5. VIABILITY OF NURSING/AIN TO RESIDENT RATIOS IN RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITIES (RACF) WITHIN THE CURRENT AGED CARE FUNDING INSTRUMENT (ACFI) Andrew Dean MACN In recent times there has been a large push to create Nursing/AIN to Resident ratios in the Residential Aged Care System. The prima facie purpose of such ratios is to improve resident care and reduce staff workloads. While research is being undertaken into the necessity of ratios there is little evidence apart from anecdotal that any potential increase in staffing levels or less flexibility is viable given the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). The viability of Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) are hidden by commercial in confidence and are extremely difficult to quantify even when the RACF’s are public companies or NFP organizations. The model presented has been created from the Author’s knowledge of the requirements of an RACF, all financial data has been gathered from public sources and as such does not represent any specific RACF. The model seeks to give an indication of the viability of multi case RACF’s. The poster presentation seeks to examine two common RACF sizes, 60 bed and 120 bed. The viability would be contrasted between standard staffing levels and increased staffing levels of nurses both EEN and RN. The Author does not seek to justify either position rather seeks to answer the question whether it is possible for the RACF’s to implement staffing ratios and or increased staffing levels and remain viable. Further research is required into the efficacy of changes to Nurse/AIN – Resident ratios. The long term aim of this model is to allow researchers to test new staffing regimes against the viability of RACF’s with the aim of creating an optimised Residential Aged Care System.
6. THE REFUGEE HEALTH EARLY CHILDHOOD NURSE PROGRAM - WHY A CHANGE HAD TO HAPPEN! Sandy Eagar FACN, Angii Higgins, Susan Passey and Sarah Marsh With the unprecedented movement of people across the globe, The Australian government has offered an additional 12,000 places to refugees from Syria and Iraq. With the arrival of this cohort came the opportunity to critically review existing programs, and to introduce programs that met the needs of these most vulnerable groups. We reviewed existing programs for children 0-5 years. Current service models were designed for families with adequate health literacy, existing medical records, English language competency, and access to private transport…all factors that excluded newly arrived refugee families who were bewildered and often overwhelmed with the demands of resettlement, and the sophistication of the health systems. Service data confirmed that despite good intentions, the model was not working Something had to change! An innovative model, the Refugee Health Early Childhood Nurses has been introduced in Sydney, NSW. Using a hybrid approach, the Refugee Health Early Childhood Nurses see most families in their homes, use qualified health interpreters, and assist families to navigate the systems of a first world country. So what? Well, the data we will present will confirm the need for this program, the preliminary health outcomes, the challenges and the victories! We will show you why change HAD to happen, and share with you how we did it!
To make change happen we need to be pragmatic and be able to sell improvements to an increasingly financially driven society. Without an understanding of the financial underpinnings of a RACF resident care changes will be difficult to undertake.
THE NATIONAL NURSING FORUM 2017
83