Could community nursing be the solution to the ever-growing hospital bed shortage? Many hospitals across Australia regularly struggle to cope with the number of patients versus the number of beds available. Beds are in high demand, and doctors and nurses ...
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Opinion: confronting mental illness stigma is essential to saving lives
It’s a new year! We have a new health minister with a personal understanding of mental illness and Australia has been ranked number two in the region for its mental health efforts. However, there’s still a lot to do to ...
More »Hard truths about toast and other soft food tips for aged care
Many residents of aged care facilities love having toast for breakfast. What many staff don't realise, though, is that toast is classified as a normal texture food. According to the Australian standardised definitions and terminology for texture-modified foods and fluids, toast is ...
More »Guest post: how healthcare workers can simplify their tax deductions
Tax time can be a time of dread for many healthcare workers as you try to sift through boxes of receipts to work out what deductions you can claim on your tax return. You aren’t alone. In fact, healthcare workers ...
More »Wearables devices offer screenshots of good health
Wearable devices made to track and log data are putting the focus on self-monitoring and reducing costs in the sector. We’re living longer and we want to live better. We’re also living more measured lives as our smart devices and wearables track and ...
More »Make sure they understand: consent must overcome language barrier
Language and cultural barriers to obtaining informed consent must be overcome, for the sake of the patient and the worker. Obtaining a patient’s consent before providing treatment and care is a fundamental duty for nurses. In obtaining a valid consent, ...
More »Not what, but how much: discussing weight gain during pregnancy
The subject of weight gain during pregnancy may be a touchy one to discuss with women, but it’s important to bring it up. Pregnancy is a time when many women become motivated to improve their health, not just for themselves ...
More »Mentors can mend the gap: solving the underemployment dilemma
A workforce shortage looms even as unemployment plagues the sector; greater commitment to teaching nurses at all levels new skills can address both problems. Mentoring is underused in addressing nursing workforce challenges. Australia’s healthcare system is facing an impending crisis, as ...
More »Such a bold deception: lying on CVs can have major consequences
Some people go to great lengths to claim degrees and qualifications they’ve never had – and the penalties can be severe. Recently in Queensland, a person was employed as a nurse in a remote community, without having any relevant qualifications. ...
More »Heart-y protocol upgrade for chest pains and coronaries
Nurses help develop best-practice for timely handling of chest pains and coronary syndromes. What do you do to expedite assessment of chest pain and thrombolysis when a patient presents in a rural hospital, knowing the nearest cardiac catheter laboratory is more ...
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