Latest Nursing News

THE NSW nurses' union says beds in a unit of the Dubbo Hospital Emergency Department (ED) remain closed. The union claims hospital management shut all six beds in the Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) three weeks ago.

THE public got a sneak peak at Wagga Base Hospital’s new mental health unit yesterday, with the new facility inviting residents to a community open day ahead of today’s official opening. Hundreds of people took the chance to tour the new facility yesterday with most impressed by what was on offer.

NURSES are set to take industrial action from next week despite a new offer from the State Government. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation said the issue of junior nurses having to supervise wards after-hours -- on top of managing a full workload -- was a patient safety issue.

TASMANIAN nurses and midwives will hold meetings on Monday to determine the kind of industrial action they will take after rejecting the state government's enterprise agreement. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation   Tasmanian branch said the agreement for public sector workers, although amended, would compromise patient care.

Tasmania's nurses will vote on industrial action next week, after rejecting the state government's latest pay offer. The Nursing Federation says the State Government is moving to reduce the length of their shifts in exchange for less annual leave. Union members have voted to reject the Government's amended offer.

Emergency unit nurses at Dubbo Base Hospital say they are satisfied management is working to address concerns about working conditions. Two weeks ago staff threatened to close beds in the emergency department citing concerns about overtime hours being worked, and a high rate of vacancies.

South Australia's public hospital doctors will get a 17.5 per cent pay rise over the next four years after reaching a deal with the state government. Doctors will also get increases in reimbursement rates for professional development, and higher call-out fees and managerial allowances.

The Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), a not-for-profit mobile nursing organisation, is planning to trial a new telehealth service on the pregnancybirthbaby.org.au website where people can make video calls directly through their Web browsers. Speaking at the Connected Australia event in Sydney this week, Philip Robinson, general manager, internal investments at RDNS, said the new service will be piloted later this year through to 2014.

A Brisbane mental health nurse is on the path to recovery after receiving a potentially fatal pit viper snake bite while on holiday in Nepal. Delmae Ryan, 49, flew home following visits to two hospitals in Pokhara, the second largest city in the country, after being told there was no anti-venom in Nepal.

Nat Luxton is a Registered Nurse and Midwife and has been registered with NAHRLS since 2011. She was originally from Brisbane but now resides at Corindi Beach, near Coffs Harbour, on the Northern NSW coast. Nat is experienced in emergency nursing and neonatal nurseries. In 2011 she updated her birthing suite and postnatal skills. Working for Aspen Medical since 2007, Nat heard about NAHRLS through Aspen and was interested in being part of the program.