4.1 Workshop: You can’t be what you can’t see: recognising the specialty gerontological nursing
Tracks
Track 1
| Thursday, July 18, 2024 |
| 10:45 AM - 11:35 AM |
| Waterfront Room 1 |
Speaker
Prof Tracey Moroney
Head of School
Curtin University
You can’t be what you can’t see: recognising the specialty gerontological nursing
Abstract
Every year the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency data reveals that aged care is the largest group of any single nursing specialty area (AIHW 2016, Department of Health and Aged Care 2022). However, nurses specialising in older person nursing don’t only work in aged care: older people are also the predominant users of acute care and community services (Slatyer, 2021). Despite these high needs for nurses with specialist skills and knowledge in caring for older people, gerontological nurses traditionally have not had the same kinds of professional recognition and opportunities as other speciality fields of nursing.
The focus of this workshop will be on the bourgeoning opportunities of gerontological nursing in Australia. Participants will be provided with updates on the concepts and content of gerontological nursing, the Australian gerontological nursing competencies, new practices in transition-to-practice (new graduate) programs, undergraduate nursing clinical placement approaches, and how Australia is performing in relation to Australasia and the wider global gerontological nursing community.
Workshop participants will conduct a self-assessment of their own or their teams’ competencies in gerontological skills, knowledge and attitudes. Activities will include peer interaction and brainstorming regarding key gerontological nursing components in all health settings, such as: multi-morbidity management, complex pharmacological needs, risk assessment and communication, dignity of risk, assessment and interventions for variations in functional and cognitive status, and non-pharmacological interventions for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Participants will be invigorated by the wealth of opportunity for career development and health services enablement to better serve the needs of the Australian ageing population.
References:
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Nursing and Midwifery Workforce.
2. Department of Health & Aged Care. Health Workforce Data. Canberra, Australia. 2022 National Health Workforce Data S. Factsheet, Nursing and Midwifery 2019. https://hwdhealthgovau/resources/publications/factsheet-nrmw-2019html2019.
3. Slatyer, C. Vafaes, C. 2021. Gerontological nursing: a holistic approach to the care of older people. Elsevier.
The focus of this workshop will be on the bourgeoning opportunities of gerontological nursing in Australia. Participants will be provided with updates on the concepts and content of gerontological nursing, the Australian gerontological nursing competencies, new practices in transition-to-practice (new graduate) programs, undergraduate nursing clinical placement approaches, and how Australia is performing in relation to Australasia and the wider global gerontological nursing community.
Workshop participants will conduct a self-assessment of their own or their teams’ competencies in gerontological skills, knowledge and attitudes. Activities will include peer interaction and brainstorming regarding key gerontological nursing components in all health settings, such as: multi-morbidity management, complex pharmacological needs, risk assessment and communication, dignity of risk, assessment and interventions for variations in functional and cognitive status, and non-pharmacological interventions for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Participants will be invigorated by the wealth of opportunity for career development and health services enablement to better serve the needs of the Australian ageing population.
References:
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Nursing and Midwifery Workforce.
2. Department of Health & Aged Care. Health Workforce Data. Canberra, Australia. 2022 National Health Workforce Data S. Factsheet, Nursing and Midwifery 2019. https://hwdhealthgovau/resources/publications/factsheet-nrmw-2019html2019.
3. Slatyer, C. Vafaes, C. 2021. Gerontological nursing: a holistic approach to the care of older people. Elsevier.
Biography
Professor Tracey Moroney OAM is the Head of the Curtin School of Nursing. She is a registered nurse, with a 24-year career in higher education. For the past 14 years, Tracey has held a number of senior leadership roles at four different universities. These roles are illustrative of her leadership experience and success. Tracey has extensive expertise in transforming governance structures and building high-performing teams. In addition to representing nursing on a range of university and hospital committees and boards, Tracey is the current Board Member of the WA East Metro Health Service where she advocates for nursing and midwifery and for quality person centered care. Tracey is passionate about engaging students in innovative and creative curricula, ensuring students develop the skills, knowledge and attributes that enable transformative nursing practice. Her research is focused on teaching and learning and the use of curriculum pedagogies that move beyond traditional teaching approaches. In 2021, Tracey was awarded an OAM for her services to nursing education.
Prof Jenny Weller-Newton
Head of School, Nursing & Midwifery
University of Canberra
Co-presenter
Biography
Professor Jenny Weller-Newton is the Head of School, Nursing and Midwifery at University of Canberra. She has built an international reputation for her high quality, innovative research in workplace learning in healthcare, particularly nursing, reflective practice and interprofessional learning. Jenny has been a trailblazer in nursing and led the introduction of practice development in Australia and held the first international visiting appointment in the School of Nursing, McMaster University, Canada (2016-2021). She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing, and an inducted member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. As a scholar and leader in health professions education and research, Jenny has served in many senior professional body and university positions, and was the State Chair, Victoria Network of the Australian College of Nursing (2014 -2021) and Deputy Chair of the Workforce Sustainability Policy Chapter (2022).
Chairperson
Leeanne Heaton
2020 ADP Participant
Western Sydney University
