses who would like to participate in an aged care nurse practitioner trial project in the ACT. The trial will investigate the effect of nurse practitioners on health outcomes in...

Carers receive little reward.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... People caring for relatives who are dying often receive little recognition, support and resources, according to a new report by Palliative Care Australia. The report--The hardest thing we have ever done--found around 450,000 people in Australia...

Nurses improve medication management.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... With a study of patients' medication management after discharge revealing 40% of the 105 high-risk patients studied were not taking medication correctly, nurses at St George Hospital, Sydney, have implemented a new project to improve medication...

Preventing dehydration.(Aged Care/Education)
July 1, 2004... A research project involving nurses in the ACT has found elderly people and their carers do not have a good understanding of the importance of preventing dehydration, and many people in the community do not have access to appropriate...

Enrolled nurses improve timeliness of medication.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... An initiative to train enrolled nurses in medication administration at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, WA, has had positive effects. ENs have reported greater job satisfaction and improved morale and self-esteem because of the change in...

Aged care training via satellite.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Almost 100 aged care homes across Australia have commenced using satellite television for the first of six training programs on caring for people with dementia. Anglican Homes and the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency have...

Postgraduate studies in aged care management.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new course in postgraduate aged care management is now available by distance education at the University of Western Sydney (UWS). The Master of Aged Care Management is the first in Australia, and has been specifically designed for aged care...

Young people in nursing homes.(Focus Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Over 30 young people with disabilities are entering nursing homes every month in Australia, and young people now constitute 5% of nursing home residents, according to the National Alliance for Young People in Nursing Homes (YPINH). Director of...

Experiencing palliative care.(Aged Care/Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new program is offering nurses working in primary and community health the opportunity to enhance their skills through a placement in palliative care. With the scope of palliative care expanding as the Australian population ages, the...

Locally trained nurses graduate in Alice Springs.(Aged Care/Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Charles Darwin University Chancellor, Richard Ryan congratulates Bachelor of Nursing graduate Shelley Harkins at the University's Alice Springs Campus graduation ceremony. Up until this year, the Alice Springs Hospital needed to recruit staff...

Bowel Continence Nursing.(book review)(Book Review)
July 1, 2004... Bowel Continence Nursing Christine Norton, Sonya Chelvarmyagam (eds,) Beaconsfield Publishers ISBN 0-906584-52-3 With much written on urinary incontinenCe but little on faecal incontinence, this book makes a useful contribution to this...

Speaking of Nursing: Narratives of Practice, Research, Policy and the Profession.(book review)(Book Review)
July 1, 2004... Speaking of Nursing: Narratives of Practice, Research, Policy and the Profession Donna Diers Jones and Bartlett Publishers, $63.80 ISBN 0-7637-4854-4 Donna Diers, RN, PhD, FAAN, is Professor Emerita at Yale University School of Nursing in...

Nursing care cuts costs.(Aged Care/Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new study has found providing high level nursing care to elderly patients with heart failure both in hospital grad at home prevents readmission and significantly reduces their health care costs. The study by researchers at the University...

Aged care education partnership.(Aged Care/Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A collaborative partnership between academia and an aged care provider is offering a high level of education for nurses in aged care, as well as providing access to specialist education for rural and remote nurses. Dr Ursula Kellett from...

Death plans offer choice.(Aged Care/Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new type of nursing care plan is in use in the UK, allowing palliative care patients to document their choices about 'end of life' care. Inspired by the popularity of birth plans, Anne Howard, a nurse director at a cancer centre in...

Calendar.(Calendar)
July 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...

Make it easy.(Ged)
July 1, 2004... I have been a nurse for 20 years and have worked in the private and the public system. I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the health system looked like and how it operated. But it wasn't until the last few years of my mother's life...

Carry on nursing.
July 1, 2004... Oh Edith, I am so impressed with my healthcare so far.... 6 new walking frames, 4 blood tests, 3 home visits... and its not even lunchtime! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]