The Nursing Post - Issue 24: Technology in Healthcare

theNursingPost www.nursingpost.com.au

The Career and Education Magazine for Nurses and Health Professionals

Critical Second has released it’s new V2 Complete Nurse app

10 December 2012

- ISSUE 24

Technology in Healthcare

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Editor’s note...

Hi Readers, Welcome to Issue 24 of The Nursing Post magazine.

Sadly, this is our last issue for the year; however, we are very excited to return as The Health Scoop next year.

Over the last few months, we have made small changes to improve the design and content of our magazine. Our new name in 2013 is to emphasise the broader content of our magazine and inclusion of Allied Health.

This issue, we take a close look at Technology in Healthcare. We feature the success of the mobiletype program, a youth-friendly, innovative mobile phone mental health assessment and management tool proven to reduce depressive symptoms in teens.

We also feature Critical Second’s Complete Nurse App created by a husband and wife team who are both nursing professionals. The Complete Nurse Pack was originally designed as simplified resource cards for student nurses. The success of this pack led to further development to create the convenient app offering Assessment charts, ECG interpretation, interactive formulas, and a CPD portfolio.

Our first issue of The Health Scoop will arrive on Monday 21 January featuring Rural/Remote Healthcare.

From myself and The Nursing Post team, we wish you all a very merry christmas and a happy new year!

Naomi Byrne Editor

Next Issue: Rural/Remote Healthcare ABN: 28 105 044 282 PO BOX 6213, East Perth, WA, 6892 Ph: +(618) 9325 3917 | Fax: +(618) 9325 4037 E: artwork@nursingpost.com.au W: www.nursingpost.com.au Next Publication Details: Issue 1: 21 January 2013 Material Deadline: 14 January 2013 Printed by Daniels Printing Craftsmen Editor and Graphic Designer Naomi Byrne Sales and Marketing Manager Michael Kuhnert

Send in your photos and stories to... artwork@nursingpost.com.au 2

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Contents...

Features

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Hays - Recruiting Experts in Healthcare

8

NAHRLS

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Employers make strategic hires for jobs in demand Australian Government Funded Program reaches Millennial Milestone

Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID)

The perfect combination - professional development and adventure

19

Southern Cross University

34

Healthy Recipes

Australian Nursing Survey - participate today!

Emily Tan of Fuss Free Cooking shares her delicious Christmas recipes!

Technology in Healthcare

12 14 16

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

23

ACCYPN 2013 Conference

29

Up-coming courses and conferences

30

Oceania University of Medicine

31

Aged Care: Reform or Revolution Tri-State Conference & Exhibition

32

Discharge Planning & Service Integration Conference

33

Centre for Remote Health

Our Advertisers Inside Cvr

Critical Second

1

Quick and Easy Finance

3

UK Pension Transfers

4

Compatable Care Nursing Agency

mobiletype program reducing depressive symptoms in teens

20

Smart Salary

21

PULSE Nursing & Care

Critical Second

22

Medacs Healthcare

23

Mediserve Nursing Agency

24

Oak Valley Health Clinic

25

Hays Healthcare

26

Continental Travel Nurse

27

CQ Nurse

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Mediserve Nursing Agency

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Mediserve Nursing Agency

The must-have resource for students and nursing professionals

Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) In the business of e-health

Indigenous Health

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Courses, Conferences and Events

Menzies School of Health Research Young nurse returns to study for answers

Inside Bck Back Cvr

Danila Dilba The Health Scoop arrives in 2013!

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HAYS - Recruiting Experts in Healthcare

Employers make strategic hires for jobs in demand Clinical Nurse Consultants, Directors of Nursing and Nurse Educators are just three of the many skills that remain in demand in the healthcare industry.

That’s one finding from the Hays Quarterly Report, covering October to December 2012, which also highlights that employers are being more strategic in their hiring.

The Quarterly Report, which not only identifies employer and candidate trends but the skills currently in demand, found that the aged care sector is looking for Clinical Nurse Consultants, Facilities Managers, Community Care Coordinators, Residential Care Coordinators and Psychologists.

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“The entire aged care sector is facing a skills shortage due to growth and demand, particularly in regional and remote locations. In response employers need to offer an attractive work/life balance and salary package,” says Jane Donnelly, Regional Director of Hays Healthcare.

“The sector also needs Clinical Managers and Directors of Nursing in response to new facilities and rotation between companies. But the need by some employers for candidates to possess at least five to 10 years of aged care experience means there is a shortage of appropriate professionals.”

Nurse Educators are also sought, as are occupational rehabilitation specialists since OH&S has gained more

importance in the workplace.

The Hays Salary Guide released earlier this year also found while Australia’s healthcare sector remains very active, skilled professionals are sought particularly within rural and regional locations and within aged care. These are areas where it has traditionally been difficult to attract candidates, and this remains the case today.

“In rural and regional locations population growth and additional funding have increased the demand for Nurses, Mental Health Practitioners, Mental Health Nurses and Speech Therapists,” says Jane.

“In addition, we have seen an increase in the number of candidates looking for their next role in city locations, which has further depleted the candidate pool in many rural areas. To attract candidates to these locations, employers are increasingly prepared to offer relocation packages and support. However, they are still reluctant to increase salaries to tempt candidates to relocate to rural areas.”

An increase in the number of aged care facilities being built and plans for many more have exhausted the local talent pool for aged care staff, particularly for management candidates and Registered Nurses. This is evident in most states but particularly Western Australia. Consequently there are some employers who are willing to recruit Aged Care Managers without a clinical background.

“Many organisations have invested in retention strategies to keep their best people, so there’s still a shortage of high quality candidates for certain roles, particularly those that require excellent leadership skills and very specific experience,” says Jane.

Salaries have remained fairly constant but in response to the skills shortage employers are examining benefits in an attempt to increase the overall package. Popular benefits include a vehicle, relocation packages for rural candidates and extra annual leave.

As the recruiting experts for permanent, locum and temporary staff in the healthcare sector, we always have exciting vacancies on offer for hospital doctors at all levels and specialties, general practitioners, allied staff across all disciplines and specialist nurses. We understand what employers are looking for. Our deep expertise allows us to bring you together with the right job for you.

For more information and to contact Hays Healthcare in your state, please go to www.hays. com.au

“We hope to see this trend become widespread as it is an ideal method to tap into the uncovered talent pool of strong management skills,” says Jane.

Meanwhile, employers are becoming more strategic in their hiring, according to the Quarterly Report.

“So, they are taking their time when they recruit to ensure that each placement is the right person for the job. As a result, the recruitment process has lengthened,” says Jane.

“With employers more stringent in their selection criteria, candidates need to sharpen their existing skills and industry experience to enhance their value.

Employers meanwhile need to be aware that candidate shortages still exist in many areas.

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NAHRLS Australian Government Funded Program reaches Millennial Milestone very professional and highly skilled and have integrated extremely well within the hospital and local community.

Without the support from the friendly, professional and organised staff at NAHLS, the nursing and midwifery workforce at WWHS would be in a less envious position.”

The NAHRLS team has the great pleasure of working with health service organisations in rural and remote Australia like WWHS to ensure these organisations continue to service their community while permanent/part-time staff take a well-deserved break.

Pictured above: Wagga Wagga Health Service (WWHS)

The Nursing and Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS) reaches its 1000th placement in December at Wagga Wagga Health Service (WWHS), providing locum support for the Intensive Care Unit to fill in for a registered nurse on leave over the Christmas period.

Irene Hing, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at WWHS, said WWHS has had the privilege of having the ongoing support from NAHRLS for the past 7 months, with the first NAHRLS nurse commencing in April 2012.

“Since this date, we have utilised approximately 16 nurses, with many returning and many others wishing to extend their contract.

Nurses from NAHRLS have worked predominantly in the Emergency Department, Operating Theatres and the Intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit. We have been extremely pleased and satisfied with the NAHRLS nurses who have worked at WWHS. The nurses have been

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Mark Ellis, General Manager for NAHRLS, said many rural and remote nurses, midwives and allied health professionals struggle to find time to take leave due to a shortage in staff numbers outside the major cities.

“Our experienced locums help make it possible for health professionals in rural and remote areas of Australia to take leave and be confident that the organisation won’t suffer.

The NAHRLS team has a strong focus on supporting health professionals through our start-to-finish locum program and it is great to see that WWHS is pleased with our service and the NAHRLS registered nurse, Andrea Cunningham.”

Numerous locums who have been deployed around rural Australia for NAHRLS said the experience or working in different community was amazing and invaluable.

Andrea Cunningham said her placements at WWHS have been great.

“I joined NAHRLS in August 2012 and since then I have been contracted to complete the 1000th placement at WWHS. I am presently at WWHS and was made to feel very welcome and supported.

I work with a great group of people at WWHS and the

NAHRLS team have been efficient, professional and supportive throughout my placement.

The team are happy to answer the many questions I have before and during my placements. I look forward to further placements with NAHRLS.” Antje Badger, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) said, “MLHD has been fortunate to work with NAHRLS for just over 12 months. NAHRLS has supported us to fill many positions that required backfilling for annual leave, study leave and long service leave.

Across the area NAHRLS are regularly providing 17 FTE of nursing staff across a range of specialty areas enabling staff to take leave or attend valuable courses to enhance clinical skills. 6.8 FTEs are provided to WWHS in the perioperative, Emergency Department and ward areas.

We are extremely grateful for this service and look forward to working with them in the future. I am pleased to celebrate the 1000 Nurse being placed at WWHS.” Over 200 health service organisations currently benefit from NAHRLS’ comprehensive locum placement service covering nursres, midwives and allied health professionals on all forms of short term leave.

For more information, visit www.nahrls.com.au or freecall 1300 NAHRLS (624 757)

Find out how we can help you with leave!

Visit our new website and apply now… nahrls.com.au 1300 NAHRLS

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Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID)

Dorinda Britto (colleague of Rachael Findlay) pictured with midwives at the Technical School for Medical Care in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The perfect combination professional development and adventure The modern technology in the birthing suite of The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne is a far cry from the maternal and child health care services available in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For Rachael Findlay, an Australian Volunteer for International Development, these disparities are now a daily reality.

Previously a midwife at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne for 12 years, the opportunity to volunteer seemed like a perfect combination of professional development and adventure.

“I was in Cambodia seven years ago for a holiday and then came back in 2011 for a short volunteer stint with

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a tiny NGO in Takeo Province, working alongside Khmer midwives in incredibly poor villages, two hours drive from the nearest hospital, and desperate for knowledge and modern medical interventions,” she said.

Using her midwifery expertise, Rachael applied to become a volunteer through the Australian Government’s Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program. She was selected for the assignment as a Preceptor Coach for the Midwifery Education Project at the Technical School for Medical Care in Phnom Penh.

“Everyone I’d met previously told me they were desperate for new information. The devastating outcome of Pol Pot’s Killing Fields genocides during the 1970’s has left a legacy of extreme poverty, poor infrastructure, high rates

of illiteracy and a severe shortage of trained healthcare professionals – all of which have which hampered the development of Cambodia’s maternal and child healthcare system,” Rachael said.

Forty years on there is still a great need for skilled professionals to help redevelop midwifery services, to improve the quality of midwifery education, and reduce child mortality rates.

While resources have been provided to address these issues, according to the World Health Organisation, Cambodia still has a child mortality rate of 43 per 1000 births compared with Australia’s five per 1000 births.

“My role as a preceptor coach is to support the midwives who work with students in clinical settings. Most mornings I work in one of Phnom Penh’s national hospitals to help develop effective clinical teaching strategies. In many hospitals, women in the delivery ward often receive limited attention from the busy midwives until the last minute. I see a large part of my role to encourage kindness and emotional support in midwifery practice by the experienced midwives, who are working day after day in difficult circumstances, and to the new midwives they are teaching,” Rachael said.

“In the delivery ward I work with midwives and students to revise basic anatomy and physiology of the maternal pelvis, clean and sterilise equipment after a birth, or supervise neonatal resuscitation training. In the postnatal ward we might work on infection control and hand washing, understanding the physiology of breastfeeding or infant immunisation. And in the afternoons I work alongside midwifery teachers at the Technical School for Medical Care, teaching modern methods and evidence based midwifery education.”

The dedicated work of Rachael and her colleagues is changing the way midwives approach their current practises in Cambodia. The flow on effect of their work will ensure the next generation of midwives will provide a more supportive and safer birthing environment.

“When I see the students and midwives around me behave in the same way, I hope that as a new generation of midwives they will incorporate this training into their own practice. I often ask the students to think about the way they would like to be treated when they have babies.

I believe where there is kindness and respect for women, safe practice will follow.”

As part of the AVID program, Australian Volunteers International is currently recruiting nurses, midwives, midwifery educators, medical doctors and other roles in allied and public health to commence assignments in 2013. Under this program all volunteers receive financial support, including airfares, visas, accommodation, a living allowance, insurance, and pre-departure training, incountry and post-assignment support.

For more information about AVI’s work in maternal health, please visit www.australianvolunteers.com To read more about becoming an AVID volunteer, please visit www.ausaidvolunteers.gov.au

Since beginning her assignment Rachael has spent considerable time translating texts and learning resources, creating presentations for teaching purposes, and assisting local teaching staff to learn more about computers and the internet. Much of the midwifery curriculum is out of date and many of the current text books and teaching resources are written in English rather than Khmer, and taught and practiced in French.

With very few midwives or students reading or speaking fluent English, there is little opportunity for change or professional development.

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Technology in Healthcare

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute mobiletype program reducing depressive symptoms in teens A program that uses mobile phones to track the mental health of young people has been found to successfully decrease depression in users.

Mobiletype is a youth-friendly, innovative mobile phone mental health assessment and management tool which assesses young people’s mood and associated symptoms and behaviours daily.

The world-first mobiletype program, which was developed by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, was first launched in 2010 and was utilised by young people aged 14 to 24 years old throughout Melbourne, and the Goulburn Valley and Albury - Wodonga regions. The mobiletype program was downloaded onto patient’s 12

mobile phones and used to monitor their daily experiences, helping young people understand and manage mild depressive symptoms. The monitoring program selfinitiates 4 times a day to assess the young person’s activities, stresses and other behaviours as they occur.

The program uses an electronic diary that allows youths to report a broad range of daily experiences including mood, stress levels, coping strategies, alcohol and cannabis use, exercise, eating patterns and general lifestyle factors.

Responses are sent to a website interface which evaluates and assesses each patient’s mental wellbeing and produces an individual report for their general practitioner (GP) to help them determine treatment required.

This program provides GPs with more accurate and detailed information about their patients’ health and provides recommendations of intervention strategies and referrals, drawing upon best practice principles in the treatment and management of adolescent mental health.

Sylvia Kauer, who completed the work at Murdoch Childrens, said self monitoring techniques assist people to understand their mental health symptoms by increasing their emotional self-awareness.

“We found participants who monitored their mood, stress and coping strategies increased their awareness of emotions. This self-awareness in turn decreased the participant’s depressive symptoms,” she said.

“Simple self-monitoring techniques effectively increase self-awareness, in this case, awareness of one’s own emotions. Increasing emotional self-awareness is a core process in the early stages of therapy.”

Bigger and better things are ahead in 2013!

It is hoped that the success of this study will promote future utilization of the mobiletype program to tackle adolescent health in primary care in rural and remote areas. Researchers say the mobiletype program could be used widely as an early warning sign system of adolescent depression.

You may have noticed a few changes to our magazine over the past months...

Up to 30 per cent of young people will experience some form of depression by the end of their teens. Not only are depressive symptoms common in young people, depression experienced in the teen years places young people at risk for longer term problems including suicide and suicidal behaviour.

Approximately 50 per cent of common mental disorders have their onset during adolescence. Delays between the onset of problems and obtaining effective help are associated with poorer outcomes. Adolescence therefore, is an important time for prevention and early intervention.

To coincide with a broader emphasis on Allied Health, we will have a fresh new name in the new year!

With over 60 000 readers 8 500 subscribers per month...

Advertise with us!

For further information and a copy of our Media Kit, please contact: Michael Kuhnert marketing@nursingpost.com.au 13

Technology in Heathcare

Critical Second The must-have resource for students and nursing professionals Critical Second Pty Ltd was created in 2005 by Andrew and Tess Blood, a husband and wife team who are both nursing professionals. As an undergraduate nurse educator and an ICU critical care nurse, Andrew often encountered complaints from nurses about how hard it is to remember all the technical information and formulas that are required in their roles.

Existing nursing cue systems were either difficult to use, too complex to understand or had poor durability. So Andrew and Tess combined their professional experience with research into the needs of nurses to develop an innovative, convenient and easy to understand system of cue cards. Careful planning and thoughtful management has resulted in these safety guidelines and protocols that make it easier for nurses when they are under pressure.

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The Complete Nurse Pack was originally designed as simplified resource cards for student nurses. Highly durable cards, they were laminated to ensure long lasting value and conveniently designed to fit behind a nurses badge.

“My students requested point-form notes and simplified critical information,” says Andrew Blood, ICU critical care nurse and undergraduate nurse educator.

“This led to the design of the Complete Nurse Pack which became high demand for both students and nursing professionals.”

Proven to be very popular, the Complete Nurses Pack was further developed to become the newly designed app for

both mobile and iPad with the most popular Assessment charts, ECG interpretation, interactive formulas and quizzes. The latest version even has a CPD portfolio to save, store, and send your training accomplishments.

The new Complete Nurse app offers 22 charts including: • Assessment and ECGS • Drug Calculator Converter • IV Therapy Calculator (which shows you how to calculate the formaula as you go so you can learn to do it manually if needed) • Blood Gas Analysis • Oxygen Delivery Concentrations • Enternal Drip Rate Calculator • Quiz (which counts towards CPD hours) The app also includes great new CPD and Rhythm Analysis features. Nurses are required to complete 20 hours of CPD per year and the Complete Nurse app allows you to record and store CPD hours and activities, creating a convenient, easy to access portfolio. Record dates and duration of CPD, and make notes and store them to your portfolio.

The new Rhythm Analysis feature allows you to tap on the rhythm you are after and an image of that rhythm pops up along with the key points that make that rhythm unique.

These new features are great resources and designed for convenient use.

As an undergraduate nurse educator and an ICU critical care nurse, Andrew often encountered complaints from nurses about how hard it is to remember all the technical information and formulas that are required in their roles.

There is NO evidence to show the mobile signal interferes with clients devices, and Dr’s use them all the time. If anyone is disturbed, you can have your phone on silent or in flight mode.

This led to the design and development of the new Complete Nurse app...

Critical Second envisions Version 3 to have fully interactive access to the e-health system, transfer code for the portable obs machines and everything stored including clinical assessment information for a paperless and convenient method of nursing.

“I would like to thank HESTA Superfund and Reactive App Developers, they have been awesome in helping bring these ideas to you. Their support and encouragement has allowed me to pursue this vision,” says Andrew.

For more information about the new Complete Nurse app, please visit www.criticalsecond.com 15

Technology in Healthcare

Pictured left to right: Michael Gill, Senator Stephen Conroy (The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy), and Dr Louise Schaper

Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) In the business of e-health Writing copy can be a tough gig, regardless of the subject matter. When you are asked to write about technology to a healthcare professional audience, the challenge can become greater due to the eyes-glazing-over symptomology often associated with talk that preferences technology, computers and alien acronyms over talking about people and the ‘real job’ of healthcare professionals.

Regardless of your personal use of technology in healthcare, if you are in the business of healthcare, then you are in the business of e-health.

Over the last decade the health care environment has seen a transformation of work practices and an explosion in the use of information and communication technologies.

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About 98% of GPs have a desktop computer system for entering clinical notes on patients. In allied-health land, the statistics aren’t as readily available, but an educated guess tells me that 98% of allied health professionals do not have a computer system for capturing clinical data.

This unbalance means that the healthcare system is plagued by a chronic inability to adequately share health information with others in the healthcare team.

The use of technology as a tool to create, store and share health information and the use of technology as a tool in the direct provision of care is not ‘the way of the future’ – it is an essential tool and an integral part of healthcare as we continue to strive for best quality, safe, evidence based care.

Health informatics focuses on information, people and systems. I describe health informatics as an understanding of how health information is used; how individuals engage with technology and use technology in the best way possible to help make informed clinical decisions. There are experts who specialise in health informatics and you will see a rise in roles such as ‘Chief Health Informatics Officer’ and ‘Chief Nursing Informatics Officer’ over the coming years. The growth in demand for health professionals who have specialist knowledge in e-health and informatics continues to grow. The legitimacy of this profession and the high pace of growth in the field has given cause for the USA to create a clinical speciality for doctors to specialise in health informatics in the same way that others choose to specialise in general practice or surgery.

In addition to a professional role and specialisation, there is a strong argument to be made that all healthcare professionals require some level of knowledge and skill in health informatics. In response to this need, progressive medical education curriculums around the world include health informatics knowledge and skills at all levels of training and education.

At no time before has the need for this knowledge and ability been as pertinent for Australian healthcare professionals as it is now. As healthcare professionals, you are the front line of health reform and e-health is front and centre of health reform. There is widespread recognition that we can do better and need to do better – and e-health or the use of health information technology in healthcare presents one of the most powerful enablers of reform to enable us to deliver better quality, more efficient healthcare.

A ‘Taster-Plate’ of Innovations in E-Health: Online health records for all Australians - As of the 1st July 2012, all Australians are able to register for a Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR).

The PCEHR will enable healthcare information to be stored, accessed and shared securely by patients and all members of their healthcare team. In this model, it is the patient who will decide who can access and contribute to their PCEHR – signalling a significant power shift in the way healthcare information is managed and controlled. It is still ‘early days’ for the PCEHR and in coming months an online portal will be available to healthcare professionals,

‘plug-ins’ to your desktop systems are on the horizon and over time the functionality and content of the online health record will grow.

During the first month of registration availability, just over 4,000 people registered to have a PCEHR. If you haven’t yet delved into the PCEHR, I suggest you do. Further information will progressively be made available online at www.ehealth.gov.au The PCEHR isn’t the only game in town. There are significant e-health innovations happening throughout Australia where the focus is on better management of healthcare information, through technology, to deliver better, more efficient care.

Health Apps for patients - NSW Health is running a competition to develop new apps to improve service delivery and consumer engagement with the health system. Their competition invites submissions of apps that are centred around the four themes that are shaping the NSW E-Health Strategy - supporting clinicians, empowering consumers, enabling system change and collaborating with primary care. Further information of this competition can be found at http://data.nsw.gov.au/ apps4nsw.php Tele-Wound Management for rural and remote clinicians – In WA the WoundsWest Wound Advisory Service provides world-leading wound management at a distance. This example of telehealth technology provides evidence-based wound management advice and treatment to clinicians in rural and remote areas of WA, enhancing their professional practice and allowing patients to remain in their own communities.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA), we are a membership based not-for-profit organisation which has been supporting and representing Australia’s health informatics and e-health community for 20 years.

We are Australia’s peak body for health informatics and e-health and we have special interest groups on Nursing Informatics, Primary Care, Aged Care, Telehealth and others.

If you would like to learn more about HISA, please visit www.hisa.org.au 17

Indigenous Health

Menzies School of Health Research Young nurse returns to study for answers disparities faced by Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, she enrolled in a Masters of Public Health with Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) in 2009.

She hoped to gain further insight into the social determinants contributing to poorer health outcomes, particularly chronic lung disease.

“In the Northern Territory, respiratory illness is one of the most common reasons for hospitalisation of young Indigenous children, in particular for pneumonia and influenza, five times that of non-Indigenous children,” she said.

Clare also began working at Menzies as a clinical research nurse in the respiratory group.

“As a researcher, you begin to ask what else can I do to better equip myself to understand the social risk factors, the challenges these children and their family face, and contribute towards a better outcome.”

Graduating with her Masters of Public Health at Charles Darwin University’s recent end-of-year ceremony, Clare said the course provided her with a diverse and dynamic qualification.

Driven by a commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous children, Clare Wilson is part of a growing number of young people revelling in the challenges and rewards of further study.

The twenty-seven-year-old started her career as a registered nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital, where she worked with adults receiving short term medical treatment for an injury or illness.

“It quickly became apparent to me that the complex health issues seen in adults stemmed from early life origins,” Clare said.

Harbouring a desire to do more to help reduce the health 18

“My masters course was tailored at developing a holistic perspective to deal with burning Indigenous health issues,” she said.

“The course’s online learning component, coupled with face to face intensive units, struck the right balance between theoretical and hands-on research led learning.”

The Masters of Public Health is offered by Menzies and is taught by a mix of research active academics and public health professionals.

Menzies is currently taking applications for its semester 1, 2013 postgraduate intake. For further information visit www.cdu.edu.au/applynow/postgraduate

Southern Cross University

Pictured left to right: Dr Jennie Barr (Director of Higher Degree Research Training), and Kay Ross (Lecturer at Southern Cross University)

Australian Nursing Survey - participate today!

There are about 270,000 nurses working in Australia but little is known about their health and wellbeing and how it can impact patient care.

That is about to change with researchers from Southern Cross University encouraging registered and enrolled nurses to participate in a survey that has just been released.

Ms Kay Ross and Dr Jennifer Barr, of the School of Health and Human Sciences, are the principle researchers in the project and they are hoping 70,000 nurses will complete the survey. The research is being funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

“For such a large workforce it seems odd that the health and wellbeing of nurses has often been overlooked as an area of study,” Ms Ross said.

“It is important to find out how nurses provide health

promotion and education and how their own health and wellbeing allows them to do that.”

Nurse health is a hot topic within industry circles as the workforce ages. According to census data from 2005, 35 per cent of registered nurses were aged over 50, while the average age of a registered nurse is now 45.

“With an ageing workforce we are pleased that the health and wellbeing of nurses is now a major focus for research”, Dr Barr, a nurse for 30 years said.

Registered and enrolled nurses are encouraged to participate in the survey that will take approximately 15 minutes. The survey is completely anonymous and can be found at www.mynursesurvey.com The researchers will collect data over a six month period with the aim of releasing their findings towards the end of next year.

19

Buy more groceries, and pay less tax.

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No more paper cla ims!

Our livin

Buy your groceries with the Smartsalary Living Expenses Card and save 30%* on your bill!

g ex is the mo penses card st way to sa convenient la your ever ry package yday expense living s.

On average, our customers save $3,000* a year just by salary packaging everyday living expenses such as bills, clothes and groceries. The savings don’t stop there – laptops, novated car leases and superannuation are just some of our most popular items that you can salary package. Check out the full list of approved items online.

Call us on 1300 219 835 Scan this QR code with your smartphone to begin salary packaging.

www.nursingsavings.com.au *Salary packaging of living expenses with Smartsalary is only available to employees of the Department of Health in WA and VIC. On average our customers save approximately $3,000 per year, based on an income between $37,001 - $80,000, paying 32.5% income tax and salary packaging the full $9,095 tax-free cap. Actual savings will vary depending on your income tax bracket and your personal circumstances. An administration fee is paid tax-free from your salary.

Nursing Post_148x210.indd 20

1

10/09/2012 10:24:44 AM

Explore work in the UK The grass can be greener outside London

As a Nurse your skills are in high demand. If you would like to gain experience in the UK health sector and visit some of the most favoured destinations in Britain whilst you are here, mripb Nursing and Care will make it happen for you.

With over 15 years overseas recruitment experience, mripb offers specialist vacancies with excellent rates of pay. We will help you step by step with everything you need to start your exciting new adventure!

• Immediate starts.

• Extensive and varied work opportunities on a temporary agency, longer-term contract or permanent basis.

• FREE* London-based Overseas Nursing Programme – (ONP) – Not offered by any other agency.

• Full assistance with NMC registration.

• UK Starter package.

*Terms & conditions apply Make PULSE your first choice and the rest of your journey to the UK will be easy:

Tel: 02 9965 9458 Email: grace@pulsestaffing.com.au qeb=_bpq=mblmib=fk=eb^iqeI ifcb=p`fbk`bp=^ka=pl`f^i=`^ob

21

Agency Contracts - Rural QLD and NSW • • • •

Is your current agency not meeting your needs?

Want to deal with friendly consultants who value the work you do on each and every contract?

Looking to join an agency that is known for its service excellence in the industry?

Not receiving the salary and benefits you deserve?

RNs, EN,s AINs Leading Hourly Rates Travel & Accomm Benefits Sign On Bonuses* Referral Fees* 24/7 Service CPD Training Weekly Payroll Full Insurance Cover Designated Consultants

ED RN - 3 Month Role Central NSW - Start ASAP Weekly Cash Top Up Midwives - All States Range of short and long term contracts all areas RN- Emergency 12 Week Contracts NSW & NT - ASAP

For more information, talk to Jen Gavenlock or Donna Gould in the Medacs Healthcare Nursing team.

22

Midwives Permanent Roles Brisbane Rural / Remote Area RNs Range Of Contracts Immediate Start RN - Multipurpose Role Aged Care, ED, Med/Surg Immediate Start Contact Us Email: nurses@medacs.com.au Telephone: 1800 059 790 For a full list of our opportunities around the world go to: www.medacs.com.au

Due to increase in demand we are currently seeking...

Registered Nurses Positions available across Canberra Must have AHPRA Registration and minimum 1 year nursing experience

Join the preferred supplier of Nurses today!

Phone: (02) 6232 4080 Email: canberra@mediserve.com.au Visit online: www.mediserve.com.au 23

Oak Valley Health Clinic Oak Valley Health Clinic is an Aboriginal community controlled health service provider that operates in the far west of South Australia, north of Maralinga on the edge of the Victoria desert, 500km northwest of Ceduna.

Oak Valley is a member of the Kakarrara Wilurrara Health Alliance servicing Yalata and Tjuntjuntjara.

Currently Seeking a Registered Nurse/Midwife

We require an experienced, qualified and motivated male remote area nurse for a full time position The position involves: • • • •

Working with a comprehensive primary health care program within this small community.

You will be required to do on call, and work within the CARPA 5th Edition guidelines at all times.

Involvement in community activities is encouraged.

This clinic is currently AGPAL accredited and you will be required to assist in maintaining this standard.

There are generous salary and leave conditions. A furnished house is provided

For application information please call Susan Twining - 08 8670 4207 or email ovclinic@maralinga.com.au

25

24

Nurses & Midwifes You’re iN deMaNd short-term contract work in regional western australia. Permanent opportunities. Competitive salary.

We are the experts in recruiting healthcare professionals for roles located across Western Australia.

We have exciting opportunities on offer for Nurses at all levels across government, non for profit and private organisations working with a range of client groups.

We have vacancies for permanent, temporary and contract roles in the Perth metro region and regional Western Australia.

We understand the importance of balancing a good work/life balance. Give us the opportunity to find you the perfect role while you discover what Western Australia has to offer.

To apply for these positions you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident with a current AHPRA registration and police check.

• • • • • • • •

Aged Care Clinical Nurses Medical Nurses Community Nurses Emergency Nurses Paediatric Nurses Theatre Nurses Surgical Nurses Midwifes

Contact Niamh Britton at niamh.britton@hays.com.au or 08 9254 4590.

hays.com.au

25

Continental Travelnurse. . . the UK’s Premier Travel Nurse Company

• 13+ week Full Time hospital-based assignments • You’re part of the team and wear the hospital uniform • Upmarket COMPANY housing • Travel money • UK nursing registration / ONP and visa assistance • We issue WORK PERMITS • ALL AGES – it’s never too soon or too late to have fun • Company employment package • Dedicated recruiter works with you from your �irst call onwards • Education allowance • More than a decade of experience

For 3 months or 3 years, we’d love to have YOU!

FREE call our team today on: 1800 85 1234 Email: info@continentaltravelnurse.com Website: www.continentaltravelnurse.com 26

Continental Travelnurse

A CHANGE is as good as A HOLIDAY

MIDWIFERY positions available throughout Australia • • • • •

Earn extra $$$$ Meet new people Visit new destinations Be where you are needed Exciting locations throughout Australia

CQ Nurse, Australia’s premier nursing agency, has contracts available NOW. Various positions available throughout regional, rural and remote Australia

www.cqnurse.com.au Office location 239 Nebo Road, Mackay p 07 4998 5550 f 07 4998 5545 e nurses@cqnurse.com.au

yours to

discover 27

Calling all...

Nurses and Midwives

Mediserve Nursing Agency welcomes Nurses from Australia and New Zealand...

Join the preferred supplier of Nurses today!

Positions available throughout regional, rural and all capital cities Phone: 1300 305 594 Visit us at www.mediserve.com.au 9 Email: nurses@mediserve.com.au 12

18, 19 22- 24

30 28

Courses, Conferences and Events

Discharge Planning & Service Integration L’Aqua, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney 12 - 13 February 2013 www.reducingreadmission.com

The Inaugural National Forensic Nursing Conference Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Sydney 21 - 22 February 2013 www.iir.com.au/conferences/healthcare/nationalforensic-nursing-conference

Aged Care: Reform or Revolution Tri-State Conference & Exhibition Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury, NSW 24 - 26 February 2013 www.vic.lasa.asn.au/event/tristate2013

14th National Breast Care Nurse Conference Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

7th Australian Women’s Health Conference Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney 7 - 10 May 2013 www.womenshealth2013.org.au

11th Behavioural Research in Cancer Control Conference Crowne Plaza, Adelaide 8 - 10 May 2013 www.themeetingpeople.com.au/brcc13

ICN 25th Quadrennial Congress Equity and Access to Health Care Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne 18 - 23 May 2013 www.icn2013.ch

LASA NSW - ACT Congress 2013 The Westin, Sydney

28 February - 1 March 2013 www.bcnconference.net.au

30 - 31 May 2013 www.nswact.lasa.asn.au

Think Arthritis & Osteoporosis

16th International Workshop on Fragile X and Other Early-Onset Cognitive Disorders

Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney 16 March 2013 www.arthritisnsw.org.au

12th National Rural Health Conference Adelaide Convention Centre, SA 7 - 10 April 2013 www.nrha.org.au/12nrhc

Barossa Valley, South Australia 16 - 20 September 2013 www.themeetingpeople.com.au/conferences

15th World Conference on Lung Cancer Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney 27 - 30 October 2013 www.2013worldlungcancer.org

29

What I like about OUM is that I can continue to work part time and continue my studies in medicine.

Vivian Ndukwe, RN from Melbourne, OUM Class of 2012

RN to MBBS

Your next logical step‌ become a physician.

Earn your MBBS at Oceania University of Medicine OUM is proud to announce an even more attractive fee structure from 2013.

Applications are now open for courses beginning in February and August.

New facilities, greater capacity and over 150 students currently enrolled.

Study from a Home Base under faculty from top international medical schools.

Receive personalised attention from your own Academic Advisor.

OUM Graduates are eligible to sit for the AMC exam or NZREX. OUM Graduates are employed in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and USA

OCEANIA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED

For more information visit www.RNtoMBBS.org or call 1300 665 343

30

With the course structure and support network of OUM, I am going to make my goal of becoming a physician.

A good physician.

Paris Pearce, Paramedic from Mackay, OUM Class of 2016

31

Nursing Post subscribers quote CC*NP when registering to SAVE $250!

Discharge Planning & Service Integration Reducing readmissions & length of stay

12th & 13th february 2013, l’aqua, cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney

Key speakers

Learn how to Adopt a patient centred model to reduce acute length of stay

Professor Clifford Hughes AO Chief Executive Officer tHe clinical excellence coMMiSSion, nSW

Rachael Henson Program Manager Performance & Innovation act HealtH

Andrew Stripp Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer alfred HealtH, Vic

David Roffe Chief Information Officer St VincentS & Mater HealtH, nSW

See inside for more speakers

Improve efficiency of clinical handovers to reduce delays Build better integration between hospital specialty services & primary care Develop effective care coordination & pathways to reduce readmissions Featuring evidence based case studies by leading health care providers!

Pre & Mid Conference Workshops Workshop A

Workshop B

How to reduce avoidable admissions

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www.reducingreadmission.com 32

Making the Move from RN to RAN Transition to Remote Area Nursing A three week face-to-face program that prepares Registered Nurses to work as Remote Area Nurses and articulates with Flinders University Award courses.

Content includes Framing Indigenous Health, Primary Health Care, Self Care, Remote Advanced Nursing Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics.

Dates for 2013 March 8th—28th Alice Springs Darwin June 13th—July 5th August 5th—26h Alice Springs Participants will need to book Remote Emergency Care (REC) course separately through CRANAplus COURSE FEE: $2,800 plus cost of the REC course

For Further Information contact short course administrator Ph: (08) 89514700 or Email: crh.shortcourse@flinders.edu.au

33

Healthy recipes...

Stained Glass Biscotti

What you will need: • • • • • •

Create Christmas tree decorations with your biscotti! Make a hole near the end of the biscotti to thread string once baked and crisp...

¾ cup (165g) caster (superfine) sugar 2 eggs 1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour 1/3 cup (50g) self-raising flour ¾ cup multi glace cherries, halved ½ cup (80g) pecan pieces (or blanched almonds as per original recipe)

Method: •

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Grease oven trays or line with baking paper.

•

Hand whisk sugar and eggs in medium bowl until combined; stir in sifted flour then cherries and nuts.

•

Knead dough on floured surface until smooth.

•

Divide dough in half, roll each portion into a 30cm (12 inch) log

•

Place logs on tray and bake about 30 minutes. Cool the logs on tray for 10 minutes before cutting into slices of biscotti. Meanwhile, reduce oven temperature to 150 degrees Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit).

•

Using serrated knife, cut logs diagonally into 5mm (1/4 inch) slices and place slices, in single layer on baking paper lined trays.

•

Bake for about 30 minutes or until dry and crisp, turning halfway through baking. Cool on wire racks.

34

5 Cup Fruit Loaf What you will need: • •

• • • • • •

1 cup rolled oats 1 cup mixed fruits (if you can’t find them in the supermarkets, try your local health food stores).

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 + 1/2 tsps baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup milk Cooking oil to grease area which isn’t covered by the baking paper

Alternatively, you can replace 1 cup of allpurpose flour, 1 +1/2 tsps baking powder & salt with 1 cup of self-raising flour.

Method: •

Preheat oven to 160 degrees C/ 320 degrees F. Line a baking paper on a loaf tin and grease area which isn’t covered by baking paper with some cooking oil.

•

Dice the mixed fruits if they are a little on the chunky side.

•

Mix all the dry ingredients together including the mixed fruits with a fork.

•

Then add milk and whisk the wet and dry ingredients until well combined with a fork. (Please note the batter is a wet mixture). Bake in the preheated oven for an hour or until the cake tester comes out clean.

Emily Tan of Fuss Free Cooking joins us fortnightly to share her delicious healthy recipes... www.fussfreecooking.com 35

New Zealand Nurses Wanted!

Call us today!

We provide: • Free flights to Australia and

back to New Zealand

• Best rates with wages paid weekly • Superannuation 9% of wages • Full insurance for Nurses and Midwives • City/Rural contracts long and short term • Arranged accommodation

Mediserve is seeking Registered Nurses, Midwives and Specialty Nurses from New Zealand to work across Australia We have positions available throughout regional, rural and all capital cities Freecall from NZ: 0800 9325 1332

(Please ring between 3-10pm NZ local time) Email: nurses@mediserve.com.au

36

Danila Dilba Health Service is a community controlled not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to providing culturally appropriate comprehensive primary health care services to the Biluru people residing in Darwin, Palmerston and surrounds.

Danila Dilba Health Services is a vibrant and exciting place to work and its employees are committed and passionate about what we do! If you are looking to make a positive contribution to Aboriginal health then this is the organisation for you!

Danila Dilba is seeking to recruit a suitably qualified Registered Nurse to work in our clinics and fill the following vacancy: CHILD HEALTH NURSE Base Salary: $85,900 - $92,286 + Super Full-Time This position will facilitate the delivery of the Child Health Program within Danila Dilba Health Services, by providing high quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate clinical care to identified patients with the aim of achieving an increase access for child and maternal health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

This position plays an integral part within the Child Health team and will work in collaboration with members of the DDHS multidisciplinary team and external service providers within government and non-government organisations to facilitate care and follow up for infants, children and families to support optimal health outcomes.

Applications Close: Friday 30th November 2012.

For a copy of the relevant Position Description please email hr@daniladilba.org.au OR see our website www.daniladilbaexperience.org.au.

For information regarding this position please contact Kane Ellis, Clinical Services Manager, on (08) 8942 5444 or email kane.ellis@daniladilba.org.au All applicants must address the selection criteria and submit with CV to the Human Resources Officer at hr@daniladilba.org.au or post to GPO Box 2125, Darwin NT 0801.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are strongly encouraged to apply

37

In 2013...

will have a change of name...

Bigger and better things are ahead in 2013!

You may have noticed a few changes to our magazine over the past months...

To coincide with a broader emphasis on Allied Health, we will have a fresh new name in the new year!