In 1994, Karen ‘KD’ Dansey MACN (Associate) took-up a short-term contract position with the Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA). Fast-track to 2020 and KD is celebrating 25 years working for The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and its predecessor organisation, RCNA. Over that time KD held multiple roles, worked…
Lisa in full PPE during her time COVID-19 testing in the Tower’s On 4 July, around 3,000 residents inside nine Melbourne Public Housing Towers were placed into lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In difficult circumstances, a dedicated group…
Authors: Jessica Balson MACN, Emerging Nurse Leader, Melbourne Region Kalpana Raghunathan FACN, Deputy Chair, Melbourne Region Aaliya Fanham MACN, Secretariat Support, Melbourne Region Nurses on the frontline battling COVID-19 have become the heroes of 2020, but it was not so…
By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator The first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses This article contains stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who have passed away. The author has taken great care to ensure the information…
Jessica donned in PPE during the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne (Image:Supplied) Welcome to the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Life in lockdown NurseClick series where we share the personal stories of the nurses protecting Australians during the second wave of…
Welcome to the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Life in lockdown NurseClick series where we share the stories from the nurses protecting Australians during the second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria. Today, we speak Marilyn Harper MACN — a Registered…
Merilyn (right) with registered nurse Alison Lin Welcome to the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Life in lockdown NurseClick series where we share the personal stories of the nurses protecting Australians during the second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria. Merilyn…
Catelyn Richards MACN during her AusAid placement in the Solomon Islands in 2013 I wasn’t always as motivated to engage with the issue of climate change as I am now. As a teenager I was very much aware of the…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is proud to offer our Understanding Data in Health Care Single Unit of Study (SUS) with support from The Australian Digital Health Agency. Clinical communication and data science are dependent on the existence of…
Jay when she was living and working in Ethiopia before her nursing career. Image credit: Colin Cosier By Jay Court MACN, mental health nurse and Australian College of Nursing Stage Two Emerging Nurse Leader “The greatest problem in communication is…
First office of the NSW College of Nursing at Macquarie Street Sydney. Credit: ACN Archives By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator Specialty post-graduate education and the establishment of nursing Colleges. Discussions regarding the need for nursing to…
By Catelyn Richards MACN (ENL) Communications Coordinator, Climate and Health Community of Interest When I was at school I remember my music teacher educating me about collective responsibility; where we must all be held accountable for the outcomes of our…
By Amy Humme MACN (ENL), Catelyn Richards MACN (ENL) and Jennifer Weller-Newton FACN. The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Melbourne Region recently hosted a webinar in celebration of International Nurses Day and 2020 being World Health Organization’s International Year of…
By Emma Reardon MACN (ENL) As students, we know that clinical placement is the perfect place to put theory into practice and solidify our clinical knowledge. We arrive on our first day, clinical competency documents in hand, ready to gain…
In 1960, soon to be sixteen-year-old Janet Forsyth MACN began her nursing career at Goulburn Base Hospital. On Sunday, Janet will say goodbye to the profession to which she has dedicated 60 years of her life. Her nursing journey is remarkable— from small-town beginnings to becoming one of New South Wales’ most senior stomal therapy nurses, all whilst overcoming challenges and…
By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator The impact of military service and the emergence of nurse leaders At the commencement of the South African (Boer) War (1899-1902), Australian women responded to the New South Wales and Victorian government…
The Australian College of Nursing talks to Trisha Dunning FACN (DLF), Chair in Nursing and Director Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research Barwon Health Partnership, Deakin University, Geelong. Trisha’s prime role is research and like everything else, it too…
Catelyn (the penguin) campaigning against Climate Change on the freezing Hobart streets way back in 2011. Nothing has changed – except the outfit! Welcome to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Climate and Health Community of Interest’s (COI) Climate and…
By Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, CEO, Australian College of Nursing Nurses across the country have been moved by the outpouring of appreciation the community has showered on them for the exceptional care they have provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Members of the Fever Clinic Team. Image: Supplied Doris Vella MACN, Director of Nursing at the Melton Campus of Djerriwarrh Health Services, is leading a team of nurses at a drive-through COVID-19 Fever Clinic. We spoke to Doris to gain…
Today, on International Nurses Day, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has been proud to receive recognition for nurses from across the country and the world. This includes an open letter from the prestigious Australian Commission on Safety and Quality…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) speaks to Ben Chiarella MACN — a member of our Men in Nursing Working Party based in Orange, New South Wales (NSW) — in the lead up to International Nurses Day 2020. Ben’s journey…
Matthew (Matt) Mason MACN is a lecturer in nursing on the Sunshine Coast and one of the key infection prevention and control specialists within our ACN Tribe. We caught up with Matt to discuss his nursing career in this field…
Tiffany McKay MACN often spends this time of year holidaying in sunny Southern Europe. However, COVID-19 has disrupted those plans and she now finds herself on the frontline of the pandemic at Bendigo Hospital. In the lead up to International…
By Ben Jenkins MACN, Nursing Officer in the Australian Army and host of The ACN Podcast Why it will never feel like the ‘right time’ I remember the afternoon vividly. I finished a clinical shift within the intensive care unit…
Julie Tucker MACN, Nurse Midwife at the Lyell McEwin Hospital talks to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) in the lead up to International Nurses Day on 12 May. ACN Member Julie Tucker MACN works at a large metropolitan hospital…
Arun Thomas MACN, a Stage Five ACN Emerging Nurse Leader, is an inspiring and emerging leader in the healthcare sector who has a strong focus and passion for leadership, governance, advocacy and aged care. A Registered Nurse, he became one…
In the lead up to International Nurses Day, the Australian College of Nursing talks to Jaya Thomas MACN, about how 2020 has indeed been Year of the Nurse & Midwife. “It’s bizarre when you think about it – the Year…
Janette Webster MACN, After Hours Hospital Manager and Nurse Bank and Pool Coordinator at GV Health in Victoria, talks to the Australian College of Nursing about how she was “always meant to be a nurse”. “I never wanted to be…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
Each year, The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) host a National Nurses Breakfast Campaign to celebrate nurses across Australia on 12 May, International Nurses Day (IND). The event, proudly supported by HESTA Super, traditionally sees nurses and their supporters hosting…
For International Nurses Day observed worldwide on 12 May in 2020 Year of the Nurse & Midwife, Jacob Roberts MACN wants to acknowledge that nurses have the power to lead and bring about change even in the face of adversity…
By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator The introduction of statutory acts formalising nurse registration and training Throughout the 20th century’s first decades, various states and countries within the British Commonwealth presented Bills seeking nurse registration to Parliament. In…
Samantha Prime is a final year PhD candidate of Queensland University of Technology (QUT), her field of research is paediatric respiratory illnesses. She talks to the Australian College of Nursing about suspending her thesis and commencing work at a COVID19…
Nowra’s Ros Rolleston MACN has been a registered nurse for 40 years, with six years of clinical experience in general practice and 10 years working in education and facilitating person-centred care. She is currently a tutor in undergraduate nursing and…
At the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), we are proud to support and celebrate nurses who exemplify leadership day after day through their work and compassion. In 2020 Year of Nurse & Midwife, as Australia, it’s even more important to…
By Amy Humme MACN (Stage 2 ENL) Graduate Registered Nurse, Monash Health. As I stepped out of Ho Chi Minh City Airport I was struck by the humidity, noise and bustling streets of Vietnam. For my first time overseas, I…
To mark World Health Day 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) — in partnership with the International Council of Nurses and Nursing Now — have released the ‘State of the World’s Nursing 2020: investing in education, jobs and leadership’ report.…
ACN Men in Nursing Working Party Chair Luke Yokota MACN Are you thinking about a career in nursing? Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a man in the nursing profession? At the Australian College of Nursing…
COVID-19 has seen traditional face-to-face learning and workplace cultures rapidly transform into an online environment and this has been no different for nursing students. We caught up with Josh Thomson MACN (Undergraduate) — a Stage One ACN Emerging Nurse Leader…
Last week, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), submitted a ‘Statement of Action on Nursing Workforce Solutions in response to COVID-19’ and supporting documentation to the Australian Government. The Statement of Action calls on the Government to “immediately remove barriers…
By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator The Australasian Trained Nurses Association 1899 By the latter part of the 19th century, nursing was considered a respectable career option for educated women. In response to the rapidly growing population and…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
2019 was a year of many major initiatives – one of which was the Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers. The first of its kind in Australia, it acknowledged the vital role nurses play in transforming our country’s health and…
By Jessica Stokes-Parish MACN Early last week, an opinion piece published in The Guardian came across my Twitter feed. It was titled “Diary of an intensive care nurse: are we concerned about coronavirus? The honest answer is not yet”. You…
Recent developments with coronavirus (COVID-19) have directly impacted Australian health care workers after a 53-year old doctor at Ryde Hospital was diagnosed with the virus. 23 nurses, 13 doctors and four other health professionals at the hospital are now in…
Federal Health Minister the Hon Greg Hunt MP has responded to the first confirmed case of community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia. In a media release, Mr Hunt highlighted the case showed that Australia was not immune to the…
2019 was a year of many major initiatives – one of which was the Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers. The first of its kind in Australia, it acknowledged the vital role nurses play in transforming our country’s health and…
By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator Lucy Osburn brings the Nightingale model to Australia Florence Nightingale (1820- 1910) was born in Florence to wealthy British parents. Nightingale excelled in the classics, speaking German, French and Italian, and was…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
Savannah taking in the outback scenery during a week of community nursing. I must admit that when I was given the opportunity to complete a rural placement, I didn’t know what to expect. What would this new experience entail? What…
On Wednesday night, five Members of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) featured in a segment on ABC’s 7.30 program examining men in the nursing profession. Daryn Mitford MACN, Lee Poole MACN, Alanna Geary FACN, Nick Hayward MACN and Kazuma…
2019 was a year of many major achievements for the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) – one of which was the Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers. The first of its kind in Australia, the award acknowledges the vital role…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is delighted to announce Ben Jenkins MACN as the inaugural host of The ACN Podcast. Across 2020 Year of the Nurse & Midwife he will be interviewing a range of expert nurse leaders on…
By Diane J Phillips Florence Nightingale’s model of “on the job” hospital-based nurse education was successful and quickly adopted by many countries. In Australia, it was implemented during the latter part of the nineteenth century and when women only were accepted…
Across the world, nurses are playing a pivotal role in detecting, managing and preventing the spread of Novel coronavirus. Last week, the International Council of Nurses praised nurses working in Novel coronavirus impacted areas and stated nurses “must be provided…
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has praised nurses for their role in treating and controlling the spread of the Coronavirus. ICN President Annette Kennedy wrote to the Chinese Nursing Association to convey her “admiration and solidarity to all the…
By Trish Lowe MACN – ACN Nurse Educator To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” – Rawsi Williams As part…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) would like to congratulate all nurses, both past and present, and in particular our Fellows and Members, who received Australia Day Honours on Sunday. The Honours are awarded to Australian citizens who have displayed…
By Lucy Osborn MACN This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease…
Sonia Marshall MACN takes to Twitter to share why she is proud to be a nurse As nurses, we belong to a group of expert professionals passionate about improving the lives of others. During December, we challenged you to reflect…
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) and global Nursing Now Campaign have expressed their condolences for those impacted by the Australian bushfires. ICN CEO Howard Catton addressed the impact of the bushfires on the Australian community in a personal letter…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has been deeply moved by the devastation the Australian bushfires have caused to thousands of people, wildlife and our beautiful natural environment. On Monday, our CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN penned a heartfelt…
This morning the offices of the Australian College of Nursing opened following our scheduled Christmas-New Year shut down.The end of last decade and the beginning of 2020 has seen our country ravished with horrendous bushfires and extreme heat where at…
The Disney themed Christmas decorations at Hannah’s workplace Presents, holidays and spending time with family; these are just some of the things we think of when it comes to celebrating Christmas. However, whilst a large portion of the country is…
Over the past few weeks, The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) have proudly introduced our Stage One, Two, Three and Four Emerging Nurse Leaders (ENLs). Today, we are delighted to introduce nine exceptional individuals participating in Stage Five, Empowered to…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is delighted to announce that Dr Carey Mather MACN, Paul Gardner MACN, Dr Gillian Ray-Barruel MACN and Janette Webster MACN have been selected as the recipients of our Nursing Study Tour Scholarships. These nurse…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) congratulates Professor Christine Duffield FACN and Mrs Carmen Morgan FACN for their re-election to our Board and to newly elected Director Associate Professor Georgina Willetts FACN. ACN President Professor Christine Duffield FACN Re-elected ACN…
Speakers and guests holding Nursing Now signs at the National Nursing Now Roadshow in Adelaide. Hi! I’m Josh and I am part of the Emerging Nurse Leader (ENL) Program at the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). On Wednesday 13 November…
Throughout November our Nurse Informatics Community of Interest (COI) is running a campaign focusing on raising awareness of informatics and recognizing the excellent work nurses are doing in the informatics space. Across the month we will share with you four…
Professor Sandy Middleton FACN and Professor Caroline Homer have been admitted as Fellows to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS). Professor Middleton is the third nurse and Professor Homer the first midwife to be bestowed the honour.…
In association with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), Arjo invites all nurse leaders to participate in a webinar on preventing, treating, and implementing pressure injury interventions in line with the new guidelines. The webinar will be panelled by Associate…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is delighted to introduce our 14 exceptional Emerging Nurse Leaders (ENLS) participating in Stage Four, Empowered to Achieve. We congratulate all participants on their selection into our prestigious award program. We hope you enjoy…
Howard Catton, Chief Executive of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), has urged nurses across the world to join together in celebrating 2020 Year of the Nurse & Midwife. “Every nurse has a story to tell, and next year they…
Luke Yokota MACN speaking at the 2019 National Nursing Forum. Throughout November our Nurse Informatics Community of Interest (COI) is running a campaign focusing on raising awareness of informatics and recognizing the excellent work nurses are doing in the informatics…
By Lucy Osborn MACN This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease…
Ariela Rother MACN with Naomi Dobroff FACN. Throughout November our Nurse Informatics Community of Interest (COI) is running a campaign focusing on raising awareness of informatics and recognizing the excellent work nurses are doing in the informatics space. Across the…
Each afternoon at 4.55pm the Australian War Memorial holds a Last Post Ceremony to commemorate the story of an individual on their Honour Roll.The 2020 schedule for Last Post Ceremonies currently includes two Australian army nurses, Sister Clarice Halligan and…
Over the last two weeks, you have met our wonderful Stage One and Stage Two Emerging Nurse Leaders (ENLs). It is with great pleasure that we feature our eleven ambitious up-and-coming nurse leaders participating in Stage Three, Empowered to Reach.…
By Chris Hinder MACN In February this year, I was fortunate enough to land my dream graduate position in a large tertiary referral centre emergency department (ED) in my home town. After three hard years at university, I could finally…
Last week, we featured our 11 new Stage One Emerging Nurse Leaders (ENLs). Today, we are delighted to introduce you to the 12 driven individuals selected for Stage Two of the highly-regarded program. We congratulate all participants on their selection…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
ACN President Professor Christine Duffield FACN and Sharon Downman FACN at the 2019 National Nursing Forum. Throughout November our Nurse Informatics Community of Interest (COI) is running a campaign focusing on raising awareness of informatics and recognizing the excellent work nurses…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Emerging Nurse Leader (ENL) Program aims to identify and nurture the individuals who will shape our professions’ future. It assists early-career enrolled and registered nurses in developing their leadership skills through unparalleled access to…
Louise Walker (Great Comebacks Steering Committee); Julia Kittscha MACN, Bruce Moncrieff (Acting Vice President, General Manager, ConvaTec Australia). Julia Kittscha MACN has dedicated her nursing career to improving the quality of care for ostomates. In September 2019 her exceptional contribution to…
Melinda McIntyre is a registered nurse/midwife who has been working with Queensland Health since 1989. She currently works as a midwife at Redland Hospital in Brisbane, QLD. Melinda has taken the time to share her experiences of a recent health…
Mitch speaking at our National Nursing Forum Gala Dinner in Hobart Mitch McPherson is a mental health advocate and founder of SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY , a charity that works to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide by reducing…
Most of us have endured the dreaded experience of trying to survive a busy day on minimal sleep. Getting less than the amount of sleep our body requires makes us feel groggy, irritable and reduces our ability to concentrate. To…
Where my cancer journey started My name is Merryn Barclay and I am currently ¾ of the way through my Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing at The Australian College of Nursing (ACN). I have always had an interest in cancer…
Engaging with your local MP (Member of Parliament) is a powerful way to ensure the knowledge, experience and expertise of nurses shapes the direction of health care in Australia. You can help politicians recognise the vital role nurses play in…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) in collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) are hosting two introductory CPD accredited My Health Record webinars to support the critical role nurses play in delivering coordinated health care to patients.…
October 13 is World Thrombosis Day (WTD), observed every year on the birthday of the German physician, biologist and anthropologist Rudolf Virchow, the man credited with being the ‘father of modern pathology’ who pioneered the pathophysiology of thrombosis. WTD is…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Mid-Career Nurse Leadership Program provides nurses who are passionate about advancing their careers with the skills to lead change in the nursing profession. Participants are supported through personal development, career coaching and learning sets.…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Mid-Career Nurse Leadership Program provides nurses who are passionate about advancing their careers with the skills to lead change in the nursing profession. Participants are supported through personal development, career coaching and learning sets.…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Mid-Career Nurse Leadership Program provides nurses who are passionate about advancing their careers with the skills to lead change in the nursing profession. Participants are supported through personal development, career coaching and learning sets.…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Mid-Career Nurse Leadership Program provides nurses who are passionate about advancing their careers with the skills to lead change in the nursing profession. Participants are supported through personal development, career coaching and learning sets.…
The National Nursing Forum (NNF) is the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) signature leadership and education conference. I was fortunate enough to once again attend this incredible event which brings together nurses from across Australia. This year is my third year…
Are you passionate about digital health and its use in nursing? Do you want to play a key role in encouraging and promoting the adoption and use of My Health Record? Then look no further! The Australian College of Nursing…
Each afternoon at 4:55pm the Australian War Memorial (AWM) holds a Last Post Ceremony to commemorate the story of an individual on their Honour Roll. On Wednesday August 14, Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Professor Kylie…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
Photo credit: Marilyn Gendek FACN The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is delighted to announce we have partnered with Jon Baines Tours to create a new and exciting nursing study tour to South Africa in June 2020. The tour explores…
University of Wollongong (UOW) academic Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Halcomb FACN has become the first nurse to be awarded the prestigious Bridges-Webb Medal. The annual award recognises members of the Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care who have made internationally significant…
In this NurseClick article Christopher Veal MACN reflects on his experience working as a Community Mental Health Nurse in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. My role as a Community Mental Health Nurse often takes me into the…
Delegates attending the 2018 National Nursing Forum The National Nursing Forum (NNF) is the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) signature annual leadership and educational event which brings together nurses, students and other health professionals from around the country and the…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
Kazuma Honda MACN (Kaz) is an Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Emerging Nurse Leader (ENL) Program participant currently completing Stage 5 Empowered to Lead. Since commencing in the ENL program in 2018, Kaz has always expressed his desire to create…
By Genevieve Edney MACN Mr X was a young, vibrant man who had primary school aged children. He was in his 40s, having successfully migrated to Australia. At the time he was working towards arranging the necessary visa for his…
Baking some goodies for a neighbor, picking up rubbish on the beach and purchasing a thank you gift for a friend. We know these acts of kindness greatly improve the lives of others, but you may be less aware that…
For June’s Nursing Now Australia Challenge, we’re asking nurses to start including their title, qualification and membership post-nominals in their email signature and social media bio. Launched in February 2018, Nursing Now — a global initiative to celebrate nurses and…
Kylie Miller and a much-loved nurse, the late Vanessa Cameron, during her treatment at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service. Former journalist Kylie Miller was recently a patient at the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service. She has written a powerful piece thanking the…
Frances Usherwood is a clinical nurse educator specialising in paediatrics and has had a long affiliation with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) as a lecturer, and as a tutor for paediatric students. She has also advised on paediatric content…
Ahead of this year’s CEO Sleepout, we spoke with the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN on why she continues to volunteer to sleep rough in Canberra in efforts to raise awareness…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) would like to congratulate all nurses, in particular our Fellows and Members, who were named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on Monday. The Honours are awarded to Australian citizens who have displayed excellence,…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) was proud to collaborate with the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers in April 2019. The award celebrated and acknowledged the extraordinary contribution…
The word leadership is used frequently, but do we actually know what it means to be a leader? The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) believes there are many ways to display leadership. With this in mind, we asked some of…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) was proud to collaborate with the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers in April 2019. The award celebrated and acknowledged the extraordinary contribution…
Sharron Smyth-Demmon MACN volunteering at an MS fundraiser with Sara Peterson World MS Day is held annually on 30 May and is dedicated to increasing awareness for all those affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In this passionate NurseClick article, Australian…
By Luke Yokota MACN I am very proud to be a part of the nursing profession. During my career as a nurse I have never looked back. Willing to give it my all, be with people and support them…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) were proud to collaborate with the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers in April 2019. The award celebrated and acknowledged the extraordinary contribution…
National Palliative Care Week (NPCW), which runs from 19-25 May 2019, aims to increase awareness and understanding of palliative care within the Australian community. The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is proud to continually set the benchmark when it comes…
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) were proud to collaborate with the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers in April 2019. The award celebrated and acknowledged the extraordinary contribution…
Some of our ENLs at the ACN Nursing and Health Expo 2018 Are you an early-career nurse keen to make a difference to our profession? The Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Emerging Nurse Leader (ENL) program aims to empower nurses…
At the 2018 Australian College of Nursing (ACN) National Nursing Forum (NNF), ACN Men in Nursing Working Group Chair Luke Yokota MACN shared his views on why men continue to be a minority in nursing with the Federal Health Minister…
At the 2019 Policy Summit in March, we caught up with each of the Policy Chapter Chairs to get a brief overview of the work conducted in 2018 as well as the upcoming priorities for 2019. Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help…
1min.care, a global awareness campaign originating in Germany, aims to address this issue by encouraging groups around the world to get together and applaud nursing for one minute each to raise the profile of nursing and celebrate our profession.
At the 2019 Policy Summit in March, we caught up with each of the Policy Chapter Chairs to get a brief overview of the work conducted in 2018 as well as the upcoming priorities for 2019. Professor Lisa Whitehead MACN…
How often during a time of stress do you lose focus on the task at hand? Never? Very rarely? Sometimes? If any of these are your answer to the question above, you can benefit greatly by integrating mindfulness into your…
“An extraordinary opportunity to witness history being made.” “A powerful call to arms.” “The energy and excitement in the atmosphere was absolutely phenomenal”. These were just some of the words used by three of the Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN)…
At the 2019 Policy Summit in March, we caught up with each of the Policy Chapter Chairs to get a brief overview of the work conducted in 2018 as well as the upcoming priorities for 2019. Professor Deborah Parker MACN…
At the 2019 Policy Summit in March, we caught up with each of the Policy Chapter Chairs to get a brief overview of the work conducted in 2018 as well as the upcoming priorities for 2019. Professor Leanne Boyd MACN…
Are you one of those people who stresses about stress before there is even stress to stress about? Nurses navigate many stressful challenges in their daily work lives — shift work, under-staffing and patient management to name just a few…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to…
To recognise the vital role nurses play in transforming our country’s health and aged care systems the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health are collaborating to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award…
To recognise the vital role nurses play in transforming our country’s health and aged care systems the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health are collaborating to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award…
To recognise the vital role nurses play in transforming our country’s health and aged care systems the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health are collaborating to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award…
To recognise the vital role nurses play in transforming our country’s health and aged care systems the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health are collaborating to present the inaugural Health Minister’s Award…
Each afternoon at 4:55pm the Australian War Memorial (AWM) holds a Last Post Ceremony to commemorate the story of an individual on their Honour Roll. On Tuesday April 2 representatives from ACN will lay a wreath at the ceremony for…
In collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) Most of your patients will now have a My Health Record. Between 16 July 2018 and 31 January 2019, Australians had the opportunity to make a choice to have a My…
By Lynne Minion When one of the largest local health districts in NSW embarked on a transformation project designed to make it the safest in the state, it had to bring a lot of people along for the ride. With…
Transitioning to Digital: Change Management Top Tips from Peter MacCallum’s Chief Nursing Officer Ahead of Australian Healthcare Week 2019 Jac Mathieson, Chief Nursing Officer at the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre (Peter McC) shares insights into Peter MacC’s digitisation journey, which…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to…
On February 11, 2019, ACN attended the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to commemorate Sister Alma May Beard, 2/13th Australian General Hospital, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). From the limited information that is available on…
ACN is proud to honour our past and commemorate those who have served our country as civilian or military nurses. The Australian War Memorial (AWM) holds daily Last Post Ceremonies, in which one person will be commemorated each day at…
By ACN Media Officer Jessica Pham The year 2018 is now past tense and we welcome 2019! With the new year, there is also the inevitable feeling to set new year’s resolutions which align with the life that we wish…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease the transition…
Over a 100 million people worldwide are pushed into extreme poverty paying for health services every year. That’s 100 million too many. International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) aims to mobilise diverse stakeholders to call for stronger, more equitable…
Unlocking the Past: A Guide to the Australian College of Nursing Archival Collection is a 38-page booklet detailing the contents of the ACN archival collection. Those interested in the history of nursing in Australia and our professional organisation will find…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease the transition…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease the transition…
If you’re keen to improve your lifestyle choices and achieve certain fitness goals, but find yourself feeling unmotivated – you are not alone. ACN’s NurseStrong campaign is all about supporting our nurse colleagues to take care of our health. We…
by Deborah Burrows The first thing I did when the National Library’s publishing division suggested I write a book about the history of Australian nurses, using the photographs and resources of the National Library, was check the catalogue of the…
by Dr Ruth Rae FACN Dr Ruth Rae FACN has been a registered nurse since 1978 and has worked as a freelance researcher and writer for more than 20 years. Her interest in nursing history led to her completing a PhD…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease the transition…
Do you find it motivating to track your fitness and health progress, or that you need daily reminders or inspiration to stick to healthy habits? If any of these are the case, then health and fitness apps are likely to…
by ACN Policy Team ACN is committed to representing the knowledge and expertise of our Members in policy development throughout the Australian health and aged care system. In this series we want to share what ACN is doing in the…
Climate change is a health issue. As the globe becomes warmer and the climate alters, it negatively affects social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. With the projection of an…
by Dr Ruth Rae FACN Dr Ruth Rae FACN has been a registered nurse since 1978 and has worked as a freelance researcher and writer for more than 20 years. Her interest in nursing history led to her completing a PhD…
By Janice Bartley MACN The NurseStrong Campaign is designed to encourage and to help nurses make time each day for their own health and wellbeing. On the eve of the FHIT by Lauren Hannaford program kick off nurses from the…
by Stefan Wythes, ACN Policy Officer On 12 September, ACN Policy staff attended a symposium hosted by the Australian National University (ANU) and organised by the Southgate Institute for Health, Society & Equity based at Flinders University in South…
Achieving an ideal work-life balance is never easy, especially as a nurse. With overtime and shiftwork, and just plain exhaustion, looking after your diet can become a low priority. To keep you on track and inspired in your NurseStrong journeys,…
by Jessica Pham, ACN Media Officer On October 10 (10/10) of every year, people all around the world recognise global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. That day is also known as World Mental Health Day and has…
ACN was proud to place community and primary health care nurses in the spotlight this September. Our national campaign, Community and Primary Health Care Nursing Week, is a highlight of our annual calendar, held 17–23 September 2018. Our eBook created…
ACN will be launching a postgraduate unit to educate nurses on endometriosis, thanks to an Australian Government grant and community collaborations with Endo Help. Endometriosis is a common, debilitating and aggressive benign condition which affects more than 10% of Australian…
by Jessica Pham, ACN Media Officer This year we have seen an increase in people taking charge of their health and wellbeing, openly speaking about issues that they had been suffering with in silence, in some cases, for years.…
By Lucy Osborn MACN and Craig Sullivan MACN This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to…
by ACN Policy Team ACN is committed to representing the knowledge and expertise of our Members in policy development throughout the Australian health and aged care system. In this series we want to share what ACN is doing in the…
By Jessica Pham, ACN Media Officer By the year 2030, Australia’s health workforce is predicted be short by 123,000 nurses. For the current profession, that means that most of you will have decided to retire and the Millennial generation…
NNF 2018. What an amazing event. I was incredibly lucky to be able to attend from start to finish. I did my best to meet as many new faces as possible and support my fellow junior nurses. I was also…
Dr Ruth Rae FACN has been a registered nurse since 1978 and has worked as a freelance researcher and writer for more than 20 years. Her interest in nursing history led to her completing a PhD thesis and multiple books…
Whether you’re a student nurse or have over 20 years of experience in a range of settings, we found six inspiring international TED talks to get you through your week. In no particular order, please enjoy and let us know…
by Judy Hitchcock MACN International Neonatal Nurses Day is 15 August 2018. We extend our most heartfelt gratitude to these exceptional nurses and the vital role they play in the lives of newborns and their families! From the…
ACN is committed to representing the knowledge and expertise of our Members in policy development throughout the Australian health and aged care system. In this series we want to share what ACN is doing in the policy space with our…
by Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) This column, The Scrubs that Fit, is all about the highs and lows of being a junior nurse, from the perspective of an ACN Emerging Nurse Leader. The aim of these blog posts is to help ease the…
by Dr Ruth Rae FACN Dr Ruth Rae FACN has been a registered nurse since 1978 and has worked as a freelance researcher and writer for more than 20 years. Her interest in nursing history led to her completing a…
ACN is committed to representing the knowledge and expertise of our Members in policy development throughout the Australian health and aged care system. In this series we want to share what ACN is doing in the policy space with our…
By Trisha Dunning AM FACN, P. Martin, N. Orford and L. Orellana. Diabetes reduces life expectancy. One person with diabetes dies every 6 seconds somewhere in the world.1 Diabetes is linked to 3.7 million deaths per year, globally 2 and…
by Katherine Schaffarczyk MACN, Nurse Educator, Westmead Hospital, Sydney Overview of the literature There is evidence that clinical supervision has been practiced since the early days of Freud, with small groups gathering to discuss and review each other’s work (Carroll, 2007).…
by Julie Mortley MACN, Clinical Documentation Specialist As I look back on my nursing career I feel eternally grateful to the profession for the opportunities and experiences it has given me. More than ten years ago I left Australia to work…
by Marie Louise, Co-Founder of Evolve Yourself Institute Nurses have offered themselves in service at the front line and shown the strength and courage of soldiers, only to find themselves no longer at war in 2018. Instead they are…
By Lucy Osborn MACN (ENL) Welcome to the world of nursing. Much like the weather in my hometown Melbourne, where you can experience every season in one day, you can encounter every emotion in one day when you are a nurse. Being a nurse is…
Somebody I Used to Know Mitchell W (2018), Bloomsbury, London, ISBN 978-1-4088-9386-4 Review by Trisha Dunning AM FACN (DLF) I am sitting in front of the consultant while he scribbles down the results of my latest memory tests. From the…
by Dr Ruth Rae FACN Dr Ruth Rae FACN has been a registered nurse since 1978 and has worked as a freelance researcher and writer for more than 20 years. Her interest in nursing history led to her completing a…
By Rachel Ashton This article is an excerpt from Bye Molly, Bye Tony. Bye Honkey. Bye Canteen Creek, first published at The Scribbling Nurse, on 11 April 2018 here. Canteen Creek was an experience and a massive culture shock for me.…
The Australian College of Nursing is proud to support Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, as she sleeps outside in the Canberra winter for her third year participating in Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Kylie’s drive to contribute comes from…
In this blog series, Out and about with our ENLs, participants of ACN’s Emerging Nurse Leader program share their stories. Today you’ll read how the journey is shaping out for Jemma Poxom MACN, Stage 5 ENL. When I heard there…
Image, left to right: Julianne Brisbane MACN, Dr Kasia Bail MACN and Kristine Kealy MACN by ACN Media Officer Jessica Pham Dr Kasia Bail MACN is the Assistant Professor in Nursing at the University of Canberra. Her research interests…
The Federal Government’s release of the Budget 2018-19 disclosed investments into health policy areas that were expected and others that were not so obvious. In response to a series of incidents reported in the media regarding the care of people…
The public and health professionals have raised concerns about unsafe and unethical practices in clinics providing cosmetic procedures. In some cases, this has prompted the issue of public warnings. With nurses both working in clinics that provide cosmetic procedures as…
by Judy Hitchcock MACN Another year, another twelfth of May, its ours to celebrate, Dwell on the past, the present and future upon this special date, It’s a pause for great reflection, to take decisive, clear direction, On the…
Happy International Nurses Day to all nurses and nursing students, whether you are in Australia or another part of the globe! This is a day to consider our role in the global health ecosystem, celebrate our achievements, our profession and…
by ACN Policy Team ACN is committed to representing the knowledge and expertise of our Members in policy development throughout the Australian health and aged care system. In this series we want to share what ACN is doing in the…
By Madeline Hawke MACN (Stage 1 ENL) As someone who inadvertently signed up to a university course located 40 minutes from my house, I find that I spend a lot of my time sitting in the car. If it weren’t…
The admiration patients have for nurses is humbling and inspiring, yet when it comes to being comprehensively consulted on health care issues, nurses are battling for recognition. The Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) second annual Policy Summit in Canberra was…
How much do you know about the nurses who represented our profession with distinction during the First World War? Those who have nursed before us have considerably shaped how our profession is today. We owe it to our nursing predecessors…
Our favourite day of the year, International Nurses Day (IND) is fast-approaching! The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has announced that the theme for this year’s IND, 12 May, is Nurses: A Voice to Lead, Health is Human Right. But…
Podcasts are a great way to pass time, make you think outside your bubble, learn something new on your commute or even provide some entertainment while you complete household chores. Below are our tips for some great podcasts to listen…
Recently, ACN’s CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN was interviewed by HotDoc, a website designed to facilitate GP and patient engagement with health. Thank you to Michael McKay for this wonderful article about the profession and work we love! Hugh…
by ACN Policy team ACN is committed to representing the knowledge and expertise of our membership in policy development throughout the Australian health and aged care system. In this series we want to share what ACN is doing in the…
by ACN Media Officer Jessica Pham 7 April each year marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (more commonly known as the WHO) in 1948. The rest of the world celebrates it as World Health Day…
The annual Australian Healthcare Week Conference, held 21-23 March, hosted its Excellence Awards last night at the International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The Awards aim to recognise those who are making the greatest contributions to patient wellbeing.…
In order to reflect and remember the stories of individual Australians on the Australian War Memorial’s (AWM) Honour Roll, the AWM holds daily Last Post Ceremonies, choosing one particular man or woman to commemorate each afternoon at 4.55pm. The…
by Matt Luther FACN Disaster nursing: Are you really prepared and have you asked the right questions? (PART 1) provided an overview of disasters and the role of nursing, Part 2 below introduces international perspectives on preparedness for disaster nursing. Let us…
By ACN Media Officer Jessica Pham Today our offices in Canberra and Parramatta are proud to have celebrated National Close the Gap Day with a morning tea to highlight the health inequities that still exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.…
by ACN Media Officer Jessica Pham The Australian College of Nursing has always been a proud supporter and advocator for equality for all regardless of gender, age, race, sexual orientation, cultural background, religious beliefs, income, education or where they…
by Matt Luther FACN The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses all recognise the important role that nurses have in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Despite this, formal preparation, maintenance and positions…
By Judith Lee MACN (Undergraduate) I was part of a group of third-year nursing students in a recent overseas clinical placement in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The aim of this placement was to improve our clinical skills, and increase our understanding of…
Here at the ACN, we are committed to championing for women’s equality, celebrate women’s achievements and challenge stereotypes and bias – goals that all align with this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) theme of #PressforProgress. More locally, the staff at…
By Amanda J. Ruler MACN The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has estimated that global military expenditure was $1,676 billion in 2015 – about 2.3% of the world’s total gross domestic product (GDP) (2016). Likewise, Wright (2011) reported that…
In An inside look into mentorship: PART 1, mentor Lieutenant Anthony Russell MACN outlines his experience, now hear from the mentee, ENL Emma Bugden MACN on what she thought of the professional mentorship. By Emma Bugden MACN, Project Manager – Optimum…
New evidence shows that poor diet is directly or indirectly linked to five out of seven leading risk factors contributing to the unequal health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. In light of this, the…
By Emily Murray The invisibility of nurses in management and policy decisions, relative to other health care professions, continues to frustrate and confound us. I argue that sexism, ageism, uniforms and traditional healthcare hierarchies are four ways in which nurses are…
A major aspect of ACN’s Emerging Nurse Leader program is creating valuable professional and mentor relationships. In this two-part blog series you’ll hear from from our ENL, Emma Bugden MACN and her mentor Lieutenant Anthony Russell MACN on what this…
By ACN Media Officer, Jessica Pham On Friday February 19th, Simon Joscelyne aka ‘the butterfly man’ swam 3.6km for Kirsty Boden, the heroic South Australian nurse who was killed during the 2017 London Bridge terror attacks while attempting to help…
By Kate Birrell OAM MACN, David Ramsay and Benjamin Dingle In an effort to assist the Timorese to build capacity and improve patient care in hospitals across Timor-Leste, St John of God Social Outreach, part of St John of…
Australians who are distrustful of sunscreen, need to take note. Scientists in Brisbane have found that if we used sunscreen on a daily basis, it could result in up to 28,000 fewer cases of melanoma (one of the most dangerous…
By ACN Nurse Educator Trish Lowe MACN “The more specific and unambiguous a goal, the more likely it will be achieved.” By now, your 2017 New Year’s resolutions will have been forged or forgotten! They may have been flippantly, or…
We’re excited to relaunch ACN’s monthly e-magazine, NurseClick in blog format. While we’ve loved bringing you the jam-packed PDF e-magazine over the last five years, it’s time to adapt NurseClick to the contemporary online setting. The blog, will remain as…
The opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s and not necessarily those of ACN or the editor. No articles can be republished without permission from ACN. Information is correct at time of publication.
