August 12, 2022

Education

Kidney Supportive Care: Symposium and Master Class

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South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and St George Hospital and Community Services are hosting the Kidney Supportive Care Symposium.

16th September 2022: Symposium – A hybrid day showcasing obstacles and opportunities of the multidisciplinary KSC services nationally and internationally.

1st Oct 2022: Masterclass – A hybrid day designed around the KSC medical curriculum and aimed at medical staff and specialist nurses. All health professionals are welcome to participate.

You can register here.

You can find the program here.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion for CALD Nurses and Midwives

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The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association has provided the following webinars as part of their Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) symposium. You can check these out below.

1. Series Introduction

Julie Ngwabi

2. Your Health Matters

Nurse and Midwife Support

3. How does culture influence work experience in a foreign country?

Jay Balante

4. A kitchen table discussion with Dr Virginia Mapedzahama, Director of Research, African Women Australia

Dr Virginia Mapedzahama

5. Update on the National Anti-Racism Framework and ‘Racism It Stops With Me’ Campaign

Australian Human Rights Commission

6. Social Relations of Work: What really matters for culturally and linguistically diverse nurses?

Dr Shobha Nepali

7. Working in Multicultural Teams

Selen Akinci

8. Bystander Action

9. Q&A with Sophie Cotsis MP

Join the NSWNMA CALD Nurses and Midwives Professional Reference Group, for more information download the flyer

Making the decision to upgrade your qualifications

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Frances Brogan loves working in nursing. She was keen to progress her career – and move away from shift work to spend more time with her family. Online study meant she could gain a Master of Nursing to help her achieve her goals.

“I’d been thinking about postgraduate online study for a few years before I began, but I’d never felt really ready. When I started studying, I was working as a clinical nurse specialist in an emergency department, where I had been for 16 years. I had four children (I still have them!).

“I jumped into the course earlier than planned because a role at work was coming up that I really wanted, and I knew postgraduate study would help me do well in it.”

Within 6 weeks Frances had applied and been accepted to study, applied for scholarships, interviewed for, and started a new job!

“I had done a lot of research about universities in the previous few years. A major factor in my decision to study at Charles Sturt University was that I could do the whole degree online. As a working mum, I couldn’t make a commitment to face-to-face learning, and Charles Sturt had the best platform for online study.

“I knew I wanted to do a Master of Nursing, and I had done a lot of research about universities in the previous few years. I kept coming back to Charles Sturt University, because of the subjects on offer. They had the best choice of subjects for the path I wanted to take my career on.

“The other major factor in my decision was that I could do the whole degree online. As a working mum, I couldn’t make a commitment to face-to-face learning, and Charles Sturt had the best platform for online study.”

Frances certainly feels that studying a master’s degree has advanced her career – and will do so in the future as well. But that’s far from the only benefit.

“I see the world differently now. It was great with online study as we had students not only from metropolitan areas like me, but also rural areas and from many different countries, so I really felt I was exposed to views and knowledge from across a wide range of experience.

“The role I started at the same time as my postgraduate study was as a nurse educator, a direction I wanted to take my career in. Since then, I’ve moved into a nursing research intern position. That’s a role I would never have thought of looking at before I did my postgraduate degree. I’ve found there are so many more pathways that I am interested in and that I feel I can pursue in my career.

“And the degree has paid so many dividends for my family in that we can spend more time together now my working life is better. It was a challenging three years, but the gains have been so great.”

“I really feel that the kids gained from it, by seeing their mum put in the hard work and reap the benefits; particularly for my three girls, so they could see that women can study and work and achieve. And they now get to benefit as I’ve been able to shift my career so I’m not on shift work and I’m not working nights. I am able to spend more time with them now.”

If you want to advance your career, consider the Master of Nursing at Charles Sturt University. You can start small and ease back into study with new graduate certificates in nursing. Complete your course part-time in just eight to 10 months and receive credit when applying for the master’s. Choose from:

  • Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Aged Care)
  • Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Clinical Education)
  • Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Leadership and Management)
  • Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Rural and Remote Nursing)

For more information, visit study.csu.edu.au/master-nursing

This article was sponsored by Charles Sturt University.

How Exercise could be Life-changing for your Patients! Let’s Introduce Exercise Physiologists!

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“If exercise could be packaged in a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation.”

 It’s true – exercise truly is medicine. Research has shown that expertly prescribed exercise can help everything from managing chemotherapy, help reverse effects of Type 2 Diabetes, supporting complex PTSD and even assisting those with eating disorders.  Learn more here

Accredited exercise physiologists are the experts who work with thousands of clients each day to help achieve some amazing health outcomes.

One story is that of Matt, a single, below-the-knee amputee who lost his leg to a workplace injury five years ago. Jess is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who has been working with Matt who says that exercise has absolutely changed his life.

“Seeing an exercise physiologist has helped me massively, mentally and physically. Some days I come in here [to the clinic] not feeling too good, but I walk out with a smile. I love it, I’d recommend it to anybody,” says Matt.

Watch Matt’s Story Here

Another story is that of 10-year-old Demi who was born with fibular hemimelia (where part or all of the fibular bone is missing) in her right leg. Before seeing an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Demi was in a wheelchair learning to walk again, but nine months later, all her hard work has paid off as she walks and runs around.

“This [exercise physiology] has made a world of difference to Demi’s world. From go to now, she’s just totally turned the corner,” shared Demi’s dad, Simon.

Watch Demi’s Story Here

Learn more here

What is an Exercise Physiologist?

Exercise physiologists are very extensively university trained in exercise prescription, behavioural change and motivational interviewing. Their work helps breaks down the barriers and the reasons why people perhaps are not exercising. They try to make it non-threatening and not an intimidating experience, where exercise is something that they can help patients to explore and discover.

Exercise physiologists are trained to use exercise like it’s medicine.

For people who have chronic medical conditions: osteoarthritis, diabetes, heart failure, osteoporosis, cancer, is their key focus peak area. They help people to use exercise as a part of their medical treatment for lots of those chronic medical conditions.

Exercise physiologists do differ from physiotherapists. While there are areas of overlap in which physiotherapists and exercise physiologist perform similar roles, the most successful treatment options for patients will have these two professions working together.

The training of a physiotherapist has a heavy emphasis on the diagnosis and assessment of disease and disability states within the body, as such much of their treatment revolves around the acute reduction of symptoms.

Exercise physiologists have a greater emphasis on increasing functional capacities and quality of life over a longer period of time with a focus on chronic disease management.

Learn more here

How can they Support your Patients?

Exercise physiologists work hand in hand with nurses, GPs, specialists, and all allied health. They can both receive and give referrals.

Their services can be accessed through Medicare, DVA, NDIS, Private Health and all workers compensation schemes.

10 Reasons why should you Refer more Patients to Exercise Physiologist?

  1. They truly are the exercise experts backed by university degrees and hundreds of practical hours (just like you!)
  2. They create personalised exercise programs. No cookie cutter ‘no pain no gain’ program.
  3. Trained in motivational behaviours so will work with you patients to move for life.
  4. Their services can be claimed across many different schemes or programs, making it affordable.
  5. Will work with you and provide constant reports on updates of your patients
  6. Can work within a larger support team of allied health and medical/psychological specialists.
  7. Their work is backed by thousands of hours of research and is providing exceptional results.
  8. Work with many older Australians to help with keeping them safe and active for longer.
  9. They can create happier, healthier people who will learn new skills for life.
  10. They are all round awesome people!

Learn more here

Want some FREE resources and CPD Points?

Our public awareness website has a huge range of blogs and free eBooks for patients. Click here to access!

If you would like access to free CPD Points, undertake our free online training module on lifestyle modifications here.

This article was sponsored by Exercise and Sports Science Australia.

Are you a nurse working in clinical trials, or considering a transition into the clinical trials sector?

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NSW Nursing and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) partner PRAXIS Australia exists to enhance the understanding and practice of ethical research for the benefit of the broader community through education and training.

PRAXIS Australia is supporting nurses and midwives who are currently working in clinical trials or considering transitioning into the clinical trials sector through their highly regarded and flexible online courses, webinars, and resources.

How the change in the clinical trials landscape will affect you

Changes to GCP guidelines in 2021 and further changes ahead in 2022 will affect how we design, conduct, and manage clinical trials. PRAXIS Australia is helping to upskill and prepare nurses and midwives for these changes with a range of clinical trials training solutions designed to suit your individual needs, including:

PRAXIS’s Clinical Trails core skills set packages provide you with a suggested pathway of study tailored to your level of experience, needs and interests.

The Good Clinical Practice online course will introduce you to the internationally recognised and endorsed Good Clinical Practice standards ICH GCP, and the roles and responsibilities of nurses and midwives working in clinical trials.

PRAXIS also offer a diverse range of virtual workshops to help you upskill and build your confidence and capability in your role.

Helping you stay current in a changing environment

To help support nurses and midwives PRAXIS are offering NSWNMA members a 20% discount across all their course offers by using the code NSWNMA21 when enrolling. For a short time you can also access the highly regarded Good Clinical Practice (GCP) online module at 60% off the standard fee, at just $88. With this you will also get access to a recording of our recent webinar outlining the changes to GCP.

These courses will equip you to work in clinical trials and help you to understand ethically sound research design and conduct. You will learn how to apply the principles GCP to promote excellence in science, data quality, and support the safety and wellbeing of research participant and patients.

Note: Offer is valid for enrolments received by 31 December 2021

What nurses and midwives are saying about PRAXIS courses

“The course was excellent. I could have sat for another day I loved it that much.”

“Just wanted to congratulate you on the wonderful and informative session this week.  It was brilliant!”

“Thank you for an excellent and information-packed training event on Good Clinical Practice (GCP). The day was well structured and easy to follow. Very professional.”

Clinical Trials 101 Virtual Workshop

To further support your transition into the clinical trials sector, PRAXIS will be facilitating a new ‘Clinical Trials 101’ virtual workshop in 2022. This two-part interactive workshop series will introduce you to clinical trials and will provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills to confidently work in the sector.

To avoid missing out, we encourage you to secure your spot early for the first Clinical Trials 101 virtual workshop on 1st February, 2022.

Research Essentials Online Course

If you aren’t sure where to start or need study guidance, PRAXIS Australia also facilitates a Research Essentials online course. This self-paced online course is a world class, competency based clinical trials and research training program composed of over 65 distinct online modules and electives.

You can choose to:

  • Personalise your own study plan from the selection of modules
  • Let the online system choose a course for you, designed to help you master specific competencies related to your role and needs
  • Choose from the smaller Core Skills Set package

Committing to your professional development means you’ll remain confident and capable in your work in a clinical trials unit that will continue towards success.

Enrol here

 

 

 

 

NSW Cervical Screening Program survey

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The NSW Cervical Screening Program at the Cancer Institute NSW is seeking to understand whether providing cervical screening is within the scope of practice of midwives. To help us understand if you provide cervical screening for pregnant women, or if not what some of the barriers to offering screening are for you, please take 5 minutes to answer the questions here. The survey will be closed on the 16th of December. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete.

If you have any questions please contact Stephanie Walker: Stephanie.Walker3@health.nsw.gov.au