Month: February 2015

Dear members,

February is seeing a lot of action for APNA and its members. There are workshops rolling out as well as face to face forums (around 20 nationally) to canvass the views of nurses and other stakeholders on the Education and Career Framework for Nurses in General Practice, so keep an eye out for a focus group being held near you.

The nomination and election for positions on the APNA Board is getting near. Information will be available soon on the role of Board Members and how to nominate for election to the APNA Board. Don’t forget to book your place at Brave to Bold, our national conference in May, and Best Practice Awards have opened today – nominate yourself or a well-deserving colleague!

APNA is also receiving requests for suitably experienced nurses to contribute to research projects linked with universities and other eminent research bodies at advisory committee level. This is a great recognition of the valuable contribution that nurses make to primary health care and a wonderful opportunity for nurses to contribute to the evidence base for primary health care. Over the next few months we will be putting out calls for expressions of interest for nurses with expertise in in certain areas of primary health care nursing to contribute to research projects as they arise.

Regards,

Karen

Dear members,

Well we can’t say this has been a dull few weeks. We are all watching the political space with great interest. APNA has written to the Hon. Sussan Ley congratulating her on her appointment as Health Minister. We have also offered to meet with her to explain and highlight the important role that nurses play in primary health care. Keep your policy thoughts and comments coming to the APNA online forum, APNAnurses Connect.

BUT there have been other exciting things happening. Registration for APNA’s Brave to Bold conference on the Gold Coast has now opened. So start booking your time away from work, and get practicing on your Bollywood dance techniques! The preliminary program has been released with a lineup of inspiring national and international speakers.

Even though it seems like only yesterday the last edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook (10th Edition) arrived on our desks, it is about to undergo its next review. The National Immunisation Committee is interested to have APNA’s input, and I need your thoughts quickly on the following questions:

• The way the Handbook is used – how often, where, when and why?
• Strength and weaknesses of the 10th edition compared to previous editions in terms of content, usability and format
• The layout and size of the Handbook
• The usefulness and usability of the content of the Handbook
• Possible future formats of the Handbook, including:
  • Smart phone applications; and
  • The production of the hardcopy Handbook in two separate volumes (a smaller recommendation list and larger reference book).

In other news, Kidney Health Australia is looking for a nurse to join the KCAT (Kidney Check Australia Taskforce) nurse education advisory group. I know there are quite a few members participating in the CKD and CHD Collaborative program and you may be keen to contribute at an education level. If you are interested please send a small bio and contact details to admin@apna.asn.au and I will give you a call to chat in more detail about this very worthy cause.

The Education and Career Framework is pressing onwards and upwards and we are collecting valuable thoughts and comments from our members. You can join the forum discussion here. Keep ‘em coming.

Finally, congratulations and welcome to all those nurses new to primary health care and general practice in 2015. The Northern Sydney Medicare Local and Sydney University transition to practice pilot kicked off this week. This is the first of a number pilots that will appear in 2015 to encourage nurses to work in general practice. APNA’s Foundations of General Practice Nursing orientation workshops are rolling out around the country starting with Melbourne next Thursday – find out all of the dates here.

Regards,

Karen