List of hospitals in Western Australia

The following is a list of hospitals, nursing posts, hospital support services and palliative care centres in Western Australia. Medical facilities in Western Australia are either run by the State's Department of Health, the Commonwealth, or private institutions of non-government organisations.

Metropolitan hospital services

Hospital end Type
Armadale Kelmscott District Memorial Hospital [ type Public ]
Attadale Hospital [ type Private ]
Bentley Hospital  [ type Public ]
Bethesda Hospital   [Type  Private]
Cambridge Private Hospital  [Type  Private]
Fremantle Hospital and Health Service  [ type Public ]
'Galliers' Wing and Specialist Centre    [ type Public ]
Gi Clinic  [Type  Private]
Glengarry Hospital   [Type  Private]
Graylands Selby-Lemnos and Special Care Health Service   [ type Public ]
Hollywood Private Hospital   [Type  Private]
HMAS Stirling Health Centre     Commonwealth
Joondalup Health Campus     Jointly operate
Kalamunda District Hospital Campus   [ type Public ]
Kaleeya Hospital     Public/Maternity
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women   [ type Public ]
McCourt Street Day Surgery  [Type  Private]
Mercy Hospital   [Type  Private]
Mount Hospital   [Type  Private]
Mount Lawley Private Hospital   [Type  Private]
Murdoch Surgicentre   [Type  Private]
Niola Private Hospital   [Type  Private]
Osborne Park Hospital   [ type Public ]
Peel Health Campus     Jointly operate
Perth Clinic   [Type  Private]
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children   [ type Public ]
Rockingham Family Hospital   [Type  Private]
Rockingham/Kwinana District Hospital   [ type Public ]
Rottnest Island Nursing Post     Public
Royal Perth Hospital     Public
Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital   [ type Public ]
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital   [ type Public ]
South Perth Hospital Inc.   [Type  Private]
Southbank Day Surgery    [Type  Private]
St John of God Health Care Murdoch     Private
St John of God Health Care Subiaco     Private
Swan District Hospital Campus   [ type Public ]
Westminster Day Surgery  [Type  Private]
Woodvale Private Hospital for Women   [Type  Private]

Rural hospital services

Hospital end Type
Albany Hospital   [ type Public ]
Augusta Hospital   [ type Public ]
Beverley Hospital    [ type Public ]
Boddington Hospital    [ type Public ]
Boyup Brook Health Service   [ type Public ]
Bridgetown Hospital   [ type Public ]
Brookton Nursing Home   [ type Public ]
Broome Hospital   [ type Public ]
Bruce Rock Memorial Hospital   [ type Public ]
Bunbury Hospital   [ type Public ]
Busselton Hospital   [ type Public ]
Carnarvon Hospital    [ type Public ]
Christmas Island Health Centre     Commonwealth
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Health Centre     Commonwealth
Collie Hospital    [ type Public ]
Coolgardie Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Corrigin Hospital   [ type Public ]
Cunderdin Hospital    [ type Public ]
Dalwallinu Hospital    [ type Public ]
Denmark Hospital and Health Service   [ type Public ]
Derby Hospital  [ type Public ]
Dongara Eneabba Mingenew Health Service   [ type Public ]
Donnybrook Hospital   [ type Public ]
Dumbleyung Memorial Hospital    [ type Public ]
Esperance Hospital   [ type Public ]
Exmouth Hospital   [ type Public ]
Fitzroy Crossing District Hospital    [ type Public ]
Geraldton Hospital  [ type Public ]
Gnowangerup Hospital    [ type Public ]
Goomalling Hospital   [ type Public ]
Halls Creek Hospital   [ type Public ]
Harvey Hospital  [ type Public ]
Kalbarri Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Kalgoorlie Hospital   [ type Public ]
Katanning Hospital    [ type Public ]
Kellerberrin Memorial Hospital   [ type Public ]
Kojonup Hospital   [ type Public ]
Kondinin Districts Health Service   [ type Public ]
Kununoppin and Districts Health Service   [ type Public ]
Kununurra Hospital   [ type Public ]
Lake Grace Hospital    [ type Public ]
Laverton District Hospital   [ type Public ]
Leonora Hospital   [ type Public ]
Margaret River Hospital   [ type Public ]
Meekatharra Hospital  [ type Public ]
Merredin Health Service   [ type Public ]
Moora Hospital   [ type Public ]
Morawa and District Health Service   [ type Public ]
Mullewa Health Service  [ type Public ]
Murray Hospital   [ type Public ]
Nannup Hospital    [ type Public ]
Narembeen Memorial Hospital   [ type Public ]
Narrogin Hospital    [ type Public ]
Newman Hospital    [ type Public ]
Nickol Bay Hospital   [ type Public ]
Norseman District Hospital    [ type Public ]
North Midlands Health Service   [ type Public ]
Northam Hospital   [ type Public ]
Northampton Kalbarri Health Service    [ type Public ]
Onslow Hospital   [ type Public ]
Paraburdoo Hospital   [ type Public ]
Peel Health Campus     Private
Pemberton Hospital   [ type Public ]
Pingelly Hospital   [ type Public ]
Plantagenet Hospital   [ type Public ]
Port Hedland Hospital  [ type Public ]
Quairading Hospital   [ type Public ]
Ravensthorpe Health Centre    [ type Public ]
Roebourne Hospital   [ type Public ]
Southern Cross Hospital  [ type Public ]
St John of God Health Care Bunbury     [Type  Private]
St John of God Health Care Geraldton   [Type  Private]
Tom Price Hospital   [ type Public ]
Wagin Hospital   [ type Public ]
Warren Hospital   [ type Public ]
Wickham Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Wongan Hills Hospital   [ type Public ]
Wyalkatchem-Koorda and Districts Hospital   [ type Public ]
Wyndham Hospital  [ type Public ]
Yarloop Hospital   [ type Public ]
York Health Hospital     [ type Public ]

Nursing posts

Nursing Post     Type
Abrolhos Islands Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Beacon Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Bencubbin Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Bremer Bay Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Cervantes Nursing Post    [ type Public ]
Coral Bay Nursing Post    [ type Public ]
Cue Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Dowerin Silver Chain Service Centre     NGO
Eneabba Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Eucla Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Gingin Silver Chain Service Centre     NGO
Hyden Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Jerramungup Health Centre    [ type Public ]
Jurien Bay Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Kalbarri Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Kambalda Health Centre    [ type Public ]
Kukerin Health Centre  [ type Public ]
Lancelin Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Leeman Silver Chain Service Centre     NGO
Leinster Silver Chain Medical Centre     NGO
Marble Bar Nursing Post   [ type Public ]
Menzies Health Centre  [ type Public ]
Mingenew Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Mount Magnet Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Mukinbudin Nursing Post   [ type Public ]
Ngangganawili Aboriginal Community Health Centre     NGO
Northcliffe Nursing Post  [ type Public ]
Numbala Nunga Nursing Home   [ type Public ]
Rottnest Island Nursing Post   [ type Public ]
Sandstone Health Centre   [ type Public ]
Shark Bay Silver Chain Health Centre     NGO
Tambellup Nursing Post     Public
Varley Nursing Post   [ type Public ]
Wickepin Nursing Post    [ type Public ]
Williams Nursing Post   [ type Public ]
Yalgoo Health Service    [ type Public ]

Hospital support services

Service end Type
Australian Red Cross Blood Service     NGO
Central Wait List Bureau    [ type Public ]
PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA   [ type Public ]
Silver Chain Nursing Association     NGO
St John of God Pathology   [Type  Private]

Palliative care

Service  end   Type
Brightwater Care Group (Inc.)    [Type  Private]
Hollywood Private Hospital    [Type  Private]
Murdoch Community Hospice   [Type  Private]
The Cottage Hospice   [Type  Private]

Australian Nurse of the Year

The Australian Nurse of the Year Award was created to honour and showcase excellence in the nursing profession throughout Australia.

The award was established in 2003 to 2004 to recognise the exceptional contributions the recipient has made to improving care and outcomes for patients, providing excellent care in the face of adversity or other challenges, or for an outstanding act of kindness, understanding, compassion or courage, above and beyond the normal role as a nurse anywhere in Australia.

A judging panel of nursing experts assesses the top individual nominees and selects a nurse from each of Australia's states and territories. Each State or Territory finalist is flown to a state capital (the place of ceremony is changed each year), where the winner is announced at a formal ceremony.

Although the award is not associated with the Australian government-run Australian of the Year awards, it has been sponsored by various organisations and companies each year, including the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, and the Royal College of Nursing Australia. It attracts wide coverage from media, culminating in a national presentation held each year on, or close to the 12th of May, International Nurses Day.

Past winners

•     2011 Paul Esplin of Sydney, New South Wales.
•     2010 Charlotte Collins of Trigg, Western Australia.
•     2009 Lyn Olsen of Dandenong, Victoria
•     2008 Sam Gibson of Subiaco, Western Australia
•     2007 Robyn Williams of Wynnum, Queensland
•     2006 Rosanne Squire of McLeans Ridge, New South Wales.
•     2005 Catriona Chardon of Lismore, New South Wales (posthumously).
•     2004 Andrew Cameron of Cue, Western Australia.

Queensland Nurses' Union

The Queensland Nurses' Union, officially the Queensland Nurses' Union of Employees, (QNU) is a trade union that represents nurses and midwives in both the public and private sectors of Queensland, Australia. It was formed on 8 November 1921 under the name of the Australasian Trained Nurses' Association (Queensland Branch) Union of Employees . Its current incarnation began in 1982 when the union broke away from the then Royal Australian Nursing Federation, now simply known as the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).

Before being known as officially the Queensland Nurses' Union of Employees, the QNU went under the name of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation, Queensland Branch, Union of Employees. This royal title was assumed, like other branches of the federation, in 1956 to mark the Queen's visit to Australia.

The QNU is affiliated with the Queensland Council of Unions, and in the late 1980s signed a "harmonisation" agreement with the ANF which recognises members of the QNU as members of the Queensland Branch of the ANF.

On 20 September 2010 the union announced it was going to sever official ties with the Australian Labor Party from 2011.

Royal District Nursing Service (South Australia)

RDNS (Royal District Nursing Service of South Australia) was established in 1894. RDNS is one of Australia’s most experienced not-for-profit community health and care provider. Trading as RDNS in South Australia and YourLife throughout Australia and overseas, we have more than 115 years of experience in delivering flexible and responsive care to meet health care needs.

RDNS delivers both privately and government-funded services to thousands of people every week.

In addition RDNS is a Registered Training Organisation, providing nationally recognised education and training courses for both businesses and individuals.

RDNS services include:

Community based healthcare Flexible healthcare services by nurses, allied health and support workers Accommodating client and carer lifestyle choices, promoting independence Post-hospital care

RDNS is known as "YourLife" outside of South Australia

Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service

The Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service (RANNS) was a former female branch of the Royal Australian Navy. The RAANS was formed in October 1942, wartime demands lead to a need to recruit women directly into the RAN. At its wartime peak the RAANS was made up of 56 nursing sisters with at least 12 months prior experience. The RANNS was disbanded 1948 but the demand for nurses was so great that the organisation was reformed in November 1948. In June 1984 the RANNS and the other female branch of the RAN, the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service, were incorporated into the permanent force and all female nurses became members of the nursing branch of the RAN.

Australian Nursing Federation

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) was established in 1924. The ANF is the national union for nurses and the largest professional nursing organisation in Australia. The ANF's core business is the industrial and professional representation of nurses and nursing through the activities of a national office and branches in every State and Territory.

The ANF's 192,000+ members are employed in a wide range of enterprises in urban, rural and remote locations in both in the public and private sectors, including hospitals, health and community services, schools, universities, the armed forces, statutory authorities, local government, offshore territories and industry.

The ANF participates in the development of policy in nursing, nursing regulation, health, community service, veterans' affairs, education, training, occupational health and safety, industrial matters, immigration and law reform. Policy making within the ANF is through consultation with the branches and their members and representation of each branch on the national executive committee and the national Council. National sub-committees cover professional issues, occupational health and safety, industrial issues, publishing, aged care and rural and remote nursing.

The ANF is a Federally Registered Organisation that has branches in each State and Territory. Most branches also have a 'State Registered Union' operating as the state entity in the state system. For nurses this system is dominated by public hospitals run by the various Australian state governments. For example, the ANF Western Australia Branch operates as the Australian Nursing Federation, Industrial Union of Workers Perth, the ANF Queensland Branch operates as the Queensland Nurses' Union and the ANF New South Wales Branch operates as the NSW Nurses' Association in their respective state systems.

The ANF has a range of national policies, guidelines and position statements relating to nursing, health and social justice issues, for the guidance of members in their practice and at their workplaces.

The ANF represents Australian nursing internationally through links with other national and international nursing organisations, professional associations and the International Labour Organisations. The ANF is a member of the Commonwealth Nurses Federation and the South Pacific Nurses Forum and is affiliated to the ACTU, International Centre for Trade Union Rights and Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA (Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad) which is the overseas aid agency of the trade union movement.

Nationally, the ANF initiates activities to raise political awareness, and political action if necessary, among members and the general public in the pursuit of improved public policy on health and related issues.

Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps

The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) is a Corps of the Australian Army. It was formed in February 1951 from the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service. A Corps Badge was introduced in 1951 with the motto Pro Humanitate (for Humanity). It embraces the values of compassion and service to others, reflecting the care and dedication provided to the wounded and sick. Approval for the Corps flag was granted on 7 February 1958.

History

The history of RAANC can be traced back to the formation of the Army Nursing Service on 13 August 1898. At the time it was made up of one Lady Superintendent and 24 nurses. The service saw its first action in the Boer war, when the New South Wales and Victorian governments arranged for a detachment of nurses to deploy with their troops to Africa. Groups and individual nurses from West Australia, South Australia and Queensland also served in the Anglo-Boer War. Due to the performance of the nurses in that conflict, an order was given in 1902 for the formation of the Australian Army Nursing Service under the control of the Federal Government. It is this order's promulgation, 1 July 1903, which is celebrated as RAANC Corps day..

2,139 AANS female nurses served overseas in the World War I with 423 serving in Australia, together with 130 Australians who worked with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service. 25 died on active service and 388 were decorated.

In World War II, 3,477 women joined the AANS with 71 members losing their lives (23 in battle and 18 as a result of accident or illness). 38 became Prisoner of War. 137 decorations were awarded including two George Medals. In 1945, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, became the Honorary Colonel and in 1948 the service was renamed as the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service.

The College of Nursing (Australia)

The College of Nursing is an Australian national professional nursing organisation.

The College is a Public Company limited by guarantee and a Schedule 3 Affiliated Health Organisation under Section 62A Health Services Act 1997 (non-declared).

The College of Nursing provides support for nurses, while contributing to the creation of a better health care system for all Australians. Formerly known as the NSW College of Nursing.

Business profile

• Is a national professional member nursing organisation representing nurses across Australia, established in January 1949.
• Is registered as a Higher Education Institution with a suite of accredited Graduate Certificate programs. This accreditation under Higher Education Legislation recognises the College as a quality provider of postgraduate education and the College courses as equal to those offered by universities under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
• Is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) delivering Certificate III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses in Nursing and Health related areas.
• Is situated at Burwood, NSW, Australia in a multi-storey building (14 Railway Parade).

Professional Profile

• Provides leadership, information, networking opportunities, continuing professional development and education to fellows and members, registered and enrolled nurses, students of nursing and allied health professionals across all states and territories of Australia and in a number of countries around the world.
• Leaders from a variety of clinical and scholarly backgrounds are active members of the College.
• Was the first professional organisation to achieve accreditation through the corporate standards of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).
• Is one of the largest single providers of postgraduate education for nurses in Australia with around 7,000 registered, enrolled and overseas-qualified nurses undertaking courses each year. The education programs use a variety of delivery modes including on-campus, at venues across Australia, ‘on-line’, distance education and other blended methods of delivery.
• Lobbies on behalf of nurses and midwives and the community in areas of access to healthcare, and improved models of care which are compatible with contemporary needs and a more integrated health workforce.
• Has attracted research grants during its links with The Nursing and Health Services Research Consortium.
• Has the largest dedicated nursing library in the Southern Hemisphere with close links to other nursing and health libraries in Australia and the United Kingdom. Students and members have access to library services on-line and specialist library staff undertake searches and provide advice on a wide range of subjects.
• Has an archival collection which continues to expand as it becomes known to archivists, scholars, nurses and other health personnel.
• Sponsored an International Travelling Scholar Seminar Series in 2003 and 2005. Scholars were Dr Naeema Al-Gasseer, World Health Organisation Senior Scientist for Nursing and Midwifery and Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Dean at Kings College London.
• Holds an Oration each year at the Great Hall at the University of Sydney at which new members and fellows are inducted. A renowned Australian or international nurse is the orator.
• Is affiliated with large healthcare organisations and nursing specialty groups across Australia. It also works in partnership with over 20 universities nationally and internationally to conduct graduate programs and is represented on national and state committees and working parties.

The College journal, nursing.aust is published quarterly. It provides articles on clinical topics, health issues of concern to nurses, opinion pieces and other information of interest. It is indexed in both CINAHL and the Australasian Medical Index.

It has published several books documenting its own history as well as that of nursing in Australia. These are included in the list of references at the end of this article.

American Nurses Association

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing. It started in 1896 as the Nurses Associated Alumnae and was renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911. It is based in Silver Spring, Maryland and Karen Daley, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, is the current President.

Primary mission

The Association is a professional organization representing registered nurses (RNs) in the United States through its 54 constituent member associations.The ANA is involved in establishing standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, advancing the economic and general welfare of nurses.

ANA also has three subsidiary organizations: (1) American Academy of Nursing, to serve the public and nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge,(2) American Nurses Foundation, the charitable and philanthropic arm, and (3) American Nurses Credentialing Center, which credentials nurses in their specialty and credentials facilities that exhibit nursing excellence.

Publications

    American Nurse Today
    The American Nurse
    OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing

Royal College of Nursing

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron. Most members are registered nurses but student nurses and healthcare assistants are also admitted.

The RCN describes its mission as representing nurses and nursing, promoting excellence in practice and shaping health policies. It has a network of stewards, safety representatives and union learning representatives as well as advice services for members. Services include a main library in London and regional libraries around the country. The RCN Institute also provides courses for nurses.

RCN Foundation

On 1 April 2010 the RCN announced the launch of the RCN Foundation – an independent charity to support nursing and improve the health and wellbeing of the public. The new foundation will undertake a number of activities including giving grants for improving nursing practice through activities that, for example, support the development of clinical practice and improve the quality and standard of patient care and experience.

Offices

The headquarters are at 20 Cavendish Square, London, a grade II listed building. which was built as a substantial townhouse in 1729 and became the residence of British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. The building was refronted and incorporated by architect Edwin Cooper in 1930 into his re-development of the corner site with Henrietta Place. It has five floors, including the basement, and dormers in the attic. Its architecture includes classical Portland stone facing, a cut-string staircase with wrought iron balustrade, a stairwell with its ceiling painted in trompe l'oeil-artists.

The RCN also has offices throughout the UK. In England regional offices are located in; Birmingham, Bolton, Bury St Edmunds, Croydon, Exeter, Newbury, Nottingham, Leeds, and Sunderland. The Northern Ireland office is in Belfast. The Scottish offices are located in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow; and the Welsh offices are located in Cardiff and Conwy

RCN libraries

The Royal College of nursing RCN has four libraries, one in each country of the United Kingdom. They are located in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. The RCN's archives are in Edinburgh.

The London library, which is now known as the UK Library, was founded in 1921, and its contents include 60,000 volumes, 500 videos and 400 current periodicals on nursing and related subjects. Special collections include the Historical Collection and the RCN Steinberg Collection of Nursing Research, the latter of which comprises over 1,000 nursing theses and dissertations. Set up in 1974, The RCN Steinberg Collection of Nursing Research contains a selection of influential nursing theses and dissertations from the early 1950s to the present day.

RCN Publishing Company

The RCN Publishing Company produces RCN Bulletin, a fortnightly member publication, and Nursing Standard, which is available through subscription. The RCN publishes a wide range of papers and policy documents.

RCN Institute

The RCN Institute is part of the Royal College of Nursing and is responsible for providing nurses with an opportunity to participate in higher and continuing education, research and practice development. The RCN Institute is expected to provide education across the United Kingdom including a portfolio of experiential clinical, primary care and political leadership development workshops and programmes across the UK. In addition four distance learning programmes of study are currently offered in order to meet this need.

Online

On the internet the RCN's website is at www.rcn.org.uk. There is also a Facebook group for RCN members who have an account on the social networking site. It can only be viewed if you have an account and by searching for "Royal College of Nursing Members".

Council

The RCN is governed by its Council. Council members are guardians/trustees of the organisation's mission and values on behalf of the members. They are also charity trustees and carry legal duties and responsibilities laid down by charity law. The Council is responsible for the overall governance of the RCN, and has ultimate responsibility for the sustainability and the finances of the organisation.

The Council is made up of 29 Council members: two elected by each of the 12 geographical sections (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and 9 English), two elected by student members (ANS), the RCN President and Deputy President, elected by all members, and the Chair of RCN Congress (non-voting), who is elected by Congress voting entities. The RCN's General Secretary is appointed by Council. Council members are not paid to serve on Council but voluntarily give up their time to serve the RCN and its members, in their governance role.

The current Council Chair is Sandra James, MBE; the current Vice Chair is Ann Marie O'Neill.

The current Council members are:

    President: Andrea Spyropoulos
    Deputy President: Cecilia Anim
    Chair of RCN Congress (non-voting): Rod Thomson

Presidents

•     1922-1925 Sidney Browne
•     1925-1927 Sarah Swift
•     1927-1929 Annie Warren Gill
•     1929-1930 R. Cox-Davies
•     1930-1933 M. E. Sparshott
•     1933-1934 Edith MacGregor Rome
•     1934-1935 R. Cox-Davies
•     1935-1937 D S Goode
•     1937-1938 Edith MacGregor Rome
•     1938-1940 B. M. Monk
•     1940-1942 M. Jones
•     1942-1944 E. E. P. MacManus
•     1944-1946 M. F. Hughes
•     1946-1948 G. V. L. Hillyers
•     1948-1950 Louisa Wilkinson
•     1950-1952 Lucy Duff-Grant
•     1952-1954 L. J. Ottley
•     1954-1956 S. C. Bovill
•     1956-1958 G. M. Godden
•     1958-1960 M. J. Marriott
•     1960-1962 M. J. Smith
•     1962-1963 M. J. Marriott
•     1963-1964 M. G. Lawson
•     1964-1966 Florence Udell
•     1966-1968 Theodora Turner
•     1968-1972 Mary Blakeley
•     1972-1976 Winifred Prentice
•     1976-1980 Eirlys M Rees
•     1981-1982 Marian K Morgan
•     1982-1987 Sheila Quinn
•     1988-1990 Maude Storey
•     1990-1994 June Clark
•     1994-1998 Betty Kershaw
•     1999-2000 Christine Watson
•     2000-2002 Roswyn Hakesley-Brown
•     2002-2006 Sylvia Denton
•     2006-2010 Maura Buchanan
•     2010- Andrea Spyropoulos

Fellowship

The RCN awards fellowships bestowed for exceptional contributions to nursing. Honorary Fellowships can be granted by RCN Council to those who are unable to become an RCN member, either because they are from overseas or because they work outside the nursing profession.

Fellows and Honorary Fellows are entitled to the letters FRCN after their name

Australia Nurse Practitioner

In Australia, Nurse Practitioners are required to be registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The Australian professional organisation is the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners. (ACNP).

Role in healthcare

The role of Australia Nurse Practitioners is very diverse. Nurse Practitioners are educated under the nursing model which is designed to provide holistic and preventive care engaging the individual as the primary leader in their own care and well-being. Australia Nurse Practitioners bring the nursing history of patient advocacy to partner with the individual for mutually agreed upon treatments and optimal health outcomes. Nurse Practitioners often view the health and wellness of individuals within the family or community system and attempt to incorporate cultural relativism within their treatments and recommendations[citation needed]. NPs are advanced practice nurses who provide high-quality healthcare services similar to those of a physician in primary care and are able to diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems.

Post-nominal credentials and initials
See also: List of nursing credentials

Post-nominal initials NPs may use are regulated by the state in which they are licensed and include:

• ACNP-BC (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified; if certified by the ANCC)
• ACNPC (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certified)
• APRN-BC (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Board Certified; no longer awarded, replaced with specialty-specific credentials by the ANCC)
• ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner)
• CAS (Certificate of Advanced Study)
• CNP (Certified Nurse Practitioner)
• CPNP (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; if certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board PNCB)
• CPNP-AC (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care; if certified by the PNCB )
• CPNP-PC (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care; if certified by the PNCB)
• CRNP (Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner; used primarily in Pennsylvania and Alabama)
• DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice; the terminal practice degree for NPs)
• DNSc (Doctor of Nursing Science; equivalent to Ph.D., most D.N.Sc. programs now converted to PhD programs)
• FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing AAN)
• FAANP (Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners AANP)
• MA (Master of Arts in Nursing)
• MN (Master of Nursing)
• MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)
• NP-C (Nurse Practitioner - Certified; if certified by the AANP)
• PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
• PMC (Post-Master's Certificate)
• RN (Registered Nurse)
• RN(EP) or NP (Registered Nurse - Extended Practice; Manitoba, Canada)
• RN(NP) (Registered Nurse - Nurse Practitioner; Saskatchewan, Canada)

Specialties

• ACHPN (Advanced Certified Hospice & Palliative Nurse)
• ACNP (Acute Care NP)
• ACPNP (Acute Care Pediatric NP)
• ANP (Adult NP)
• (Specialty Programs: Adult Cardiovascular Care NP, Adult Primary Care NP, Adult Critical Care NP, Adult Acute Care NP)
• AOCNP or AOCNS (Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist—by ONCC)
• APMHNP (Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health NP)
• BC-ADM (Board Certified - Advanced Diabetes Management)
• BC-PCM (Board Certified - Palliative Care Management, discontinued by ANCC)
• ENP (Emergency NP)
• FNP (Family NP)
• FPMHNP (Family Psychiatric/Mental Health NP)
• GNP (Geriatric NP)
• HNP (Holistic NP; APN program)
• NNP (Neonatal NP)
• OHNP (Occupational Health NP)
• ONP (Oncology NP)
• PA/CCNP (Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care NP)
• PCCNP (Pediatric Critical Care NP)
• PCNP (Palliative Care NP; APN program)
• PMHNP (Psychiatric/Mental Health NP)
• PNP (Pediatric NP)
• PONP (Pediatric Oncology NP)
• WHNP (Women's Health NP)

 "-C" and "-BC" indicate "Certified" and "Board Certified" by a national certifying organization such as the ANCC or AANP (e.g., FNP-BC, NNP-BC, ANP-C, NP-C, etc.)

Nurse practitioner in United States

While not every state includes specific language requiring a master's degree for NPs, the majority of states do require a master's degree, post-master's certificate or a doctoral degree. Further, the current nurse practitioner programs offered by all universities and colleges are at the master's, post-master's, or doctoral level. The current proposal is that all advanced practice nurse programs will require a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree by 2015, thus effectively eliminating the MN or the MSN as an entry to practice degree. However, all state Nursing Boards will be required to revise their current Practice Acts in order for this to become mandatory. All U.S. states require national board certification for nurse practitioners before they are permitted to practice and the two biggest certifying bodies, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), do require applicants to hold a master's degree, post-master's certificate, or doctoral degree to be eligible to test for certification.

The variety of educational paths for NPs is a result of the history of the field. The first Nurse Practitioner program was created by a nurse educator, Loretta Ford, EdD, RN, PNP, and a physician, Henry Silver, MD, in 1965 at the University of Colorado as a non-degree certificate program. This program trained experienced Registered Nurses for their new advanced nursing roles as Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. In the late 1960s into the 1970s, continued predictions of a primary-care physician shortage increased funding and attendance in various certificate-based nurse practitioner programs. Then, during the 1980s Nurse Practitioner educational requirements were transitioned into graduate-level master's degree programs. Subsequently the national certifying organizations and state licencing boards began to require a master's degree for NP practice. However, already established NPs with certificate-based education were grandfathered in. Once again there are changes presently in the field, and by 2015 all new NPs will need to be trained at the doctorate level as a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Once again already established NPs with lesser education will be grandfathered in.

After completing the education program, the candidate must be licensed by the state in which he or she plans to practice. The state boards of nursing regulate nurse practitioners and each state has its own licensing and certification criteria. In general, the criteria include completion of a graduate degree in nursing and board certification by an accrediting body (ANCC, AANP). The license period varies by state; some require biennial relicensing, others require triennial.

NPs can pursue additional specialty certification through several organizations, including the following:

•     American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
•     American Psychiatric Nursing Association
•     Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
•     Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
•     National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties
•     Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation

Nurse practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has completed graduate-level education (either a Master's or a Doctoral degree). Additional APRN roles include the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)s, CNMs, and CNSs. All Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses who have completed extensive additional education, training, and have a dramatically expanded scope of practice over the traditional RN role. To become licensed/certified to practice, Nurse Practitioners hold national board certification in an area of specialty (such as family, women's health, pediatrics, adult, acute care, etc.), and are licensed or certified through the state nursing boards rather than medical boards. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. Another focus is educating patients about their health and encouraging them to make healthy choices. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities.

Nurse Practitioners treat both physical and mental conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests. NPs can then diagnose the disease and then provide appropriate treatment for the patients, including prescribing medications. NPs can serve as a patient's primary health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their specialty (family, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc).

In the United States, nurse practitioners have a national board certification. Nurse Practitioners can be educated and nationally certified in areas of Family Health (FNP), Pediatrics, including Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care, Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatric Oncology and general Pediatrics (PNP), Neonatology (NNP), Gerontology (GNP), Women's Health (WHNP), Psychiatry & Mental Health (PMHNP), Acute Care (ACNP), Adult Health (ANP), Oncology (FNP, ACNP, ANP, PNP or ANP) Emergency (as FNP or ACNP), Occupational Health (as ANP or FNP), etc. In Canada, NPs are licensed by the province or territory in which they practice.

Scope of practice

In the United States, because the profession is state-regulated, care provided by NPs varies widely. Some nurse practitioners work independently of physicians while, in other states, a collaborative agreement with a physician is required for practice. The extent of this collaborative agreement, and the role, duties, responsibilities, medical treatments, pharmacologic prescriptions, etc. afford an NP to perform and prescribe again varies widely amongst states of licensure/certification. practice.

The *Pearson Report provides a current state-by-state breakdown of the specific duties a nurse practitioner may perform in the state. A nurse practitioner's role may include the following:

• Diagnosing, treating, evaluating and managing acute and chronic illness and disease (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure)
• Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
• Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies (e.g., routine lab tests, bone x-rays, EKGs)
• Prescribing physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments
• Prescribing drugs for acute and chronic illness (extent of prescriptive authority varies by state regulations)
• Providing prenatal care and family planning services
• Providing well-child care, including screening and immunizations
• Providing primary and specialty care services, health-maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals
• Providing care for patients in acute and critical care settings
• Performing or assisting in minor surgeries and procedures (with additional training and/or under physician supervision in states where mandated; e.g. dermatological biopsies, suturing, casting)
• Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills, and treatment options

Practice settings

NPs practice in all U.S. states, Canadian provinces and territories and in all Australian states and territories. The institutions in which they work may include:

•     Community clinics, health centers, urgent care centers
•     Health departments
•     Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
•     Home health care agencies
•     Hospitals and hospital clinics
•     Hospice care
•     Nurse practitioner practices/offices
•     Nursing homes
•     Nursing schools
•     Private & public schools, universities and colleges
•     Physician/private medical practices
•     Physician offices
•     Veteran's administration facilities
•     Retail-based clinics
•     Public health departments
•     School/college clinics
•     Veterans Administration facilities
•     Walk-in clinics

Education, licensing, and board certification

To be licensed as a Nurse Practitioner, the candidate must first complete the education and clinical experiences necessary to be a registered nurse, then go on to complete a graduate-level nurse practitioner program (either a Master's or Doctorate degree). Next, the candidate must pass a national board certification in their area of specialty. Registered nurses initially trained at the associate degree or diploma level must therefore first complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or enter various programs offering an ADN-to-MN/MSN bridge program. Some of these bridge programs may award a Bachelor's degree while the candidate continues to complete the elements of their Master's or Doctorate degree.

International Council of Nurses

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

The organization's goals are to bring nurses' organizations together in a worldwide body, to advance the socio-economic status of nurses and the profession of nursing worldwide, and to influence global and domestic health policy.

Membership is limited to one nursing organization per nation. In most cases, this is the national nurses' association (such as the American Nurses Association, the Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives or the Nursing Association of Nepal). In 2001, the ICN permitted its members to adopt alliance or collaborative structures to be more inclusive of other domestic nursing groups. However, few member organizations have adopted the new structures.

History and organization

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) was founded in 1899 with Great Britain, the United States, and Germany as charter members.

The ICN is governed by a Council of National Representatives (CNR). The CNR is the governing body of the ICN and sets policy, admits members, selects a board of directors, and sets dues. As of 2007, there were 128 National Representatives (one for each member organization). National Representatives are selected by each member association. The CNR meets every two years.

Between meetings of the CNR, the ICN is governed by a 15-member board of directors. Members of the board include the ICN president and 14 directors elected on the basis of proportional representation from the ICN's seven geographic areas. Directors are term-limited to two consecutive four-year terms of office. The board meets at least once a year, although it usually meets three to four times a year.

The ICN has four officers. They include a president and three vice presidents. The officers function as an executive committee for the board, and as the board's budget and finance committee. The president is elected by the CNR. The president serves a four-year term of office, and is limited to one term in office. The vice presidents are elected from among the board members. The highest vote-getter is the First Vice President, the second-highest vote-getter the Second Vice President and the third-highest vote-getter the Third Vice President.

Day-to-day operations of the ICN are overseen by a chief executive officer (CEO). In practice, the CEO exercises most of the power within the ICN.

Conferences and projects

The ICN hosts a quadrennial conference every four years in conjunction with the meeting of the CNR. The conference hosts a large number of professional practice workshops, poster sessions, luncheons, speaking events and plenary sessions.

ICN hosts other conferences on an as-needed basis. Recent conferences have covered topics such as international nurse migration issues, regulation of the profession of nurses, rural nursing, leadership issues, advance practice issues, and workplace violence.

The ICN sponsors International Nurses' Day every May 12 (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birthday).

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is an official supporting organization of HIFA2015 (Healthcare Information For All by 2015).

Nursing theory

Nursing theory is the term given to the body of knowledge that is used to define or explain various aspects of the profession of nursing.

Types of nursing theories
Grand nursing theories

Grand nursing theories have the broadest scope and present general concepts and propositions. Theories at this level may both reflect and provide insights useful for practice but are not designed for empirical testing. This limits the use of grand nursing theories for directing, explaining, and predicting nursing in particular situations. Theories at this level are intended to be pertinent to all instances of nursing.

Mid-range nursing theories

Middle-range nursing theories are narrower in scope than grand nursing theories and offer an effective bridge between grand nursing theories and nursing practice. They present concepts and propositions at a lower level of abstraction and hold great promise for increasing theory-based research and nursing practice strategies.

Nursing practice theories

Nursing practice theories have the most limited scope and level of abstraction and are developed for use within a specific range of nursing situations. Nursing practice theories provide frameworks for nursing interventions, and predict outcomes and the impact of nursing practice.

Major nursing theorists and theories:

•     Helen Erickson
•     Virginia Henderson - Henderson's need theory
•     Imogene King
•     Madeleine Leininger
•     Betty Neuman - Neuman systems model
•     Margaret A. Newman - Health as expanding consciousness theory
•     Dorothea Orem - Self-care deficit nursing theory
•     Ida Jean Orlando (Pelletier)
•     Ramona T Mercer - Maternal role attainment theory
•     Anne Casey - Casey's model of nursing
•     Hildegard Peplau - Theory of interpersonal relations
•     Rosemarie Rizzo-Parse - Human becoming theory
•     Isabel Hampton Robb
•     Nancy Roper, Winifred W. Logan, and Alison J. Tierney - Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing
•     Martha E. Rogers - Science of unitary human beings
•     Callista Roy - Adaptation model of nursing
•     Katharine Kolcaba
•     Phil Barker - Tidal Model
•     Moyra Allen - McGill model of nursing
•     Erickson, Tomlin & Swain - Modeling and Role-Modeling
•     Katie Eriksson
•     Dr. Jean Watson
•     Paterson & Zderad
•     Boykin & Schoenhofer

Purposely omitted from this list is that most famous of all nurses, Florence Nightingale. Nightingale never actually formulated a theory of nursing science but was posthumously accredited with same by others who categorized her personal journaling and communications into a theoretical framework.

Also not included are the many nurses who improved on these theorists' ideas without developing their own theoretical vision.

Registered nurse United States

The scope of practice of registered nurses is the extent to and limits of which an RN may practice. In the United States, these limits are determined by a set of laws known as the Nurse Practice Act of the state or territory in which an RN is licensed. Each state has its own laws, rules, and regulations governing nursing care. Usually the making of such rules and regulations is delegated to a state board of nursing, which performs day-to-day administration of these rules, qualifies candidates for licensure, licenses nurses and nursing assistants, and makes decisions on nursing issues. It should be noted that in some states the terms "nurse" or "nursing" may only be used in conjunction with the practice of a Registered Nurse (RN) or licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN).

The scope of practice for a registered nurse is wider than for an LPN/LVN because of the level and content of education as well as what the Nurse Practice Act says about the respective roles of each.

In the hospital setting, registered nurses are often assigned a role to delegate tasks performed by LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel such as nursing assistants.

RNs are not limited to employment as bedside nurses. Registered nurses are employed by physicians, attorneys, insurance companies, community/public health agencies, private industry, school districts, ambulatory surgery centers, among others. Some registered nurses are independent consultants who work for themselves, while others work for large manufacturers or chemical companies. Research Nurses conduct or assist in the conduct of research or evaluation (outcome and process) in many areas such as biology, psychology, human development, and health care systems. The average salary for a staff RN in the United States in 2007 was over $60,000.

Educational and licensure requirements

Diploma in Nursing

article: Diploma in Nursing

The oldest method of nursing education is the hospital-based diploma program, which lasts approximately three years. Students take between 30 and 60 credit hours in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, nutrition, chemistry, and other subjects at a college or university, then move on to intensive nursing classes. Until 1996, most RNs in the US were initially educated in nursing by diploma programs. According to the Health Services Resources Administration's 2000 Survey of Nurses only six percent of nurses who graduated from nursing programs in the United States received their education at a Diploma School of Nursing.

Associate Degree in Nursing
article: Associate of Science in Nursing

The most common initial nursing education is a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, Associate Degree in Nursing), a two-year college degree referred to as an ADN. Some four-year colleges and universities also offer the ADN. Associate degree nursing programs have many prerequisite and co-requisite courses which ultimately stretch out the degree-acquiring process to about 3 years or greater.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

article: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The third method is to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a four-year degree that also prepares nurses for graduate-level education. For the first two years in a BSN program, students usually obtain general education requirements and spend the remaining time in nursing courses. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees have many courses which stretches out the degree-acquiring process to over 4 years if the student does not go to summer school. Advocates for the ADN and diploma programs state that such programs have a on the job training approach to educating students, while the BSN is an academic degree that emphasizes research and nursing theory. However the BSN graduate has both more classroom and clinical hours of study in nursing than the ADN graduate. The BSN graduate is professionally degreed; and as such is called a professional nurse. However, some states require a specific amount of clinical experience that is the same for both BSN and ADN students. Nursing schools may or may not be accredited by either the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Licensure examination

Completion of any one of these three educational routes allows a graduate nurse to take the NCLEX-RN, the test for licensure as a registered nurse, and is accepted by every state as an adequate indicator of minimum competency for a new graduate. However, controversy exists over the appropriate entry-level preparation of RNs. Some professional organizations believe the BSN should be the sole method of RN preparation and ADN graduates should be licensed as "technical nurses" to work under the supervision of BSN graduates. Others feel the on-the-job experiences of diploma and ADN graduates makes up for any deficiency in theoretical preparation. Regardless of this debate, it is highly unlikely that the BSN will become the standard for initial preparation any time soon, because of the nursing shortage, hospital lobbyist, and the lack of faculty to teach BSN students.

Other Qualifications

Nurses should be caring, empathetic, responsible, and detail-oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients' conditions, and determine when consultation is required. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. Nurses should enjoy working with people, especially those who may experience fear or anger because of an illness. Patience, compassion, and calmness are qualities needed by anyone working in this career. In addition, they must be able to give directions as well as follow instructions and work as part of a healthcare team. They must also have a strong desire to continue learning because new tests, procedures, and technologies are constantly being developed in healthcare.

Continuing Education

With health care knowledge growing steadily, nurses can stay ahead of the curve through continuing education. Continuing education classes and programs enable nurses to provide the best possible care to patients, advance nursing careers, and keep up with Board of Nursing requirements. The American Nurses Association and the American Nursing Credentialing Center are devoted to ensuring nurses have access to quality continuing education offerings.

Graduate nursing opportunities
Further information: Master of Science in Nursing
Further information: Doctorate in Nursing

Advanced education in nursing is done at the master's and doctoral levels. It prepares the graduate for specialization as an advanced practice nurse (APRN) or for advanced roles in leadership, management, or education. Areas of advanced nursing practice include that of a nurse practitioner (NP), a certified nurse midwife (CNM), a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), or a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Nurse practitioners work assessing, diagnosing and treating patients in fields as diverse as family practice, women's health care, emergency nursing, acute/critical care, psychiatry, geriatrics, or pediatrics, while a CNS usually works for a facility to improve patient care, do research, or as a staff educator. The clinical nurse leader (CNL) is an advanced generalist who focuses on the improvement of quality and safety outcomes for patients or patient populations from an administrative and staff management focus. Doctoral programs in nursing prepare the student for work in nursing education, health care administration, clinical research, or advanced clinical practice. Most programs confer the Ph.D in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), but some confer the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS or DNSc), Doctor of Science in Nursing (DSN), or the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

Nursing board certification 

article: Nursing credentials and certifications
Professional nursing organizations, through their certification boards, have voluntary certification exams to demonstrate clinical competency in their particular specialty. Completion of the prerequisite work experience allows an RN to register for an examination, and passage gives an RN permission to use a professional designation after their name. For example, passage of the American Association of Critical-care Nurses specialty exam allows a nurse to use the initials 'CCRN' after his or her name. Other organizations and societies have similar procedures.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center, the credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association, is the largest nursing credentialing organization and administers more than 30 specialty examinations.

Registered nurse japan

History

Nursing was not an established part of Japan's healthcare system until 1899 with the Midwives Ordinance. From there the Registered Nurse Ordinance came into play in 1915. This established a legal substantiation to registered nurses all over Japan. A new law geared towards nurses was created during World War II. This law was titled the Public Health Nurse, Midwife and Nurse Law and it was established in 1948. It established educational requirements, standards and licensure. There has been a continued effort to improve nursing in Japan. In 1992 the Nursing Human Resource Law was passed. This law created the development of new university programs for nurses. Those programs were designed to raise the education level of the nurses so that they could be better suited for taking care of the public.

Types of Nurses

Japan only recognizes four types of nursing and they are Public Health Nursing, Midwifery, Registered Nursing and Assistant Nursing.

Public Health Nursing

Public Health Nursing was created by Lillian Ward in 1893. This type of nursing is designed to help the public and is also driven by the public's needs. The goals of public health nurses are to monitor the spread of disease, keep vigilant watch for environmental hazards, educate the community on how to care for and treat themselves, and train for community disasters.

Midwifery

Nurses that are involved with midwifery are independent of any organization. A midwife takes care of a pregnant woman during labor and postpartum. They assist with things like breastfeeding and caring for the child.

Assistant Nursing

Individuals who are assistant nurses follow orders from a registered nurse. They report back to the licensed nurse about a patient's condition. Assistant nurses are always supervised by a licensed registered nurse.
Nursing Education

In 1952 Japan established the first nursing university in the country. An Associate Degree was the only level of certification for years. Soon people began to want nursing degrees at a higher level of education. Soon the Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN) was established. Currently Japan offers doctorate level degrees of nursing in a good number of its' universities.

There are three ways that an individual could become a registered nurse in Japan. After obtaining a high school degree the person could go to a nursing university for four years and earn a Bachelors degree, go to a junior nursing college for three years or go to a nursing school for three years. Regardless of where the individual attends school they must take the national exam. Those who attended a nursing university have a bit of an advantage over those who went to a nursing school. They can take the national exam to be a registered nurse, public health nurse or midwife. In the cases of become a midwife or a public health nurse, the student must take a one year course in their desired field after attending a nursing university and passing the national exam to become a registered nurse. The nursing universities are the best route for someone who wants to become a nurse in Japan. They offer a wider range of general education classes and they also allow for a more rigid teaching style of nursing. These nursing universities train their students to be able to make critical and educated decisions when they are out in the field. Physicians are the ones who are teaching the potential nurses because there are not enough available nurses to teach students. This increases the dominance that physicians have over nurses.

Students that attend a nursing college or just a nursing school receive the same degree that one would who graduated from a nursing university, but they do not have the same educational background. The classes offered at nursing colleges and nursing schools are focused on more practical aspects of nursing. These institutions do not offer many general education classes, so students who attend these schools will solely be focusing on their nursing educations while they are in school. Students who attend a nursing college or school do have the opportunity to become a midwife or a public health nurse. They have to go through a training institute for their desired field after graduating from the nursing school or college. Japanese nurses never have to renew their licenses. Once they have passed their exam, they have their license for life.

Nursing in Japan Today

Like the United States, Japan is in need of more nurses. The driving force behind this need this is the fact that country is aging and needs more medical care for its' people. The country needs a rapid increase of nurses however things do not seem to be turning around. Some of the reasons that there is a shortage are poor working conditions, an increase in the number of hospital beds, the low social status of nurses, and the cultural idea that married women quit their jobs for family responsibilities. On average, Japanese nurses will make around 280,000 yen a year, which is one of the higher paying jobs. however, physicians make twice the amount that nurses do in a year. Similar to other cultures, the Japanese people view nurses as subservient to physicians. They are considered lesser and oftentimes negative connotations are associated with nurses. According to the American Nurses Association article on Japan, "nursing work has been described using negative terminology such as "hard, dirty, dangerous, low salary, few holidays, minimal chance of marriage and family, and poor image". It is not surprising that there is a nursing shortage when so many people have negative attitudes toward nursing.

Some nurses in Japan are trying to be advocates. They are promoting better nursing education as well as promoting the care of the elderly. There are some organizations that unite Japanese nurses like the Japanese Nursing Association (JNA). The JNA is not to be confused with a union, it is simply a professional organization for the nurses. Members of the JNA lobby politicians and produces publications about nursing. According to the American Nurses Association's article on Japan the JNA, "works toward the improvement in nursing practice through many activities including the development of a policy research group to influence policy development, a code of ethics for nurses, and standards of nursing practice". The JNA also provides certification for specialists in mental health, oncology and community health. JNA is the not the only nursing organization in Japan. There are other subgroups that are typically categorized by the nurses' specialty, like emergency nursing or disaster nursing. One of the older unions that relates to nursing is the Japanese Federation of Medical Workers Union which was created in 1957. It is a union that includes physicians as well as nurses. This organization was involved with the Nursing Human Resource Law.

Nurses and Physicians

As stated earlier, nurses are considered to be subservient to physicians. The public sees nurses as simply assisting the physicians with whatever they need. It is true that the majority of the time nurses are just helping out the physicians, which takes away from time that could be spent tending to patients. However nurses that have higher levels of education like public health nurses or midwives have more independence than a registered nurse. Many nurses are desiring more education which could result in more independence overall for Japanese nurses.

Nurse education

Pre-registration

In order to become a registered nurse, and work as such in the NHS, one must complete a program recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Currently, this involves completing a degree or diploma, available from a range of universities offering these courses, in the chosen branch specialty (see below), leading to both an academic award and professional registration as a 1st level registered nurse. Such a course is a 50/50 split of learning in university (i.e. through lectures, essays and examinations) and in practice (i.e. supervised patient care within a hospital or community setting).

These courses are three (occasionally four) years' long. The first year is known as the common foundation program (CFP), and teaches the basic knowledge and skills required of all nurses. The remainder of the program consists of training specific to the student's chosen branch of nursing. These are:

1.  Adult nursing.
2.  Child nursing.
3.  Mental health nursing.
4.  Learning disabilities nursing.

As of 2013, the Nursing and Midwifery Council will require all new nurses qualifying in England to hold a degree qualification.

Midwifery training is similar in length and structure, but is sufficiently different that it is not considered a branch of nursing. There are shortened (18 month) programmes to allow nurses already qualified in the adult branch to hold dual registration as a nurse and a midwife. Shortened courses lasting 2 years also exist for graduates of other disciplines to train as nurses. This is achieved by more intense study and a shortening of the common foundation program.

Student nurses currently receive a bursary from the government to support them during their nurse training. Diploma students in England receive a non-means-tested bursary of around £6000 per year (with additional allowances for mature students or those with dependent children), whereas degree students have their bursary means tested (and so often receive less). Degree students are, however, eligible for a proportion of the government's student loan, unlike diploma students. In Scotland, however, all student nurses regardless of which course they are undertaking, receive the same bursary in line with the English diploma amount. In Wales only the Degree level course is offered and all nursing students therefore receive a non-means-tested bursary.

Before Project 2000, nurse education was the responsibility of hospitals and was not based in universities; hence many nurses who qualified prior to these reforms do not hold an academic award.

Post-registration

After the point of initial registration, there is an expectation that all qualified nurses will continue to update their skills and knowledge. The Nursing and Midwifery Council insists on a minimum of 35 hours of education every three years, as part of its post registration education and practice (PREP) requirements.

There are also opportunities for many nurses to gain additional clinical skills after qualification. Cannulation, venepuncture, intravenous drug therapy and male catheterisation are the most common, although there are many others (such as advanced life support) which some nurses will undertake.

Many nurses who qualified with a diploma choose to upgrade their qualification to a degree by studying part time. Many nurses prefer this option to gaining a degree initially, as there is often an opportunity to study in a specialist field as a part of this upgrading. Financially, in England, it is also much more lucrative, as diploma students get the full bursary during their initial training, and employers often pay for the degree course as well as the nurse's salary.

In order to become specialist nurses (such as nurse consultants, nurse practitioners etc.) or nurse educators, some nurses undertake further training above bachelors degree level. Masters degrees exist in various healthcare related topics, and some nurses choose to study for PhDs or other higher academic awards. District nurses and health visitors are also considered specialist nurses, and in order to become such they must undertake specialist training (often in the form of a top up degree (see above) or post graduate diploma).

All newly qualifying district nurses and Health Visitors are trained to prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary, a list of medications and dressings typically useful to those carrying out these roles. Many of these (and other) nurses will also undertake training in independent and supplementary prescribing, which allows them (as of May 1, 2006) to prescribe almost any drug in the British National Formulary. This has been the cause of a great deal of debate in both medical and nursing circles.

Canada

History
Canadian nursing dates all the way back to 1639 in Quebec with the Augustine nuns. These nuns were trying to open up a mission that cared for the spiritual and physical needs of patients. The establishment of this mission created the first nursing apprenticeship training in North America . In the nineteenth century there were some Catholic orders of nursing that were trying to spread their message across Canada. Most nurses were female and only had an occasional consultation with a physician. Towards the end of the nineteenth century hospital care and medical services had been improved and expanded. Much of this was due to Florence Nightingale who was training women in English Canada. In 1874 the first formal nursing training program was started at the General and Marine Hospital in St. Catharines in Ontario. Many programs popped up in hospitals across Canada after this one was established. Graduates and teachers from these programs began to fight for licensing legislation, nursing journals, university training for nurses, and for professional organizations for nurses.

The first instance of Canadian nurses and the military was in 1885 with the Northwest Rebellion. Some nurses came out to aid the wounded. In 1901 Canadian nurses were officially part of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Georgina Fane Pope and Margaret Clothilde Macdonald were the first nurses officially recognized as military nurses. Nursing continued to expand and develop. In the early twentieth century more nursing programs were developed for public health nursing and disease prevention. More changes occurred after World War II. The health care system expanded and medicare was introduced. Currently there are 260,000 nurses in Canada but they face the same difficulties as most countries. Nurses are becoming more scarce and the population is aging which requires more nursing care.

Education

All Canadian nurses and prospective nurses are heavily encouraged by the Canadian Nurses Association to continue their education to receive a Baccalaureate degree. They believe that this is the best degree to work towards because it results in better patient outcomes. In addition to helping patients, nurses that have a Baccalaureate degree will be less likely to make small errors because they have a higher level of education. A Baccalaureate degree also gives a nurse a more critical opinion which gives he or she more of an edge in the field. This ultimately saves the hospital money because they deal with less problematic incidents. All Canadian provinces except for the Yukon and Quebec require that all nurses must have a Baccalaureate degree. The basic length of time that it takes to obtain a Baccalaureate degree is four years. However, Canada does have a condensed program that is two years long.

There are nineteen specialties that a nurse could choose from if he or she wanted to narrow down his or her field. According to the Canadian Nurses Association some of those specialties are Cardiovascular Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Gerontology Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Neuroscience Nursing, Oncology Nursing, Orthopedic Nursing, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, and Rehabilitation Nursing. Each specialty requires its own test and competencies. Many tests are offered online through the Canadian Nurses Association.

Public Opinion

Canadian nurses hold a lot of responsibility in the medical field and are considered vital. According to the Canadian Nurses Association, "They expect RNs to develop and implement multi-faceted plans for managing chronic disease, treating complex health conditions and assisting them in the transition from the hospital to the community. Canadians also look to RNs for health education and for strategies to improve their health. RNs assess the appropriateness of new research and technology for patients and adjust care plans accordingly". It is rather uncommon to see nurses with this much independence. In most countries nurses appear to be considered lesser than a physician like in the United States or Japan.

Registered nurse

A Registered Nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a college's nursing program or from a school of nursing and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease. They care for the sick and injured in hospitals and other health care facilities, physicians' offices, private homes, public health agencies, schools, camps, and industry. Some registered nurses are employed in private practice. A registered nurse's scope of practice is determined by each state's Nurse Practice Act. It outlines what is legal practice for registered nurses and what tasks they may or may not perform. Nurse Practice Acts also dictate the scope of practice for nurse practitioners (NPs). An example is prescriptive authority for NPs. In some states, NPs can practice completely autonomously and prescribe any category of medications. In other states, NPs cannot prescribe controlled substances and may only practice with the collaboration of a physician.

History

Modern ideas about hospitals and nursing as a profession did not develop until the 19th century. The life and work of Florence Nightingale were a strong influence on the profession's development. Nightingale, who came from a wealthy, upper-class British family, dedicated her life to improving conditions in hospitals, beginning in an army hospital during the Crimean War. In the United States, many of Nightingale's ideas were put into practice for the care of the wounded during the Civil War. The care, however, was provided by concerned individuals who nursed rather than by trained nurses. They had not received the kind of training that is required for nurses today. The first school of nursing in the United States was founded in Boston in 1873. In 1938, New York State passed the first state law to require that practical nurses be licensed. Even though the first school for the training of practical nurses was started almost 74 years ago, and the establishment of other schools followed, the training programs lacked uniformity.

After the 1938 law was passed, a movement began to have organized training programs that would assure new standards in the field. The role and training of nurses have undergone radical changes since the first schools were opened.

Education standard for nurses have been improving constantly since that time. Today's nurse is a highly educated, licensed health care professional. Extended programs of training are offered throughout the country, and all states have enacted laws to assure training standards are maintained and to assure qualification for licensure. Nurses are a vital part of the health care system.

Nursing specialties
Some examples of nursing specialties include:

•     Medicine/Surgery
•     Intensive Care Unit
•     Operating Room/OR
•     Geriatrics
•     Anesthesia
•     Hospice
•     Dialysis
•     Emergency/ER
•     Labor & Delivery, Birthing
•     Pediatrics
•     Nursery
•     Neonatal Intensive Care Unit/NICU
•     Psychiatric
•     Case Management
•     Prison

Work Environment

Most RNs work in well-lit, comfortable healthcare facilities. Home health and public health nurses travel to patients' homes, schools, community centers, and other sites. RNs may spend considerable time walking, bending, stretching, and standing. Patients in hospitals and nursing care facilities require 24-hour care; consequently, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and holidays. RNs also may be on call—available to work on short notice. Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other settings that do not provide 24-hour care are more likely to work regular business hours. About 20 percent of RNs worked part time in 2008.

RNs may be in close contact with individuals who have infectious diseases and with toxic, harmful, or potentially hazardous compounds, solutions, and medications. RNs must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers, such as those posed by radiation, accidental needle sticks, chemicals used to sterilize instruments, and anesthetics. In addition, they are vulnerable to back injury when moving patients.

United Kingdom

To practice lawfully as a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, the practitioner must hold a current and valid registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The title "Registered Nurse" can only be granted to those holding such registration. This protected title is laid down in the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act, 1997.

First level Nurses

First level nurses make up the bulk of the registered nurses in the UK. They were previously known by titles such as RGN (registered general nurse), RSCN (registered sick children's nurse), RMN (registered mental nurse) , RNMH (registered nurse (for the) mentally handicapped).

The titles used now are similar and with slight differences i.e. RNA (registered nurse adult), RNC (registered nurse child), RNMH (registered nurse mental health), RNLD (registered nurse learning disabilities).

Second level nurse training is no longer provided, however they are still legally able to practice in the United Kingdom as a nurse. Many have now either retired or undertaken conversion courses to become first level nurses. They are entitled to refer to themselves as Registered Nurses as their registration is on the Nursing & Midwifery Council register of nurses.

They split into several major groups:

Nurse practitioners - These nurses obtain a minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing or a doctoral degree. They often perform roles similar to those of physicians and physician assistants, they can prescribe medications as independent or supplementary prescribers. Most NP's have referral and admission rights to hospital specialities. They commonly work in primary care (e.g. GP surgeries), A&E departments, or pediatrics although they are increasingly being seen in other areas of practice. The title "nurse practitioner" is legally protected, except in the State of Tennessee. * Specialist community public health nurses - traditionally district nurses and health visitors, this group of research and publication activities.

Lecturer-practitioners - these nurses work both in the NHS, and in universities. They typically work for 2–3 days per week in each setting. In university, they train pre-registration student nurses (see below), and often teach on specialist courses for post-registration nurses * Lecturers - these nurses are not employed by the NHS. Instead they work full time in universities, both teaching and performing research.

Managers

Many nurses who have worked in clinical settings for a long time choose to leave clinical nursing and join the ranks of the NHS management. This used to be seen as a natural career progression for those who had reached ward management positions, however with the advent of specialist nursing roles (see above), this has become a less attractive option.

Nonetheless, many nurses fill positions in the senior management structure of NHS organisations, some even as board members. Others choose to stay a little closer to their clinical roots by becoming clinical nurse managers or modern matrons.

Notes on Nursing

Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not is a book first published by Florence Nightingale in 1859. A 136-page volume, it was intended to give hints on nursing to those entrusted with the health of others. Florence Nightingale stressed that it was not meant to be a comprehensive guide from which to teach one's self to be a nurse but to help in the practice of treating others.

In her introduction to the 1974 edition, Joan Quixley, then head of the Nightingale School of Nursing, wrote that despite the passage of time since Notes on Nursing was published, "the book astonishes one with its relevance to modern attitudes and skills in nursing, whether this be practised at home by the 'ordinary woman', in hospital or in the community. The social, economic and professional differences of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in no way hinder the young student or pupil from developing, if he or she is motivated to do so, its unchanged fundamentals by way of intelligent thought and practice". "With its mid-nineteenth century background of poverty, neglect, ignorance and prejudice the book was a challenge to contemporary views of nursing, of nurses and of the patient". "The book was the first of its kind ever to be written. It appeared at a time when the simple rules of health were only beginning to be known, when its topics were of vital importance not only for the well-being and recovery of patients, when hospitals were riddled with infection, when nurses were still mainly regarded as ignorant, uneducated persons. The book has, inevitably, its place in the history of nursing, for it was written by the founder of modern nursing".

The book included advice and practices for the following areas :

• ventilation and warming
• health in houses
• petty management (how things are done by others when you must be away)
• noise
• variety (environment)
• taking food and what kinds of food
• bed and bedding
• light
• cleanliness of rooms
• personal cleanliness
• chattering hopes and advices (the false assurances and recommendations of family and friends to the sick)
• observation of the sick

Later editions of Notes on Nursing are available to the public today.