The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has called on the New South Wales Government to provide greater funding, bolstering support for the nursing workforce to meet health needs during what is being described as a healthcare shortage.
In a submission to the NSW Government Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding, the ACN made nine recommendations.
NSW Health said it lost 12.6% of its nursing staff in 2021-2022 compared to about 7% the three preceding years – nurses are now the most in-demand workers in NSW.
The ACN CEO, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, said proper funding and support for nurses would provide strategic and affordable solutions to health workforce issues affecting NSW, especially in rural, regional and remote communities.
"The nursing workforce is the largest group of registered health professionals in Australia, with approximately 440,110 nurses registered in 2023," Adjunct Professor Ward said.
"In NSW, there are 114,269 nurses currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board, which is 26% of all registered nurses in Australia.
"The nursing workforce plays a vital role in providing safe, quality, and accessible health care across various settings and specialties, no matter where people live.
"Nurses are at the forefront of healthcare delivery, innovation, and research. They are also key contributors to health system sustainability and efficiency.
"Investing in nursing improves clinical outcomes without significantly altering the cost. The evidence indicates that increasing the number of registered nurses can lead to improved outcomes and potentially lower net costs.”
Nine recommendations
The ACN says that it recognises the challenges and opportunities the inquiry represents for the nursing commission and is committed to providing evidence-based expert advice.
It’s recommendations to the NSW government include:
You can find the ACN's full response to the NSW Government Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding here on their website.