Through the COVID-19 crisis, nursing & midwifery has been in the public eye more than ever. Nurses often are being seen as compassionate helpers. The public image of nursing, however, also consists of stereotypes such as nursing being a ‘doing’ profession. In addition, nurses themselves reinforce stereotypes in order to fit into what is expected, even when they believe professional behaviour demands otherwise. One thing is clear – these notions and stereotypes are far from true. This panel discussion will see nursing leaders at the forefront of innovative thinking share with you tips and strategies to bring about a systemic change to how a nurse & midwife views oneself and their contribution to the healthcare system into the future.

• What stereotypes and misconceptions do you observe being prevalent about the nursing and midwifery roles in today’s healthcare environment?
• How would you define the professional identity of the modern nurse? Has COVID created new opportunities?
• In what ways can we evolve organizational culture and policies to encourage a positive change in how nurses view themselves and how they are viewed by the broader community?
• What steps can nurses and midwives take on an individual level to bring about a change to traditional mindsets and perceptions?

Confirmed Panellists:

COVID has created a significant strain in the nursing community, exacerbating challenges with burnout and in many instances, seeing nurses leave the profession entirely. An overall shortfall of 85,000 nurses by 2025 and 123,000 by 2030 is predicted across all sectors: acute, aged care, critical care, emergency and mental health. This panel discussion will dig deeper to reflect on the changing sector to outline the important steps required across health services, education providers, associations and the nurses themselves to create a thriving talent pool and workforce that can support the demands of the healthcare service of the future.

• What steps can we take to improve retention of nurses and address the skillset shortages faced by the industry?
• In what ways can workforce planning and strategy be improved to reduce strain on the nursing profession?
• How can we improve the attractiveness and appeal of the nursing career for future generations?
• How can we harness the power of graduates and fast-track the development of early career nurses?

Confirmed Panellists: