Welcome and Introduction

Staff Splitting: A Fast Road to Conflict?

Staff splitting can occur in any workplace setting. Whatever the reason and whoever is involved, staff need to be aware of its highly divisive and disruptive consequences. This session looks at this destructive behaviour and includes:

• What happens when staff splitting occurs?
• Why is staff splitting highly contagious in the workplace
• Why do staff splitters generally have ‘high conflict’ personalities?
• How can you overcome this pathological behaviour?

When Less is More: Recognising the Unnecessary Use of Medicines

The adverse effects of medication are a constant concern for healthcare professionals. Knowing the potential risks of a medication can significantly prevent injury and harm, such as falls. This session will look at the adverse effects of medications, the need for deprescribing and how to prevent unnecessary harm. It includes:

• What are some of the common adverse effects of medicines?
• How can you reduce the risk of harm associated with medicines?
• Why is it important to be aware of adverse effects?
• What is deprescribing and what are its principles?

Hospital Avoidance

Hospital avoidance is a concept that is beneficial for patients, more so for certain populations. There are systems in place that are designed to help patients stay at home or in the community for longer, but are these being utilised to their highest potential? This session will discuss if it is possible to avoid hospitalisation. It includes:

• What are the factors associated with hospitalisation?
• Are hospitalisations preventable?
• Is there anything we can do in order to prevent hospitalisation?

Neurological Case Study: Brain Tumour

Brain tumours can be benign or malignant. What other differences are there and how do they present clinically? This session will focus on a case study of a patient with a brain tumour. Discuss:

• Nursing assessment - what you need to know
• Management of deficits - how to plan for the best outcomes
• Evaluating your care

Diabetes Management: Medications and Devices

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are lifelong conditions characterised by elevated blood glucose levels due to a failure in insulin production or a decrease in insulin sensitivity and function. Over the past five to ten years, there has been an explosion in diabetes medications, both oral and injectable treatments. This session will take you through:

• Oral medication
• Injectables
• Insulin
• Insulin pumps
• Continuous glucose monitors (CGMS)

Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing is part of health in general but, like self-care, it is often overlooked. This session will discuss:

• What are the protective factors and risks related to mental health and wellbeing?
• What are the social determinants of mental health?
• What are the activities and interests associated with positive mental health?
• How can we promote mental health and wellbeing in our patients?

Atrial Fibrillation: Importance of Recognition and Clinical Management

Arrhythmias come in all forms, and some of them may be asymptomatic, but these can potentially cause issues if it continues to go undetected. This session will discuss atrial fibrillation (AF), a sometimes asymptomatic arrhythmia that has various causes. It includes:

• What is AF?
• What are the complications associated with AF?
• What are some of the key recommendations from the first Australian guidelines from 2018?

Pressure Injuries Caused by Medical Devices

Pressure injuries may have many causes, including the use of medical devices. This session discusses preventative measures to reduce incidences of pressure injuries caused by medical devices. It will also look at:

• What are the examples of pressure injuries that can be caused by medical devices?
• Are there any uncommon sites where pressure injuries caused by medical devices may occur?
• What are the standards of care, policies and procedures regarding pressure injury staging?
• Is it possible that pressure injuries caused by medical devices are actually underrepresented due to underreporting?

Mindful Leadership

The literature on leadership is often divided by the question - are leaders born or can they be made? This session examines leadership from a pragmatic perspective relevant to you and your workplace. It includes:

• Are leaders born or are they made?
• What is the contemporary leadership theory and practice?
• What is mindful leadership?
• Can I be a mindful leader?

Rare Food Allergy: Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a rare, poorly understood and life-threatening food allergy, which an EpiPen won’t help. Most infants and people with FPIES are misdiagnosed on multiple occasions prior to an accurate diagnosis. This session will discuss:

• How is FPIES diagnosed?
• What are the misconceptions regarding allergies, including FPIES?
• What is the current research regarding FPIES?
• Are there any action plans specific to FPIES?
• How can we introduce food to infants and children with FPIES?
• Are there any alternative foods and formulas for those who have been diagnosed with FPIES?

Liver Disease: Care in the Community

Millions of Australians suffer from liver disease caused by different factors. For one reason or another, some of them may not be receiving the care they need in order to manage their conditions in the community. This session will discuss why care can be more optimal in community settings and includes:

• An overview and update of common liver diseases
• Complications, including advanced liver disease and/or liver cancer
• How nurses in all fields/settings can play a key role in the prevention and management of liver disease

Vicarious Trauma

Nurses frequently come into contact with people who have been exposed to physical, emotional and environmental trauma, yet few really understand how this exposure changes them. Some of the changes can be positive and promote resilience. While others can be negative and leave lasting emotional scars (vicarious trauma). This session includes:

• Risk factors for vicarious trauma
• Signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma
• What helps in addressing and preventing the negative effects of vicarious trauma