What style shirt?

Board nominations are due next week and I really want to encourage all of you to think about nominating. Practice Nurse Board members are a crucial strength for APNA in that we are the only organisation devoted to representing practice nurses needs. And the board will be stronger for diversity in views and fresh perspectives. The organisation will be stronger when members have the opportunity to elect its board members- for that we need more nominees than positions. Board members generally find the experience very rewarding, not intimidating and at times inspiring. So get those nominations in!

On a more fun note - we have been looking at colours and styles of shirts for an APNA shirt that APNA nurses can wear at work which will have the logo and "practice nurse' on it. This is in response to a debate that occurred last year around uniforms and the fact that we want to increase exposure to APNA, recognition for practice nurses within the practice as being a professional clinician not a receptionist but at the same time, many of you saying that you like to have a bit of a uniform - not have to think about what you are wearing. We will have samples at the conference and PNCEs. At the moment we will be offering a pale blue and pale green elbow length shirt in a stretchy cotton with logo and wording on left pocket area. We will have the ability to add colours where there is a demand and different sleeve lengths as we go along. Would love any feedback!

All I seem to be doing at the moment is writing and meeting. Since finishing the Primary Health Care discussion paper submission, I have

1. rewritten a submission to the Department for funding for a patient satisfaction instrument for nursing services in general practice (which looks like being accepted and funded and needs to be completed by end of June!),
2. am trying to finish a submission (due tomorrow) for government funding for an online course in lifestyle risk factor management under the Australian Better Health Care Initiative funding,
3. did a submission to a Victorian Government IT Innovation funding pool for development of a clinical policies and procedures wiki tool - in layman's terms, an Internet site where nurses can contribute policies and procedures they have developed and others (nurses and experts) can correct/amend/download for their own use.
4. providing comments and input into the development of a position paper on nurses roles in primary health care being undertaken by the ANF in collaboration with a number of nursing groups including us. Funding for this project resulted from the Roundtable event we (APNA, ANF and ANPA) organised last year in Canberra for medical and nursing groups, bureaucrats, Ms Roxon etc.
5. attended National Primary Health Care Partnerships meeting which a peak group of primary health care providers - where we did some strategic planning around key issues the group needs to address. Members of this group include AGPN, allied health members organisations such as dietitians, physios, podiatrists etc, dentists, pharmacists, RCNA etc. It is an interesting mix of people.
6. met with various providers of membership type benefits in an effort by new staff member Matt Hall to reintroduce our member benefits program with a range of interesting benefits.