ACN helps draw attention to potentially unnecessary practices

Australian colleges, societies and associations have released recommendations on tests, treatments and procedures that may not be necessary and could cause harm to patients.

The list of 61 recommendations forms part of Choosing Wisely Australia, a campaign that aims to spark conversations between patients and clinicians about what care is truly necessary for specific conditions.

Led and facilitated by NPS MedicineWise, the campaign involves 14 Australian colleges, societies and associations, including the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), submitting lists of five things clinicians and consumers should question. The recommendations surrounded topics such as appropriate use of imaging and screening, use of antibiotics, and improving end-of-life and palliative care.

Nursing Review spoke with adjunct professor Kylie Ward, chief executive of ACN, to discuss the college’s involvement with the Choosing Wisely initiative and the five key recommendations it made.