Nurses are where you need them – From hospital and beyond, Nursing in the Community Week is calling for red-tape to be cut

The Australian College of Nursing this week, is conveying an important message, nurses are hard at work, conducting high-quality care and medical advice whenever and wherever there is need in Australia. That level of commitment, they say, and scope of work, must be acknowledged by public, societal and private leaders. There shouldn’t be a limit on supporting the supporters as the College advocates for more support to provide comprehensive care to all across Australia.

Hospital dramas have put the work of nurses front and centre. Hardworking nurses in scrubs providing care over gruelling hours and complex care needs is something that many are familiar with, from aged care leadership to the newest front-line staff. However, to limit the work of nurses to the corridors of the hospital is not only to grossly misunderstand the breadth of their work but to miss the huge need of their skillset outside its walls.

Where you need them

Professor Liz Halcomb FACN is the Chair of the CAN Nursing in the Community Faculty and shares that 40 per cent of all nurses and midwives in Australia do not work in hospitals. “There are almost 500,000 nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives registered to work in Australia,” Halcomb says.

“But people do not have to go to a hospital to receive high quality health care from a nurse.

“We are working in multiple settings across every community in the country – aged care, remote health clinics, general practice, schools, prisons, and even in people’s homes.

“Nurses are where you need them.”

A far reach

The data is clear, nurses are far flung all across Australia, working in major cities, with bright lights and resources, and some of the remote places where crocodiles outnumber stethoscopes countless times and nurses have to do more with far less.

“Nurses and midwives make up 54 per cent of Australia’s health workforce. Nursing is the most geographically dispersed health profession in the country”, Halcomb highlights.

“Nurses are uniquely placed to provide safe and quality health care and services across all settings and in all locations.”

Nurses are already well placed across the country to provide excellent care. Halcomb argues that they could do far more in the community to improve people’s access to care if the reforms recommended were enacted. The College assesses that a standard of high comprehensive care could be won and those reforms were understood in full, the lawful provision for nurses and midwives could reach the full scope of practice, without being mired by outdated regulations and unnecessary red tape.

“Enabling nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives to work to their full scope of practice is key to achieving meaningful health reform that improves patient access to the care they need.

Halcomb reminds policy-makers, “vulnerable populations – those in rural and remote areas, First Nations, older Australians, those from low socio-economic groups and living with poor mental health and/or chronic conditions – will benefit most from allowing nurses to fully use their skills, qualifications, and experience.”

“In many communities, nurses are the most qualified and skilled health professionals. In others, they are the only health professionals.

Programs with impact

Particularly critical to helping mitigate the significant strain that both health and aged care sectors are currently facing is the work of nurses in the home. Programs such as the Transitional Care Program and Victoria’s Palliative Care Program have already shown the benefits to both the care and health of Australians and the easing of pressure on the public health system. 

Providing funding for nurses to skillfully meet health needs in the home is a vital step to bringing capacity levels in hospitals and early entry into residential aged care down. 

The figures speak for themselves, WA government figures put hospital stays at over $3000 per day, funding nurses to work in homes means smart and drastic cost saving measures to the health system, and the policy swing to preventative, rather than reactive health measures. 

As current programs have already shown encouraging success, the nurses college, and many experts and leaders across healthcare and aged care, are calling for the expansion of funding and policy to be directed towards allowing nurses to have the most effective and full impact. Through being supported to provide comprehensive, and cost-effective skilled care, particularly in the home, the work of nurses across the nation can significantly improve the strain and cost facing the health and aged care sectors. 

A vital connection

Halcomb advocates that in the system and network of health across Australia, nurses are an integral part of supporting Australians to be as healthy as they can be. Without timely and quality care, multiple studies have shown the compounding negative decline of health and societal measures in communities.

“Nurses are working where people need them. All governments must provide greater support to keep nurses working in local communities and attract more nurses to work in these accessible settings.

“Nurses in the community keep the health system connected. They keep care connected. They keep people connected, and they keep them well.”

Success is shown

Showcasing measures that have already elevated the access to quality, comprehensive and timely call, Halcomb says, “we are seeing the success and community support for nurse-led clinics in the ACT.”

“We are seeing the vital role that nurses are playing in the successful rollout of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.”

Supporting the work of nurses across the country is a wise investment. Ensuring that quality care is possible no matter the region, amount of crocodiles or demographic, means a stronger, healthier Australia. The benefits from this resound across the board with lower hospital and health costs overall, and a healthier and happier Australia. Red-tape should not be preventing skilled professionals from providing the best in care.