Reflecting on the Impact of Cardiovascular Nurses in Australia and New Zealand in the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

Abstract

To say 2020 has been difficult and challenging is an understatement. Signalled the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, in the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale's birth, we thought there would be celebrations, filled with joy and time for reflection. 2020 has diverged far from this plan. Across the world, individuals, families, and communities have been devastated. Moreover, it is evident that our work as nurses is becoming more challenging during these unprecedented and uncertain times. COVID-19 has not only created illness and suffering but propelled the world into a serious global economic recession and laid bare cracks in society with many traditionally underserved and vulnerable people suffering more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiovascular nurses have demonstrated strong, cohesive leadership through the writing of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) COVID-19 Cardiovascular Nursing Care Consensus Statement (published in this journal), as well as working on the frontlines in our hospitals and communities [2]. The joint consensus statement was prepared by an expert writing group comprised of members of the CSANZ Cardiovascular Nursing Council and the CSANZ Interventional Nurses Council [3]. The statement is aimed to support cardiovascular nurses to reduce the risk of virus transmission whilst delivering care by adapting to novel models of care, and to educate and inform nurses of the cardiovascular implications of COVID-19. The rapid development of this Statement was impressive, and demonstrates the high levels of leadership, commitment, cohesion, collaboration, and engagement of these nurses. Expert cardiovascular nursing input was also sought for the CSANZ Statements on rural and remote cardiology [4], and the provision of secondary prevention and cardiovascular rehabilitation during the pandemic [5]. The Breadth of Cardiovascular Nursing Nurses comprise the single largest discipline cohort of registered healthcare professionals, and we often stand at the

Global perspectives on under‐funding for Clinical Research Training Fellowships in Nursing

“…The impact of nursing research is well described in the literature and nurses have a long-standing track record in delivering highquality clinical research that adds value and improves patient care and outcomes (Ferguson et al, 2020). Yet, in the current economic climate, it is critical to demonstrate the value proposition of nursing research, the impact and the return on investment following e50 | EDITORIAL successful projects (Kiely & Wysocki, 2020).…”