International Nurses Day focuses on achievements of primary health care

It’s International Nurses Day on 12 May and this year nurses across Hunter New England Health are celebrating their achievements, challenges and opportunities.

Held on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth each year, International Nurse Day is a time to reflect on the advances in the profession and an opportunity to say thanks.

The theme this year is "Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care" - which Hunter New England Health’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services, Chris Kewley says is fantastic recognition of what many nurses throughout the health service do every day.

‘Primary Health Care’ is a relatively new phrase, describing that front line of healthcare which helps draw together the services needed to support a person’s health needs.

"While many of our nurses work in acute hospital settings, such as surgery or medical wards, there are also many others who specialise is leading the primary healthcare of older people in the community or those with a range of chronic conditions, or specific health needs which are managed well outside of the hospital environment," he said.

"These primary healthcare nurses are trained to look at the holistic needs of their patient. For example, our Community and Post Acute Care (CAPAC) teams offer an alternative to inpatient care where possible, which maximises the potential for speedy recovery with support from nursing and allied health staff.

"These CAPAC teams have proven to support primary heath care objectives, by preventing avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions, minimising disruption for the patient and carers, being highly flexible and responsive to patient needs, and most importantly improving the long term health outcomes of patients," Mr Kewley said.

Mr Kewley said Hunter New England Health recognises that in some instances, home is a better place to receive ongoing care for people who are not acutely ill.

Having a range of primary care nurses in our health services means that community based healthcare is coordinated with the patient’s doctors, rehabilitation services and health related transport and other relevant healthcare providers.

So, this International Nurses Day, take a moment to reflect on what primary healthcare nurses are available in your neighbourhood, and maybe offer a simple thank you to these modern-day Florence Nightingales.