Recommendations to keep registered nurses in nursing homes
Would you go into hospital without a trained doctor? How about live in a nursing home without a trained nurse?
In NSW, it is compulsory for nursing homes to have a registered nurse on duty 24/7.
But changes to federal government funding of nursing homes earlier this year meant that this law was in limbo.
Registered nurses are important for providing skilled care. As we discussed last week on the program, they have specialist knowledge that other staff members may not have, especially in the area of dementia.
A NSW Parliamentary Inquiry was set up to review the changes, and the report was released late last week. Among the recommendations was for registered nurses to remain in nursing homes, although remote and rural nursing homes may be exempt.
To discuss the recommendations further, Ellen Leabeater spoke to Lynn Chenoweth. Lynn is the Professor of Aged and Extended Care Nursing University of Technology Sydney.
Image: BEV Norton on Flickr.
