Session Synopses

2010 Conference Program available in mid 2010.

To view the 2009 Session Synopses please see below:

Power and Empowerment - what’s the difference and how to get it!
Being able to communicate your value and worth to your employers is often a struggle for practice nurses. How does empowerment happen, what are the barriers and how can you learn to facilitate cultural change in your environment?

GPs and Practice Nurses – partnership in chronic disease management
This seminar will demonstrate practical strategies to engage practice nurses to work with GPS to better improve patient outcomes in chronic disease management in general practice. University of Melbourne

Recognition of the Sick Child
Managing gastroenteritis and dehydration. Learn how to triage children, assess dehydration and manage oral rehydration. Hydralyte

Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases
This session will discuss the five common causes of eye disease in the community. Also learn how to raise awareness in your practice of the main eye conditions that can be actively prevented. Additionally, you will hear about referral pathways and obtain resources that will assist you to provide care to patients accessing eye health services. Vision 2020

Management of Anaphylaxis
Learn about the clinical management of anaphylaxis. This session will also teach you some techniques that you can pass on to your patients to help them lead a normal life with anaphylaxis.

Performing Health Assessments – the 45 – 49 year old health check
This session will enhance your knowledge of this check including early intervention strategies for the prevention of chronic diseases for patients in this age group. Find out what you need to know to make the most of this check.

Chronic Disease Clinics – an open forum
Are you interested in setting up a chronic disease clinic? Perhaps you have set one up and are seeking inspiration for the ongoing management of your clinic. This session will provide a forum for practice nurses to discuss and evaluate their ideas on this important topic.

Triage
This session will cover the principles of effective triage, focusing on a team approach to the identification and management of prioritising the medical needs of patients. Learn how you can ensure your patients are taken care of according to their most critical needs.

Next Generation Flu Vaccines are Just Around the Corner
Tired of giving Influenza vaccines? Introducing an innovation which will revolutionise flu vaccination as we know it - the microinjection system. Preferred by both patients and users alike, the new 'simple yet sophisticated' system delivers the vaccine directly into the immune system with a tiny needle just 1.5mm long. Learn about the benefits of intradermal vaccination and using the new system, as patients are going to be asking all about 'new flu'. Sanofi Pasteur

Bridging the Gap Practice Nurse Initiative
The Bridging the Gap Initiative aims to address the gap between evidence for treatment and outcomes achieved in patients at risk of chronic diseases. The role of the practice nurses in patient screening, recall and education will be explored with a focus on cardiovascular disease. This 3-hour program is RCNA/APNA endorsed. Pfizer

Research to Support Nurses in General Practice
The amount of research relevant to practice nursing has increased greatly in recent years. What research is actually available to practice nurses, why do we need to know about it and what does it mean to us? This session will also discuss how nurses can use the research to further develop practice nursing as well as patient care.

Travel Health
Learn principles of pre-travel health care requirements. This session will provide an update on current immunisation issues, new vaccines and changes to the schedule or handbook relating to this important aspect of travel health. Sanofi Pasteur

Current Trends in Practice Nurse Salary and Conditions
This session will provide an update on the results of the 2008 APNA salary and conditions survey. You will have the opportunity to compare your current salary and conditions to those of your colleagues, and discuss these issues with other practice nurses.

Increasing Your Scope of Practice – where to from here?
Do you understand your scope of practice? Scope of practice remains an area of uncertainty for many practice nurses. This session will discuss how you can ascertain your scope of practice and how you might expand it to the benefit of you and your patients.

Asthma Management
Maintain and update your knowledge on the importance of effective asthma management. Additionally, learn about preventative measures, medication management, and the importance of a tailored asthma action plan.

The Practice Nurse Role in Dealing with Patients with Depression
Update your knowledge on the best ways to approach, communicate with and encourage your patients who have been diagnosed with clinical depression.

Making the MBS Work for You and your Patients
Do you know how to effectively utilise item numbers? Learn how to make the Medicare Benefits Schedule work in the favour of you and your patients.

Diabetes Management
Further your knowledge on the prevention of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Understand the role of lifestyle advice, diet, assessment and medication in diabetes management.

Chronic Kidney Disease and the Practice Nurse
Improve your knowledge of the population at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the importance of early detection. This session will discuss the role of the practice nurse in slowing the progression of CKD, including the impact of lifestyle modification and relevant item numbers. Kidney Health Australia

Performing Health Assessments – the over 75’s health check
This session will guide you through what the over 75’s health check Item Number covers. Ensure you understand the areas of the assessment such as immunisation status, continence and physical function to help your older patients prevent the onset of illness.

Sharing Best Practice and New Innovations – an open forum
This session will provide a forum for practice nurses to exchange ideas from their role and their practice. If you have an effective and time saving new template you would like to share or are looking for ideas on how to create efficiencies in particular areas of your practice, this session is not to be missed.

Assessment & Management of the Nutritional Needs of the Older Person
Practice nurses play an important role in the screening and management of older patients at risk of malnutrition. Through GPMPs, medication and home medication reviews, and preventative screenings significant improvements can be made to supporting the health, quality of life and function of ageing Australians. Screening recommendations, use of available tools such as the MNA® a validated nutrition screening and assessment tool, and interventions will be presented in the workshop to help improve the management and outcomes of older patients in GP. Nestle Nutrition

Performing Health Assessments – the 4 year old healthy kids check
This session will provide an essential review of what areas of assessment the Healthy Kids Check item number covers, how they are assessed and what further information you will need to know to take part.

IT Management – documentation and templates
Learn how to set up and maintain efficient systems to organise all of the people and steps involved in relation to running some of the more widely used medical software programs. This session will include advice on how to create and use effective shortcuts, general tips and tricks to make use of your practice’s software most efficiently, and how you can create time-saving templates.

Legal Issues – are you covered?
Nurses face a range of legal issues in general practice such as documentation, duty of care, consent and accepting medical orders. Understand issues so you can decide if you need to protect yourself professionally.

Motivating Your Patients to Change – the fight against chronic disease
Learn how motivational interviewing can be readily incorporated into your role to achieve the best health outcomes possible for your patients. Also hear about methods for encouraging your patients to start and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Performing Health Assessments – cardiac assessments
This session will provide you with an overview of cardiac assessment including the use of an ECG. Learn how to recognise normal and abnormal chest sounds and ensure you know exactly what to do in a cardiac emergency.

Practical Sessions