Priority 2: Enabling nursing innovation

Objective

Nurses are enabled to work in innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the community.

Nurses work to their optimum scope of practice, improving access to and experience of person-centred care for consumers.

Nurses engage in decision-making, policy, research and innovation at all levels and in all contexts.

Nurses lead, influence and help shape the health and aged care system and consumer outcomes.

Rationale

Across the health and aged care system, nurses are continually advancing practices that enhance consumer health and wellbeing outcomes. The health and aged care system must acknowledge nurses as leaders in research and innovation, and enable nurses to work to their full potential, including to their optimum scope of practice. This will create a more adaptable and sustainable health and aged care system, retain nurses and improve consumer outcomes.

Emerging technologies

Reason for action

Technological advancements and consumer preferences are driving changes in how and where care is delivered, as well as expanding nurses’ roles and responsibilities and providing new opportunities for research and education.⁴¹ 

The adoption of digital initiatives, including artificial intelligence, can address challenges and assist nurses to work to their optimum scope of practice and impact, having a positive effect on consumer health outcomes. Other technologies, such as genomics, have the potential to revolutionise healthcare by enabling more precise diagnoses, targeted treatments, and the prediction of disease susceptibility.⁴² Translating genomic evidence into nursing practice creates a genuine person-centred approach that delivers high quality personalised care to individuals.⁴³

Effective use of technology will enhance, not replace, the essential human elements of nursing care and relationships. Consistent and ongoing investment and training will be needed to equip all nurses with the knowledge and skills to ethically and effectively use digital technologies in their practice. Support for nurse-led research in designing, implementing, and evaluating emerging technologies is critical. Nurse co-design will improve usability and effectiveness of these technologies in providing care.

Funding models

Reason for action

Current funding mechanisms do not provide the flexibility to adapt to changing healthcare needs and embrace innovation. Traditional funding approaches may lead to nurses being relegated to task-based roles rather than fully engaging in care planning and decision-making processes. A key enabler of increasing nurse-led models of care is through funding approaches which provide flexibility and focus on quality and delivery of care, when and where it is needed.

The need for flexible funding arrangements is reiterated in the Final Report of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review which states they are crucial in supporting health professionals to deliver multidisciplinary care and work to their full scope of practice.⁴⁴

Innovative models of care

Reason for action

Nurses are key drivers of innovation in models of health care delivery. Working in diverse roles across the health and aged care system, nurses make connections across departments, professions, organisations, sectors and geographic areas to develop new care strategies and population health models. They are critical to driving the success of multidisciplinary teams, having a key role in linking consumers with different healthcare and community settings.

A system that supports research, development, implementation and the evaluation of new solutions in nursing is essential to effectively meet the needs of Australian communities. Innovative models of care can have considerable benefits including improved system efficiency and sustainability, improved use of health professionals’ skills and role satisfaction, improved consumer experience and satisfaction, enhanced quality of life and better health outcomes. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-design

Reason for action

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience unique health disparities and cultural considerations which necessitate a tailored approach to nursing and healthcare provision. 

Supporting innovative, co-designed nursing initiatives allows for specific needs to be met as they can be tailored to suit local conditions and community situations.

Optimum scope of practice

Reason for action

A nurse’s scope of practice is unique and influenced by the regulations and settings in which they work; the health needs of people; the level of competence and confidence of the nurse; and the policy requirements of the service provider.⁴⁵ Evidence shows, when health professionals are supported to work at their optimum scope of practice there is improved access to care for consumers, equal or better health outcomes in some areas and cost savings.⁴⁶

Supporting Australia’s nursing workforce to use their full capabilities is critical in enhancing job satisfaction and wellbeing as well as supporting more efficient and effective care.⁴⁷

System integration, collaboration and learning with multidisciplinary teams all help nurses work to their optimum scope of practice. Legislative and regulatory harmonisation across jurisdictions, particularly in the context of prescribing rights, will also remove barriers.⁴⁸ Collectively, this will drive improved retention and more responsive, person-centred care.

Climate resilience and environmental sustainability

Reason for action

Populations are already experiencing the impacts of climate change on their health and wellbeing.⁴⁹ Being at the forefront of the health system, nurses can promote climate-ready healthcare and drive environmentally sustainable healthcare practices that meet current health needs, without impacting future generations’ health. 

Nurses currently drive several sustainable healthcare initiatives designed to have a positive impact on healthcare sustainability, climate change and planetary health.^{50, 51} Nurses have a shared responsibility to sustain and protect the natural environment from depletion, pollution, degradation and destruction.⁵² They are positioned to support individuals, families and communities to make healthy lifestyle choices and be advocates for initiatives that reduce environmentally harmful practices to promote health and wellbeing.⁵³