More than 250 nurse leaders from around the nation gathered in Brisbane this week for the National Nursing Forum, the signature annual event held by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). This year’s theme, “advancing nurse leadership”, was examined in a comprehensive program of workshops and presentations by more than 60 local and international speakers. They shared their insights about critical issues facing the nursing profession, including the need for strong, confident and resilient nurse leaders within the healthcare system. Governments around the world are facing the harsh reality of the rising cost of healthcare provision to an ageing population and a population with a rising incidence of chronic disease. In Australia, budget pressures mean that the Federal and State Governments are seeking ways to contain health expenditure. Kathleen McLaughlin, acting CEO of the ACN, told the Forum delegates that the economic pressure of providing health care, combined with the need to achieve cost efficiencies without sacrificing patient safety and satisfaction, means there are competing priorities that nurses confront and respond to on a daily basis. “Nurses are uniquely placed to provide advice, propose reforms and lead the way in cost management without reducing the quality of care provided. A nurse leader can have a positive effect on improving patient care and optimising outcomes by leading the policy, cultural, clinical and organisational change required to deliver quality improvements,” said Ms McLaughlin. Evidence from around the world shows that the role of a nurse leader must not be underestimated. A nurse with leadership skills is critical to advancing the nursing profession and developing a healthy work environment and culture. Another important aspect of nurse leadership is its ability to give nurses an essential voice in the development of patient care environments. With nurses consistently rated as the most trusted profession, they are uniquely placed to effect transformational change at every level by working collaboratively with all health professionals. “Being a nurse leader is more than working in a managerial position. A nurse leader is a change maker. ACN wants to ensure that nurses have access to the latest information and networking, mentoring and educational opportunities to develop their leadership skills and, by doing so, lead the improvement of the health of all Australians,” Ms McLaughlin continued. According to the National Nursing Forum’s international keynote speaker, Professor Anne Marie Rafferty - an expert on health service reform in the United Kingdom - nurses as leaders must not only do things right, they must also do the right things to achieve sustainable change in policy, systems, workplace culture and workforce retention. “In a highly pressurised health system, the need for nurse leaders is huge. Strong leadership by nurses plays a pivotal role in a system that makes enormous demands upon practitioners. The skills and expertise that nurses have means they are in a position to lead change in health care systems, be the designers of better care models and processes, as well as deliver better health outcomes for patients and their families,” stated Professor Rafferty. In convening an annual National Nursing Forum, the Australian College of Nursing’s goal is to raise the profile of the importance of developing and enhancing leadership skills in nurses at all stages of their career – from the nursing student and graduate nurse through to the experienced nurse in a senior executive position. ACN believes that every nurse can have a positive impact on patient safety and healthcare outcomes, not only through the delivery of front line services but also in shaping and leading the development of new models of care needed to meet future healthcare demands. [ + ]

Doctors and other medical staff at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital are refusing to discharge refugee children back into detention. They feel it is an unsafe environment that would be detrimental to their health. [ + ]

[ + ]

Tasmania’s elective surgery waiting times in public hospitals has been ranked the worst in the country according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). [ + ]

An important step in the treatment for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis has been made by University of Adelaide researchers and their international counterparts. The findings published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry detailed the identification of potential inhibitors of specific cell membrane proteins, which are involved in the spread of cancer to other parts of the body (metastasis) and in the progression of autoimmune disease. [ + ]

That’s right: the Food Safety Information Council is using this Thursday 15 October Global Handwashing Day to celebrate your favourite topic: hand washing. So get out those gloves and blow them up into balloons in the name of good hand hygiene. [ + ]

Procurement and supply chain managers in the health and aged care sectors are continuously searching for opportunities to deliver better outcomes for all their stakeholders – especially patients. [ + ]

[ + ]

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was signed this week, with 12 countries including Australia agreeing to a trade deal which now needs to pass their relevant government processes for final approval. [ + ]

I’m sure I’m not the only one surprised by the announcement that half of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has gone to a researcher who spent her entire career researching traditional Chinese medicine. Based at the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing (now the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences) since 1965, scientist Youyou Tu, her colleagues, and home institution may well be just as stunned today as I am. [ + ]

You have almost certainly heard the news by now: Queensland cancer survivor Yvonne D’Arcy has won an extensive battle against US biotech company Myriad Genetics. The Australian High Court ruled that the BRCA1 genetic mutation patent could not be owned by Myriad or any other company, allowing breast cancer sufferers access to diagnostic tests without exorbitant fees from private companies. [ + ]

Why do some smokers avoid lung disease and some non-smokers develop it? Researchers in the UK have found the genetic link to cardio-pulmonary disorders (COPD) incuding bronchitis and emphysema which indicates the way lungs grow and respond to injury. [ + ]

New research presented at the 2015 European Cancer Congress has found that in a study of cancer patients in the Netherlands, a daily dose of aspirin can improve the life expectancy of those experiencing cancers of  the gastrointestinal tract. [ + ]

It’s a mantra repeated by health providers Australia-wide: breast is best. And while we’ve always known that there is something about mother’s breast milk that causes a baby to thrive, it has taken until 2015 to discover why that is. [ + ]

[ + ]