At 38, Amanda Keldoulis thought she had missed the boat for a career in nursing – and almost decided against heading to university to study the profession. Three years later, Keldoulis was awarded the University of the Sunshine Coast’s high ...
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Poor staffing contributes to missed care in residential aged care
The recent announcement of a Royal Commission into aged care has brought issues of the staffing levels and skill mix of residential aged care facilities into focus. Demand for aged care services is increasing due to the ageing of the ...
More »Comic relief: laughter could help with workplace aggression
It might be a good time to thank a colleague who made you laugh today, if a new study by Australian researchers is to go by. They’ve found a bit of humour goes a long way in the workplace. Researchers ...
More »Cameras in aged care rooms: privacy vs peace of mind
The Minister for Aged Care has indicated the installation of cameras in all aged care homes is on the table following the airing of the second part of a Four Corners investigation into the sector, but industry reaction has been tentative. ...
More »Human rights and their impact on one aspect of mental health legislation
Australia is a signatory to a number of international agreements on human rights. The most important in relation to mental health patients is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 14.1 says: State parties (including Australia) shall ensure ...
More »Political correctness could obscure obese patient data
NSW Health recently warned doctors against using the term "obese" to preserve the dignity of patients, but a work health and safety manager has argued the term is important for patient admissions data. At the Australian College of Nursing's recent National ...
More »ED staff need more training to ‘work in the dark’: study
Weather events so severe that they shut down electricity supplies, like the one South Australia saw in 2016, aren’t common – but they could have dire consequences for those in the ED. That’s the reminder Dr Karen Hammad, a senior ...
More »Four Corners fallout: what some of aged care’s strongest voices make of the program
In the past, major ABC TV reports have had a lot of influence on the Australian public and on policy – for better or worse. Four Corners, for example, prides itself on its history of sparking debate and triggering inquiries, ...
More »New tool could shred nurses’ paperwork
The paperwork nurses have to complete could be dramatically cut, following the trial of a new streamlined patient risk assessment tool. University of Queensland researchers said it will improve management in Australia’s busy hospital systems and leave more time for patient ...
More »Royal Commission into aged care sector: nurses react
The government has decided to establish a Royal Commission into the aged care sector to address areas of concern regarding the quality and safety of services. Announcing the Royal Commission yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it will be about ...
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