Featured Image: Hypervision Creative on Shutterstock Editor’s Note: This article contains discussion around mental health, disasters, trauma and post-traumatic stress. If you find you are experiencing distress, please discontinue reading and contact a health service, such as Lifeline at 13 11 14. In the past decade, healthcare workers in Australia have not just been exposed…
Nurses are best equipped to lead strategies managing catastrophic events because of their real-time, hands-on experience of dealing with the challenging unfolding situations present. A new report from Health Professionals Bank and the Australian College of Nursing puts forward five clear recommendations to ensure this role can be greater acknowledged and optimised to improve health…
By Louise Lommerse MACN Stage Four ACN Emerging Nurse Leader Since 2017, I have been part of a volunteer organisation called Disaster Relief Australia (DRA). DRA is a veteran-led organisation that rapidly deploys disaster relief teams domestically and internationally. This organisation provides a purpose for veterans, emergency first responders, health professionals and civilians to serve and assist others in times of need.…
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 long ago that Australia faced a different kind of battle with the Black Summer bushfires…
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 know what you think in the comments. Projecting into the international disaster response space, Hammad…
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 for such nursing functions remain inconsistent. Further complicating this is the concept and frequent assumption…
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 total global nuclear weapons spending in 2011 was estimated as $104.9 billion, a significant proportion…