Canberra 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
Using Restraints in Clinical Practice
Restraints were a key feature reported on in the royal commission into aged care. Awareness, understanding and usage of restraints vary across clinical settings; however, there is a clear need to promote less restrictive practices. This session will include:
- How to classify a restraint
- What the reality of restraint usage is
- What contentious issues are associated with restraints
Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases
There are increasing rates of infectious diseases in our population that we have never seen before or haven’t seen for a long time. In this session, you will become aware of how and why these diseases are occurring. This session will cover:
- The terminology related to infectious diseases
- The incidence of infectious diseases that have appeared in the past 20 years
- Why old diseases are re-emerging
- What the community’s role is in controlling emerging and re-emerging infectious disease
Technology in Diabetes Management
Diabetes treatments have come a long way since the first insulin shot. Nowadays, technology is a key part of diabetes management. This session will discuss how technology continues to support those living with diabetes and includes:
- Diabetes technology then and now
- The use of integrative technologies in diabetes treatment
- A look at the barriers to low uptake
Falls in Older Persons
Around one in three Australians aged 65 and over have a fall each year. Falls are a significant contributor to pain, injury, disability and death in older populations. Nurses play a crucial role in preventing falls in a range of acute settings and the wider community. This session provides an update in this area of practice. After this session, participants will be aware of:
- Common medications and how they can lead to falls
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of orthostatic hypotension
- Common medications used for osteoporosis
Emerging Technologies That Will Change the Practice of Mental Health Nursing
Technology is a big part of most aspects of healthcare; however, mental health is still being overlooked in terms of technological advancements. This session will discuss how we can use technology to improve physical and mental comorbidity among mental health clients and includes:
- How can technology help improve the wellbeing of mental health clients?
- What are the barriers to implementing technological advancements in mental health?
HIV in 2020
The rates of HIV have fallen significantly in Australia over the past 20 years. However, there is a need for continued prevention and treatment strategies to reduce HIV prevalence. This session describes HIV in the Australian context today and includes:
- An introduction to HIV
- HIV in Australia
- Current HIV epidemiology
- HIV testing
- HIV prevention
Sepsis: It’s About TIME
Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. In Australia, approximately 5000 deaths occur each year due to sepsis - almost five times the national road toll last year (2019)! With these statistics predicted to keep rising, it is vital for health practitioners to be aware of how best to care for these patients. Not only to treat those already diagnosed but also to be skilled in detecting a deteriorating patient early. After this session, you will be able to:
- Define SIRS, sepsis and septic shock
- Identify the risk factors, signs and symptoms of sepsis and the importance of early escalation
- Define the initial management actions for sepsis
- Understand key principles in the use of antibiotics for sepsis
- Know the most up to date evidence regarding sepsis management
Patient Safety in the Acute Setting
This session will ask the question ‘how safe is the system?’. It will examine what a high-reliability organisation looks like and how we move healthcare toward that direction. We will also examine some patient safety programs within hospitals and discuss how you can raise and escalate safety concerns, as well as looking at how influencing the way we communicate has on the outcome of raising such concerns.
Working Together to Help Dementia Patients
Caring for a person with dementia can sometimes involve many challenges. This is why collaboration and empowerment between clinicians are essential to improve patient outcomes. This session will consider:
- What does it mean to have transparency and collaboration across networks and providers?
- How do we empower clinicians in dementia care?
- How do we support people with dementia who have complex issues (e.g. severe behavioural changes)?
Eating for Healthy Ageing
Nutrition is important at any age, including old age. As older adults tend to eat less, nurses have to ensure that they still fulfil their nutritional requirements to maintain their health. This session will look at:
- A review of nutritional requirements for adults and older adults
- The current nutrient intakes in Australia
- The impact of lifestyle on overall health and wellbeing
Advanced Liver Disease
Those who live with chronic hepatitis B and C infections are at risk of developing advanced liver diseases. This session includes:
- How hepatitis B and C can progress into advanced diseases
- The different types of advanced liver disease, such as:
- Liver cirrhosis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- The Care of the patient living with advanced liver disease
Trauma-Informed Self Care
Working in an allied health context often involves exposure to trauma material, which impacts us over time. Understanding the dynamics of patient-clinician interactions within an allied health context can help us develop meaningful, effective self-care practices. This session explores:
- The physiology underlying vicarious trauma and relationships in healthcare settings
- Approaches to work
- Balanced care for both patients and nurses
Presenters
Danielle Kennedy
Danielle Kennedy is a nurse practitioner: aged care who currently works in the Murrumbidgee local health district. After qualifying as a registered nurse in 1996, Danielle spent 15 years working in various healthcare settings in the United Kingdom, predominantly in haemato-oncology with a special focus in intravenous access. In 2009, she began placing PICCs and went on to develop a nurse-led ultrasound guided PICC-insertion service as a part of her master of science (cancer nursing). On returning to Australia, in 2014, she entered a community nurse practitioner internship with a special focus on the older person and was endorsed in May 2017. Danielle is passionate about the role of nurse practitioners in supporting older adults in the regional and rural setting.
Shannon Woodward
Shannon Woodward has been nursing for 26 years and has worked as a nurse and midwife in both acute and community-based settings in metropolitan and rural areas. Shannon has worked in the area of sexual health and HIV for the past 17 years. She completed a master of nursing (nurse practitioner) in 2010 and has been employed as a nurse practitioner at Canberra sexual health centre ever since. Shannon is currently president of the Australasian Sexual Health and HIV Nurses Association.
Rachel Longhurst
Rachel Longhurst is the clinical nurse educator for critical care (intensive care and coronary care) at Calvary Hospital, Canberra. She has a masters in critical care nursing.
Elizabeth Obersteller
Elizabeth Obersteller is a nurse practitioner and credentialed diabetes educator with over 20 years' experience working with people with diabetes across four states and territories. Liz currently works with communities across the Murrumbidgee area, often driving two to three hours between communities. She benefits from the opportunities to see many different aspects of the NSW rural areas. With a focus on supporting the person with diabetes to become actively involved in their care, as often there is a misunderstanding and mismatch in expectations between HCP and the PWD. Liz is a strong advocate of model supporting client-centred care. Lately, Liz has increased interest in the role that technology plays in supporting people living with diabetes, which includes looking at the barriers to low uptake and use of integrative technologies.
Jane Kellett
Jane Kellett is an advanced accredited practising dietitian and a lecturer in nutrition and dietetics in the faculty of health at the University of Canberra. Jane established the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics program at the University of Canberra in 2005 and has been the convener of the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics program for the last 12 years. Jane is an experienced clinical and foodservice dietitian, and her research interests are in the areas of malnutrition, aged care, work-integrated learning,and dietetics education.
Phoebe Barr
Phoebe Barr is a senior emergency pharmacist at one of the largest metropolitan public hospitals in Melbourne. Phoebe has completed a master of clinical pharmacy and a graduate certificate in pharmacy practice since graduating with her bachelor of pharmacy in 2011. Phoebe has worked at multiple tertiary hospitals in Melbourne and Canberra in many clinical, education and leadership settings. These roles have included acting lead pharmacist for the division of surgery and preceptor for pharmacy interns. Phoebe has particular interests in emergency medicine, perioperative medication management but is also passionate about medication and patient safety, as well as patient advocacy.
Anne Blunn
Anne Blunn graduated from the Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney 1985 as a registered nurse. She has 30 years' nursing experience, including 12 years' experience in Gastroenterology/Endoscopy in both public and private settings. Anne was one of the first registered nurses in Australia to be credentialed in gastroenterology. She was the regional manager for the Gastroenterological Nurses College of Australia (GENCA) between 2003 and 2006 and was an Australian Hepatology Association board member between 2013 and 2015. Currently, Anne works as a clinical nurse consultant.
Wendy Beckingham
Wendy Beckingham is an assistant director of nursing at the Canberra Hospital and a credentialed infection control professional in infection prevention and control from the Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control. She has held this position since 1998. Wendy holds a master in nursing research and represents the ACIPC on the Hand Hygiene Committee for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. Wendy has co-authored several papers for journals, such as Healthcare Infection and MJA, and is co-author of the Mosby Medical dictionary.
Nirosha Kodikara
Nirosha Kodikara is a credentialed mental health nurse who is working as a clinical nurse educator at a secure mental health unit (ACT Health). She completed an undergraduate degree at the Australian Catholic University and a Master in Advanced Nursing Practice (Mental Health) at the University of Melbourne. She won the Mark Hodge Award: Postgraduate of the Year from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses in 2016. Nirosha has over six years’ experience as a registered psychiatric nurse in a variety of areas, including adult inpatient units, aged persons mental health, royal children’s hospital, adult community mental health and justice health.
Steve Meyer
Steve Meyer is a psychologist with over 13 years' experience in the human services field. He has focused largely on trauma therapy across mainstream and cross-cultural settings, both in Australia and overseas. This has included work with refugees and asylum seekers, Indigenous Australians living in remote NT communities, community development in the Solomon Islands, supporting recovery from violent crime, and employee wellbeing counselling. More recently, Steve has been based in private practice and currently works as a counsellor with university students. Steve is dedicated to trauma-informed care of both patients and practitioners, realising this ultimately leads to greatly improved outcomes for patients and a more sustainable healthcare career. Drawing from diverse experience, Steve aims to teach practical strategies that promote safe and effective patient-practitioner interactions.
Carol Chan
Carol Chan has been a clinical pharmacist for 14 years and is currently the Lead Pharmacist for the Division of Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Services at the Canberra Hospital. Carol completed her Masters in Pharmacy Practice in 2017, is a Certified Advancing Practice II pharmacist, a Certified Geriatric pharmacist and an AACP accredited consultant pharmacist. She has a particular interest in geriatric medicine, mentoring and education.
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
Canberra Nurses' Conference 2021
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