Communities across Australia rely on Registered Nurses (RNs) to provide primary care, acute care and aged care. They are skilled, capable and trusted healthcare practitioners often working in some of the most rural and remote parts of the country.
In March 2023, the Australian Government released the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework 2023–2027. The Framework is a world first and describes the unique context of practice and core capabilities for rural and remote Registered Nurses in Australia.
As well as describing skills, capabilities and support needed by RNs, the Framework emphasises the importance of clinical decision-making judgement of the patient’s situation, culturally safe practice, collaboration, and partnerships with clients, families and communities.
The framework is for RNs who work in rural and remote locations across Australia, or are looking to relocate there. One such nurse who relocated is Clinton Archer, with Queensland Health, who was interviewed by Australian Health Journal for this segment.
Other ways the the Framework can be applied include:
- For Registered Nurses, mapping their development of the capabilities with a mentor, to develop from formative to proficient skill levels.
- For Educators and Education Providers, supporting individual skill development or curriculum based on the capabilities.
- Government, Organisations and Employers, using the Framework as a guide to grow and support the development of a skilled rural and remote RN workforce
The Framework was developed by the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner and Australian Health Journal spoke with National Rural Health Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, and Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Nursing and Midwifery, Adjunct Professor Shelley Nowlan, on the importance of rural and remote nursing and of the Framework itself.
Important contributions and expertise of the members of the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework Steering Committee (Steering Committee) led the Framework through its development and consultation. Steering Committee members represented the following organisations.
- Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- Australian and New Zealand Council of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers
- Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP)
- Australian College of Nursing (ACN)
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
- Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA)
- Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM)
- Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (CDNM)
- Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (CRANAplus)
- James Cook University
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
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Connected Health Systems
Challenges in health care delivery have compounded, with clinical staff being exposed to the Omicron COVID variant. Reduced staffing has brought on its challenges to most already-strained state health care systems and the people working in them.
However, over the past 2 years of the pandemic, technology has played an increasing role on the front end for patients and consumers at home and clinicians in the medical setting. Much more is planned in technology that will deliver efficiency, reduce risk and make available new models of care. This has the potential to touch the working lives of all stakeholders and recipients of care.
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Handling modern day diets and misinformation as a HCP
Laureate Professor Clare Collins AO in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle, emphasises the need for accurate and reliable nutrition information to reach the public. Prof Collins believes that it is vital for clinicians to stay up-to-date with cutting-edge nutrition science and work with communication organisations to disseminate information to the general public. This is particularly important as social media is full of both reliable and unreliable information on dietary patterns, such as veganism.
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Gold Coast paediatric emergency nurse leads world’s largest study in securement
Brooke Charters is a dynamic Paediatric Emergency Nurse who works at the Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland. Brooke’s research became the world’s largest study of its kind and in May 2024 the results of the study were published in JAMA Pediatrics. Her mission is to drive change and enhance the hospital experience for children globally.
