Australian Neonatal Nursing Workforce Report
Numerous reports have been generated internationally and nationally regarding the current and impending crises with respect to the nursing workforce, with particular emphasis on shortages in specialist areas including intensive and critical care. The Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee recently produced two reports profiling the current nursing workforce in the fields of critical care and midwifery. Whilst paediatric intensive care received some attention in the former document, the data were less than robust and no mention was made regarding the nursing workforce involved in the care of the newborn who may require intensive care. Similarly, the midwifery workforce report did not include data on those nurses caring for patients and families within the field of neonatal and infant care.
The Executive of the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) commissioned a survey to determine the current profile of nurses working in the area of neonatal care, and importantly, to identify those issues that may impact on the recruitment and retention of nurses within the field.
Benchmarking survey: staffing Australian neonatal units