Contemporary Nursing Contribution to Australian Multidisciplinary Care
The nursing profession has evolved at a constant rate in the past few decades to become a dynamic and research oriented discipline (Timby, 2009). This profession found its roots in the gaps in health care which were not completely addressed by the physicians, but which was acutely felt to provide complete and holistic care to the patients (Armitage, 1999). This gap in the health care system was recognized by nursing professionals and through their creative drive and dedication; nursing has now become a more patient centric care solution provider under all circumstances and situations both within and outside health care settings (Halcomb et al, 2008). Although remnants of these problems still remain in the form of funding limitations, dogmatic and traditional attitudes towards limited roles of nursing, much has been achieved towards improving the nursing role in Australia (Halcomb et al, 2008).
With the evolution of the role of nursing, the simple act of defining it has become more complex. Nursing addresses concerns of all generations, all communities and cultural and ethical groups and all kinds of health services (Defining Nursing, nd). The simplified definition is the simple act of provision of care to the sick, whether mentally or physically, helping them recover and cope with their condition and improving the quality of life (Defining Nurse, nd).
All this however, faces another key challenge. With the rise in the burden of health care costs, the impact is the need for fewer professionals with larger pools of competencies (Ruff, 2011). Globally, the need to balance shortage of nursing staff with the need to cut down on human resources is creating a friction within the nursing profession to create superior nurses. Now the nursing teams have evolved to comprise of Registered Nurses handling other assistant personnel taking care of a larger part of the community (Ruff, 2011).
Alongside, the modern nursing models have now put nurses not as mere followers of orders, but as leaders creating strategic directions and taking part in the future of health care. Nurses now take over some of the responsibilities of the physicians, and help the patients in taking an active role in their health care (Ruff, 2011).
The global directions and shifts have impacted the field of nursing in many ways. Some of the areas where these operate include economics and rising demands of the consumers, the changes in family structures and resultant sociological impacts, science and technology, information and telecommunication particularly in health care arena, legislations and demography respectively.
Contemporary nursing therefore, is the integration of science and scientific methods in the already present art of caring within nursing. Now nursing is an academic area of expertise, with its own areas of research and development and far reaching impact on the quality of health care provided to the consumers (Timby, 2009). Contemporary nursing has evolved from many theoretical models, which include environment theory, basic needs theory, self-care theory and adaption theory respectively (Timby, 2009).
POTENTIAL ROLE IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
The need for collaborative practice has fast gained significance and research considerations due to many reasons. An essential component is the use of resources and health funds wisely and gaining more by combining different resources together. This requires extreme discipline and coordination among the nursing and physician staff to ensure quality care provision (Patterson & McMurray, nd). The two models of interdisciplinary function, the Provider Substitution Model (PSM) and Collaborative Practice Model (CPM) both have been found to contribute towards quality health care provision (Patterson & McMurray, nd). Creating collaborative partnerships may not only be beneficial, but may also be the need of the time for health care system of Australia (Patterson & McMurray, nd).
.A study by Brookes and colleagues in 2004 highlighted some of the potential problems faced by nurses in Australia regarding their contribution in community health (Brooks, Davidson, Daly & Hancock, 2004). Brookes concluded that there remains a lack of clarity about the roles and positions of various nursing staff in the overall health care system (Brooks, Davidson, Daly & Hancock, 2004). Nurses in community health find that they have very less power in shaping decisions for the community health benefits. In Australia, non-nursing staff is taking up nursing roles. Finally, there is lack of cohesive nursing programs to enhance their competency and skills (Brooks, Davidson, Daly & Hancock, 2004).
A similar challenging situation was highlighted again by Davidson, Elliott and Daly in 2006 where they stated that barriers to nursing leadership prevent the nurses to take clinical decisions (Davidson, Elliott & Daly, 2006). Other contributors to nursing problems and lack of their involvement in the Australian health care system include shortage of nursing staff, financial and budgetary constraints, lack of strong and integrated health care systems and trends towards less skilled clinicians influencing decisions (Davidson, Elliott & Daly in 2006).
The divisions of general practice and practice nurse development led to improved changes in the autonomy and clinical role of nurses (Hall, 2007). Perhaps the biggest outcome of the Divisions was the creation of strong roles and integration of nurses in the multidisciplinary teams in Australian health care system (Hall, 2007).
There are many researches that advocate creation of bridges between nursing professionals and physicians (Wilson, Coulon, Hillege&Swann, 2005). These can help in making collaborative decisions, which utilize both sides of care spectrum along with scientific rigour in patient disease management (Wilson, Coulon, Hillege& Swann, 2005).
Team nursing initiatives in various international health care systems have resulted in significant improvements in the quality of care delivered (Ferguson &Cioffi, nd). These initiatives help in creating a seamless and integrated care operation for the patient, creating oneness in understanding and approach towards managing and treating the patient, and a coordination in the record keeping and follow up routines (Pearson, 2003). The roles become clearer and well defined, making it easier to delegate during routine procedures (Ferguson &Cioffi, nd).
CONCLUSION
The evolution of the nursing concept in Australia has taken a slower pace compared to other developed countries. However, its application in the multidisciplinary healthconcept is still being explored. The researches so far show promise in creating an integrated health care system where contemporary nursing will not only grow, but will also contribute towards improvement in the current systems.
REFERENCES
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