MicStar

usually 2 years of study only for post grad pre-reg RN course

So how is everyone going? I just attended a national australian conference for the Aged & Community Services (national peak body for non-profit aged care organisations in australia). They held this conference for 3 days starting 29/9...The best session was on the second day I felt, and that was the panel of 2 government officals and 2 stake holders discussing ACFI (our funding instrument recently released by the federal government). The ACFI has 12 questions in total that is used as an audit tool to 'rate' a resident in 3 different areas; the 12 questions are divided amounst these 3 headings 1. ADLs 2. Behaviours 3 Complex Health Care...I think there is 63 different possible funding possibilities with this funding instrument....how are you funded in the US? Did anyone attend the conference I mentioned in Adelaide earlier this week, if so what did you like the best? Unfortunately I didnt network very much because I was with 2 other work collegues miss oppurtunity!! cheers!! MICSTAR

Hi DaisyDoodle We are regulated for 44 Standards this regulation is monitored by the Aged Care Accreditation Agency, which is an organisation set out to monitor homes; the emphasis is on residents lifestyles, continuous quality improvement and when audited they want to see REAL results for residents. Yes the atmosphere is to make the environment home like, most facilities built these days look like modern apartments... We have ENs (Enrolled Nurses) who are equivalent to your LPN, RNs assess, very similar roles it would seem. We prodominantly have ENs working in low level care facilities and RNs working in high level care facilities (2 sorts of facilities HIGH CARE or LOW CARE). THe site manger of a low level care facility is usually the only RN on site. But these day low level care facilities having 'ageing in place' approval which means the resident can stay at this site if they proceed to high care; in the past low care residents who 'for example' had a stroke and required high care, couldnt go back to their home and needed to be moved to a high care facility..this is not the case anyone with the agine in place concept. Let me know how this compares to you facility in the US

i dont wont to get into a debate about this but to say i would be very careful about wikipedia, anyone can edit information on it; and where the source came from and if it's verified. these days were trained to critique information, question and not accept things that are written on the internet.

This Is What The Certificate That They Send You Looks Like.....

it not bordering on a scam!, well i dont think so, this institution recieved our information from our uni's; if there was any suspecious goings on, wont you think the uni wouldnt be passing on our address, name etc? ANyway, use it for what it is...you recevie a v. nice certificate and your a life long member...put it on your CV!! no big deal!

ens working in independant hostels with ageing in place operate with 60% level of high care residents most of the time (of course this can vary). the ens are at times in-charge of the facility, and work at an advanced senior en level (are a resource to less experienced ens, provide guidance to care staff, administer ddas, insulin) and hence should be paid at an advanced level. these ens are doing the drug round, assessing residents and basically managing the floor.

Kaliausten I'm interested to know how much DONs or ADONs get paid in the US. As a director of nursing in australia I recieve the equiv $US 75,041.84. I have 60 clients and 40 staff that I manage in a residential care setting/LTC. .

Yes that's much better... we have both our prac. cert. and verification via nurses board (state board) website... clients & patients can request this certificate at any time so we need something paperbased I guess.. cheers

My Southern Australian RN Practicing Certificate....

http://www.anmc.org.au/ to get you application assessed by our nation body. Geneva International is an excellent agency. They placed me from Oz to the UK for a placement in A&E, and I stayed for 1 year and half. Then I changed course and worked in district nursing for the next year in UK for a change. I also explored the option with geneva to work in the US but I went back to Oz. Geneva were v. good.

Ok then, how would you feel if a MALE doctor did it? I bet you your perception of the situation would be different because they have DR before there name, what's the difference though, honestly ? This man was a professional performing his job... You regarding this procedure as almost rape is shocking. I believe you need to reflect on your own personal experiences that make you feel this way, talk to someone you trust / a facilitator perhaps..

never been an issue for me or any other male nurses I know...

SITE MANAGERS / D.O.C. / D.O.N. / RESIDENTIAL CARE MANAGERS I am going to attempt to create another thread to compliment this one, a thread to allow discussion amongth aged care managers, CNs / CNCs, Residential Care Managers etc.... :caduceus: :redlight: :nuke:

rubystar we started using icare Oct 2007, it has it pit falls but if I compare it to when we were paper based, it is so much better. I have heard mixed reports about the other software programs out there, and not all good.

Suesquatch, That's interesting i thought it would be different.. We have multiple regulators 1. Aged Care Accreditation Agency 2. ACFI Review Officers (funding) 3. Office of the aged care quality & compliance (complaints investigation. 4. Dept of Health & Ageing - how does this compare with you guys, does it differ state from state? Our LTC facilities are managed on a national/federal level so state law or management does not come into it... sorry for going off the topic...got diverted

In australia, at my LTC facility we have the equiv. to a LPN (EN), they have 2 nurses for 60 residents. Low care facility with 35 of the 60 beds are now high care. Our LPN (Enrolled Nurses) do BGLs, VS, give opioids DDAs and run the show. The only RN on site is the director of nursing.....different to what you guys are used to? i'd love to hear another perspective..

Clear expectation i agree, and ask corporate office what KPI (key performance indicators) are for the position. When you see an issue / oppurtunity for improvement, log it on you continuous improvement plan or just write it down. You cant deal with everything in the first week. After a week or so put a memo out to the staff and introduce yourself, talk about your leadership style, open door policy etc. You will find staff race up to you in the first few weeks with their slant on the situation, and it's hard to gague staff in the first instance, so listening skills are very important. Write down there issues and tell them you will get back to them in due course. When you have a survey and you can show you have identified the issue, you cant be blamed for it! I guess from what people are writing a survey is similar to what we have an australia, as an accreditation visit from the independant watch dog. Ensure you have a mentor so you have someone to talk to as it can be lonely up the top... GOOD LUCK!!

I started studying my EN at 17 & qualified at 18. Started studying my RN at 19 and qualified at 22...:hrnsmlys::hrnsmlys:

Addit to previous message... Shelly, I felt prepared at the end of my degree. The most important things is to choose your clinical placement (practicum) carefully. The practicum (3rd year final placement) is the time when the knowledge you learn start to merge with the skills your performing. As a div 2 Shelly or EN you have a great basis and will excel. The exams during uni are the same as the internal students. As an external student you need to be good at self directed learning because your not going to have any other students to learn with; I would not recommend this delivery for people who are not ENs or div 2. Im not sure about clinical placements in melbourne, you'll need to ask the uni. good luck

Hi Shelly I can help you here!! I studies externally for 3 years in SA and managed it well with work & family . Shelly I was an EN working in acute care. For the first year I was working 4 days a week, I tell you I must have been dedicated though, I woke up most mornings at 5am and studied until 7.30am and then dedicated the 1 full day for studies. They gave me quite alot of credit for previous experience as an EN [12 points I think]. So I guess I could afford to still work 4 days per week. There was no clinical placement in first year, well there was an aged care placement but due to previous exp. I was not required to do. Second year was more demanding, so I prepared myself, and organised my life working 2 days per week. The clinical placements were completed during my annual leave again and leave without pay. It was tight but I managed finanically. I had a supportive wife & a supportive manager at the time, these two things are very important as you could imagine. Third year I increased to 4 days a week after my practicum. It was well worth it. I studied full time and I believe you can. If you need any further information please dont hesitate!!!

Joanne, your daughter did a double degree in nursing & psycology, i was very interested in being a forensic psychologist but the study requirements to register as a psychologist in SA is difficulty, you need to go on and do masters and then have supervised practice etc...will the nurses board in your state allow your daughter to register as a mental health nurse or register as a psychologist with her qualifications?? cheers :)

I started as a carer in aged care when i was young. After experience in and specialising in areas of nursing I moved back into Aged Care and now manage a facility. Men in Aged Care bring a balance I believe but also understand that some residents prefer females only, and that's fine...we're able to manage the residents preference at all times. Men in aged care, it comes down to the personality and compassion of the person. Working in aged care can be very rewarding. Autonomy in practice is broad in contrast to acute care where you have people breathing down your neck.... I can tell you when I started at this facility there was a man who was a misfit! He did not belong (well that's what my gut was telling me) however I could not sack someone for a gut feeling! However time went on and issues were reported. I swiftly investigated these complains and with evidence sacked him... But at the same time there were some woman who I felt there heart weren't in it so I dont know....

guys I hear you, and can relate to all of your comments!! I agree with not trying to prove yourself..take regular vacations. i manage a site but i report to someone off site who has paranoia. I cant be seen to be speaking to anyone else but this person otherwise they feel they are being underminded. i'm sick of handling this person with white gloves...i think they may feel threatened by me [i'm not being big headed] but i dont know what to put it down too.

Hi guys I thought i would start this thread to create some discussion amongth nurses in all levels working in Aged Care. How is the new funding tool for aged care (ACFI) going in your facility? Who is using an IT based software system for there documentation nursing progress notes, care plans and forms? Which system do you use and is it saving you time? Or please just have your say? have you had a bad day, are you fed up with it all? what frustrates you -> should we lobby the government to legislate safe ratios in aged care? ENs should have a career structure in aged care! ENs working in team leader roles, or roles traditionally done by RNs, should there be an extra level created/pay point for these nurses What do you think? you dont have to respond to every question, just reply to the one that interests you... Cheers...........