Brisbane Nurses' Conference 2021
Why Attend
This general nurses’ conference is an ideal way for you to update your knowledge about a range of nursing topics each year. Book your place at this upcoming conference and:
- Keep up-to-date
- Network, share experiences, and connect with like-minded colleagues
- Help meet your CPD requirements
- Enrich your professional practice and personal growth
- Improve health outcomes specific to your local community and much, much more…
Program
Welcome and Introduction
Busting Vaccination Myths
The recent rise in anti-vaccination has caused the resurgence of several previously eradicated preventable diseases. It is up to healthcare workers to ensure that these diseases don’t come back by promoting vaccinations. This session will discuss the following topics:
- What are the diseases which can be prevented by vaccines?
- Why is a fever not a sign of a vaccine allergy?
- Which health conditions contraindicate vaccines?
- How can we approach the topic of vaccination with parents who do not agree with vaccinations?
Mindset Matters
The complex healthcare environment nurses work in can sometimes push us to near breaking point, but our mindset determines how we perceive these challenges and how we respond to them. Moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset can help nurses better manage the demands of our work and our profession. This session will discuss how nurses as carers, learners, teachers, managers and as executives, can all benefit from embracing and promoting a growth mindset. It includes:
- What can be described as fixed and growth mindsets?
- How can we apply growth mindset principles to various nursing roles?
- What are the ways we can relate growth mindset to continuous improvement, resilience and success?
- In what ways can we articulate strategies to promote a growth mindset?
Nutrition and Women’s Health
Women’s health is quite a broad topic. It is to be expected that there is a great deal of information (and misinformation) available to the public regarding this topic. Nutrition can play a significant role in this space. This session will discuss:
- The microbiome - can our digestive microbiome influence the vaginal microbiome?
- The gut-brain axis - how can food affect our mood?
- The current evidence in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis - how can nutrition impact these conditions?
Anti-Inflammatory Reliever for Mild Asthma in Adults and Adolescents
The Australian Asthma Handbook recommends as-needed SABA only for people with mild asthma. However, the GINA 2019 Strategy now recommends that all adults and adolescents with asthma should receive either symptom-driven (in mild asthma) or daily low dose ICS-containing preventer treatment, to reduce their risk of serious exacerbations. There is strong evidence that SABA-only treatment, although providing short-term relief of asthma symptoms, does not protect patients from severe exacerbations, and that regular or frequent use of SABAs increases the risk of exacerbations (Global Initiative for Asthma, 2019). This session includes:
- Definition of good control of asthma
- Identification of problems associated with over-reliance of SABAs in adults and adolescents with asthma
- Understanding of trials on as-needed anti-inflammatory relievers
- Key changes to GINA 2019 Strategy
Culturally Safe Care
When providing care to a patient from a different culture, linguistic or religious background, it is easy to second guess yourself. This session will explore the concept of culturally safe care and discuss:
- What is culturally safe care?
- Why is it important to know your patient’s cultural, linguistic and religious background?
- What are the challenges faced by healthcare professionals who provide care to patients from a different cultural, linguistic and religious background?
Basic Principles of ECG
In this session, we will review the basic underlying principles and the normal criteria for interpreting a 12-lead ECG. You will learn how to systematically read an ECG to determine and identify abnormalities and their significance. You will have time to apply these on a normal 12-lead ECG. This session will explain the theory and practical application of:
- Basic ECG principles - lead placement and key terms explained
- The criteria for normality of the different components of the ECG
- The determination of cardiac rate
- Normal R-wave progression and how to interpret the different QRS configurations
The Immune System and Nosocomial Infections
Hospital-acquired infections, also known as nosocomial infections, are some of the most common complications that occur in the healthcare setting. As more and more organisms become resistant to treatment, infections will only be harder to fight. It is up to healthcare workers to prevent infections before they occur. This session will look at:
- A basic explanation of the immune system
- Causes of nosocomial infections
- Methods to prevent nosocomial infections
When Is It Time to Talk About Dying?
Why are people still afraid to talk about dying? This session will briefly look at the right or wrong time to have these conversations. It includes:
- Do you wait until you are diagnosed with a terminal illness before you discuss your wishes with your family or is it part of planning for the future when you complete your will and enduring power of attorney documents?
- Palliative Care - what is it?
- Estate planning - how important is a plan?
- Conversations about end of life - what are the ways to document your wishes if you are unable to do so?
Diabetes and Dementia: Which Comes First?
Both dementia and diabetes (type 1 and type 2) are on the increase, as is dementia. Why are so many people now developing dementia younger, and what may it have to do with blood glucose levels? This session will discuss:
- What causes diabetes?
- What causes dementia?
- How is their pathophysiology interrelated?
- How do we care for people with both diabetes and dementia?
Smoking and Quitting
Everyone knows something about smoking and quitting. At least half of what everyone ‘knows’ is either incorrect, not supported by research or only helpful for some individual’s thinking about their smoking or quitting. This session includes:
- How to assess smoking and nicotine dependence
- Treatments and relapse reduction (medicines and behavioural)
- Simple teaching strategies to enable your smokers to progress towards long-term abstinence
Diabetes: Myths, Facts and Visions
The perception of diabetes mellitus as a complex and life-limiting condition prevails, despite advances in research and innovations in treatment. Confusion amongst people with diabetes and healthcare professionals alike is compounded by a wealth of information, often editorial, that liberally interprets trends in diabetes into attractive ‘cures’. Here we examine common myths, reveal the facts and consider a future vision for people with diabetes. This session includes:
- A review of the incidence and growth of diabetes from local, regional and global perspectives
- How to Identify common diabetes myths and discuss the evidence concerning best practice
- An overview of current evidence-based guidelines for the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- An overview of new trends and treatments in diabetes management
Holistic Care for Healthcare
Providing high quality, affordable and sustainable healthcare will continue to be a considerable challenge. Despite innovation and advancement, we are busier than ever and yet healthcare can almost always be better. A contemporary case study will highlight some of these challenges and how they can be approached. This session includes:
- Enhancing quality outcomes through interprofessional collaboration
- Integrating standards into real life
- The power of education to enhance evidence-based practice
- Planning for the known as well as the unknown
Presenters
Sean Smith
Sean Smith has had the privilege of working in health care for three decades in more than a dozen countries around the world. Commencing his clinical career as a registered nurse, Sean progressed into hospital management, before spending eight years as the CEO of a large healthcare provider. Sean has built two healthcare businesses and consulted to industry around health informatics, healthcare management, and healthcare strategy. Sean is currently the CEO and DON of Mackay Private Hospital and Adjunct Senior Lecturer for Flinders University’s Master of Hospital Administration degree in China. Sean has experience with clinical and non-clinical systems planning, implementation, and deployment in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the United Kingdom. With a passion for healthcare education, Sean has educated from university healthcare students in Australia to community health workers in Papua New Guinea. Sean provides clear, concise consultation through his experience in clinical management and information technology, to ensure projects are delivered with the best possible outcomes for all stakeholders, on budget and on time. His passions are strategy in health care, quality in clinical practice, and excellence in health management. Sean holds a Master of Business Administration, a graduate diploma in advanced nursing, and is a member of the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Authority, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Health Informatics Society of Australia. Sean continues to provide leadership and strategic direction for all stakeholders to deliver the highest possible standards to exceed current and future healthcare needs.
John Serginson
John Serginson has been a nurse practitioner: respiratory care at the Caboolture Hospital since 2010. He completed his nurse practitioner master's degree at the University of Queensland (UQ) with clinical training at The Prince Charles Hospital. He is an adjunct lecturer in the UQ School of Nursing and Midwifery. With 29 years’ experience as a nurse (16 in respiratory care), his research interests include domiciliary oxygen, inhaled therapy and COPD models of care.
Natasha Eaton
Natasha is a Registered Nurse with 25 years experience predominantly in Cardiovascular Nursing, but over the last 6 years her career as taken a sidestep into Simulation based health professional education. In this time, she has developed a curiosity about how to help others develop professionally in a dynamic and at times stressful work environment that often leaves little time or energy for reflective practice. Natasha applies the growth mindset and her knowledge and skill in debriefing to improve individual and team performance with the ultimate goal of empowering health care professionals to reach their full potential.
Debbie Rigby
Debbie Rigby is a consultant clinical pharmacist from Brisbane. Since graduation with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Queensland, she has since obtained a graduate diploma in clinical pharmacy, certification in geriatric pharmacy, an advanced diploma in nutritional pharmacy, certification as an asthma educator, and she has become credentialed as an advanced practice pharmacist. Debbie is a director on the NPS MedicineWise Board; clinical reference lead to Australian Digital Health Agency; a member of the Veterans’ MATES Practitioner Reference Group, Australian Deprescribing Network; visiting fellow at QUT; and an adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Queensland. Debbie conducts home medicine reviews in collaboration with GPs in a medical centre and provides education to pharmacists, GPs, nurses, Nurse Practitioners and consumers. Debbie was the inaugural recipient of the AACP Consultant Pharmacist Award in 2008 and was awarded the 2001 PSA Australian Pharmacist of the Year, the PSA Qld Bowl of Hygeia in 2002 and the SHPA 2016 Australian Clinical Pharmacy Award. Last year, Debbie was voted the most influential woman in pharmacy.
Alexandria Friend
Alexandria Friend is an accredited practising dietitian with Eat Smart Nutrition Consultants. Her workload involves private one-on-one consults, assisting patients of a psychiatric hospital with their nutrition and presentations of varying topics and audiences. The diversity of her role has allowed her to gain experience in a wide range of nutritional issues, including, but not limited to, weight concerns, chronic disease management, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, sports nutrition and mental health. She believes in a patient-centred approach, as there is no 'one-size-fits-all' when it comes to nutrition, and she takes pride in providing individualised care to each and every one of her patients.
Sue de Muelenaere
Sue de Muelenaere is a registered nurse with more than 20 years’ experience as a nurse educator. Sue completed a five-year bachelor of nursing degree in South Africa, which included training in psychiatric and community nursing and midwifery. Since then, Sue has worked extensively in the intensive care environment, during which she has presented various courses, including an honour’s degree, a diploma in intensive care, and various short cardiac and ECG courses. Sue also holds an honour’s degree in advanced nursing science (intensive care nursing) and diplomas in nursing education and nursing administration. She was the education manager in a specialised heart hospital where she was responsible for the education of all hospital staff, including non-nursing staff members. Sue is passionate about teaching. She maintains a special interest in all aspects of nursing the critically-ill patient.
Peta Tauchmann
Peta Tauchmann has worked as a diabetes educator since 1998. In 2003, she established a private practice in diabetes education in Brisbane and, in 2015, she was endorsed as a nurse practitioner. Professionally, she enjoys a range of activities, working in her own community-based clinics and contributing to local and national projects designed to improve the care of people with diabetes. She enjoys working in an area of healthcare that is meaningful, constantly changing and intellectually stimulating.
Amanda Fryer
Amanda has been working in diabetes education for over 20 years. She's been involved in setting up a hospital diabetes service, educating nurses through conferences, and onsite in aged care facilities, developing resources to simplify learning. For the past 15 years, Amanda has been working in private practice. Due to the increasing number of people developing type 2 diabetes, and the lack of education and resources available to many of them, Amanda has seen too many people with uncontrolled diabetes developing complications. This has been generally due to them not knowing the questions to ask their health professionals or having the skills and knowledge to effectively manage their condition. Her focus now is reaching as many people with type 2 diabetes as possible through online education and resources, to ensure they become the drivers of their diabetes, not passengers, and stay healthy to live the life they’ve worked for. She’ll continue to educate nurses to ensure their patients and residents receive the highest quality of care when in their facilities.
Karen Gower
Karen Gower was the clinical nurse manager of the Wesley Palliative Care Service from 2003 to 2013, having worked in oncology since 1989. In 2011, she completed a master of nursing science (nurse practitioner). In 2013, Karen joined Blue Care, Metro North Community Service, as the first community nurse practitioner for Blue Care. She was fortunate to be part of a project funded through the department of health and ageing to ascertain if having a nurse practitioner working with the community domiciliary service would support palliative clients and their families to care for their family member at home. These clients were, generally, in the last three months of life due to a life-limiting illness. Working with the client’s GP and/or a specialist palliative care service at their treating hospital as part of an integrated service showed significant improvement in service provision and the position was supported to continue across Metro North once the project finished in 2015. In 2015, Blue Care were fortunate to win a Metro North Queensland Health tender to provide community palliative care funded by Queensland Health. Family satisfaction surveys showed families felt supported to continue caring for their loved one at home and grateful to be able to fulfil their family members wish to remain at home. In 2017, Karen joined the Metro South Palliative Care Service Queensland Health, working part-time to deliver palliative care in the community. In 2019, she finished working with Blue Care and is enjoying working part-time at Metro South. It has been a privilege to journey with these clients and their families, enabling them to remain in their place of choice – whether that be in their own home or in hospital.
Madeline Hall
Madeline Hall is a Nurse Practitioner, Immunisation Program Nurse, Midwife and Registered Nurse with over 20 years experience in vaccine preventable diseases. She has completed a Master of Nurse Practitioner Studies (UQ 2016); Master of Public Health (UQ 2012); Graduate Certificate in Health Studies - Community Child and Adolescent Health (UQ 2000) and a Bachelor of Nursing - Post Registration (ECU 1997). Madeline has been a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) from 2012 to 2021, and Advisory Committee on Vaccines from 2020, representing the vaccination procedures/nursing areas of expertise. She is a tutor for the ACN Immunisation for Health Practitioners program, a lecturer for the ACU Program for Nurse Immunisers and a lecturer for the UQ Master of Nurse Practitioner program.
Need for Program
Good patient care is directly related to the quality of the nursing care being provided. The healthcare environment is rapidly changing and all nurses are faced with the constant challenge of keeping their knowledge, skills and practice, up-to-date. As well, the amount of new knowledge available is increasing. To achieve the desired patient outcomes utilising informed, safe and competent nursing practice is vital. In addition, continuing professional development is a professional regulatory requirement.
Purpose of Program
The purpose of this conference is to enable all nurses to remain up-to-date on a range of current professional and clinical practice topics.
Your learning outcomes
- Identify behaviours that cause illness in people in order to plan care to prevent health deterioration
- Optimise interprofessional collaboration with the intention of enhancing better patient outcomes
- Apply new knowledge about a range of conditions to provide holistic care
- Underpin patient outcomes with evidence-based practice, recognised standards and guidelines
Brisbane Nurses' Conference 2021
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