The Oak December 2024

From the Board Chair

As the year draws to a close, we reflect on a busy and rewarding time for our College. In November we had the privilege of hosting not only Perioperative Nurses Week but also the ACORN international conference. These significant events played a vital role in uniting our profession, celebrating achievements, fostering strong collegial relationships and sharing knowledge, innovations and advancements in clinical skills.

A standout moment at the conference was the Judith Cornell Oration delivered by Phyllis Davis, a respected Fellow of the College. Titled ‘I am a nurse’, Phyllis’s oration reminded us of the unique position perioperative nurses hold as brave change-makers and health care leaders, working for the benefit of their patients and teams. Her words were a call to embrace the future boldly, to learn not only from our predecessors but also from those new to our profession, encouraging us to seek out a ‘millennial mentor’. Thank you, Phyllis, for your thought-provoking insights.

The keynote address by Dr Julia Baird was another memorable highlight of the conference. Through her research on the importance of awe, wonder and the power of grace, Julia shared how nurses have profoundly impacted her life. She began with Caitlin Brassington's poem ‘Just a nurse’, a poignant reminder to look beyond the ‘just’ often attached to our titles and recognise the significance of the work we do. Julia spoke of the grace that is required to show up each day – not just the polite kind, but the type that takes grit and resilience in the face of challenges, setbacks and human suffering. It was deeply moving to hear someone from outside our world affirm the grace that nurses bring to others and encourage us to seek moments of awe and wonder to sustain us in our work.

Engagement with other professional organisations was also a feature of our conference, with delegates from perioperative nursing organisations across the globe in attendance. In lieu of the very popular ‘Coroners Court’, we held a panel discussion about the use of the surgical safety huddle as a tool for communication. The panel featured representatives from ACORN, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and it was fantastic to hear the perspectives of each of the key stakeholders in this vital communication activity; in particular, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding reminding us that ‘surgery is a team sport’ and encouraging nurses to speak up.

It was a pleasure to reconnect with many of you at the conference. After such a long hiatus, the opportunity to come together as a profession was truly special. We are very grateful to our silver sponsors B.Braun, HPA, Mölnlycke, Multigate and Solventum, and our bronze sponsors Aspen Surgical, Baxter, Cardinal Health and Cooper Surgical.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our new Fellows and award recipients. It was a pleasure to confer the Fellowships awarded during the last six years with the traditional procession and ceremony. To all of you, congratulations once again. Being granted ACORN Fellowship is a prestigious honour and a significant recognition of your service, dedication and unwavering commitment to advocating for perioperative nursing. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the recipients of our Excellence in Perioperative Nursing Awards, whose ceremony had also been deferred. The College is truly grateful for your exceptional dedication to our professional community and making a difference in the care we provide to our patients.

I look forward to future gatherings where we can continue sharing advancements and innovations within our community. This conference was about reconnection, and it was heartwarming to witness colleagues reuniting, new friendships forming and knowledge being exchanged. Thank you to everyone who attended and made this event a success!

As we close out 2024, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude, on behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire College, for your ongoing engagement with ACORN. Your support enables us to continue advocating, educating and collaborating in service of our professional community. A special thank you to our exceptional team – Diane Harapin, Edwina Eaton, Angela Jarkey, Sheridan Milward, Eleanor Tan, and Sarah Wylie. Along with their dedicated teams of volunteers, they have achieved remarkable things, not only for major events but every day. Their efforts deserve the highest recognition.

Thank you once again for your continued support, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

Warm regards

Caroline Johnson

ACORN Board Chair

 

From the CEO

A quote by Helen Keller resonates with me as this year draws to a close, ‘Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much’.

November was an extraordinary month at ACORN with a successful ACORN 2024 conference and wonderful Perioperative Nurses Week (PNW). Thanks to the PNW sponsors, Solventum and Bravura, and G.L.U.E awards sponsor, Multigate.

The community united and ignited at the conference with so many opportunities to come together. The highlight for me was learning about the sub-specialities from the many delegates I spoke with. A conference of this quality and size was a large undertaking for such a small team and I want to thank Angela Jarkey for managing the program, Sarah Wylie for managing the sponsors and exhibitors. and the rest of my busy team – Eleanor Tan, Edwina Eaton and our new part-time operations administrator assistant, Sheridan Millward. We all had to learn new skills and perform tasks outside of our scope of practice.

When the ACORN 2024 conference was originally postponed, we had a large amount of work to ‘pull down’ and rebuild the conference in another state and venue. It was a significant undertaking and added to our already overflowing workstreams. I want to thank our industry partners who very quickly signed on and funded the building of ACORN 2024. Many thanks to our conference silver sponsors – B.Braun, HPA, Mölnlycke, Multigate and Solventum – and bronze sponsors – Aspen Surgical, Baxter, Cardinal Health and Cooper Surgical. Thanks also to the many other sponsors who exhibited and provided support. We had a very successful campaign to result in such a full and exciting industry hall and it enabled us to keep registration costs to a minimum.

A huge thank you to our delegates, we knew getting leave from work would be hard, but so many of you managed to attend, some even for just a day. Your support has been fundamental to this year’s success. You are ACORN and all the recent significant achievements resulted from the College being a collective of passionate professionals with a common goal.

Thank you to those who attended the Special General Meeting and listened to the financial report and voted for our 2024 auditor. Our accounts close on 31 December as, like many registered charities, our financial year aligns with the calendar year.

I would also like to thank the many volunteers who have supported ACORN’s work this year – members of the Censor Panel, Research Committee, Editorial Advisory Board for the journal, Education Committee and Standards Working Party, as well as a number of Sydney-based nurses who provided extra pairs of hands at the conference. Of all our wonderful volunteers, one person stands out – Ruth Hibbard, ACORN’s volunteer of the year. Ruth not only did a beautiful job co-curating the wonderful celebratory gala dinner at the conference, she has also worked tirelessly since February as our archivist sorting and cataloguing past issues and editions of ACORN publications and large collection of memorabilia.

ACORN began nearly 50 years ago when a small but passionate group of strategic thinkers were motivated by a desire to connect, collaborate and create. Today ACORN represents approximately 30 000 perioperative nurses.

The future of the College is you.

Best wishes and many blessings for a peaceful festive season.

Diane Harapin OAM

ACORN CEO

The ACORN 2024 Conference was a resounding success, bringing together a diverse range of voices and topics that sparked critical conversations and inspired innovation in the field of perioperative nursing and health care. The conference was filled with enriching presentations from leaders, clinicians and educators who shared their expertise and research, paving the way for a future of enhanced patient care and professional growth.

The opening day featured an outstanding lineup of speakers who set the tone for the conference. It began with the Judith Cornell Oration, presented by Phyllis Davis AM. Phyllis gave an engaging talk about the evolution of nursing, her experience across international health care organisations and relatable moments during her career. Prof Brigid Gillespie and followed with thought-provoking presentations on improving patient outcomes through perioperative education and collaboration. Judy Munday and Melanie Lang joined Cassandra Reed from Donate Life to share valuable insights into patient safety, organ donation and the importance of policy in health care.

Erin Wakefield captivated the audience with her dynamic AI session, earning her the award for Most Engaging Speaker due to her ability to communicate complex concepts with passion and clarity. Other notable speakers included Sonia Christison, Deborah Burrows and Nerrie Raddie, who explored leadership and innovation in perioperative care.

Mishelle Dehaini and Susie Helmrich brought unique perspectives on the future of nursing practice, while Dr Zhi Kiat Sia shared valuable insights into patient-centred care. Michelle Freeling and Allison Roderick closed the day with a highly engaging session on teamwork and safety in the operating room.

Friday's session featured an equally impressive group of speakers who continued the momentum of the conference. Jed Duff focused on the intersection of research and clinical practice, while Sarah Ripley and Martine Beaumont shared innovative approaches to perioperative education and questions were posed to a panel of experts who provided fantastic insights and experience to address questions from the audience. Tarryn Armour was inspiring with her presentation on virtual simulation in postgraduate perianaesthesia training and was voted as having the overall Best Presentation of the conference.

Ken Saman, Pat Nicholson and Elyse Coffey enlightened the audience with their talks on leadership, resilience and professional development. Benjamin Hay, and Anita Kiruba Jeyakumar shared new ideas in patient safety and improving surgical outcomes. Other prominent speakers included Pooja Bhusal, Julie Walters and Ada Xie, who explored global health care perspectives and future trends in perioperative care.

The day ended with impactful presentations from Marita Soutar, Tracy Martin and Elissa O’Keefe, as well as Carl Yuile, Ingrid Gustafsson and Renae Kathage. Renae was recognised for her outstanding potential and awarded Best Novice Presenter of the conference.

Saturday’s sessions included an impressive array of speakers who wrapped up the event with inspiration and actionable takeaways. Ruth Melville and Barbara Sobi led discussions on patient advocacy and clinical excellence in Papua New Guinea, while Erin Wakefield, Marlen Orsina and Tara Rogers provided further insights into leadership and practice innovation.

Caroline Johnson shared valuable perspectives on perioperative nursing in specialised fields during a panel discussion with Associate Professor Kerin Fielding (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) and Dr Charlotte Wilsey (Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists) who provided unique perspectives focusing on the use of pre-operative debriefing.

Other inspiring talks included those by Kiara Azak, Chelsea Moxham and Christina Foxwell who discussed new approaches to clinical safety, patient education and workforce development. Sally Sutherland-Fraser and Charmayne Thompson captivated audiences with their research on patient safety in perioperative practice on both a national and international level.

Finally, Michelle Freeling and Allison Roderick returned to continue their exploration of teamwork and safety with their ‘Escape the OR’ workshop, rounding out a full weekend of transformative presentations.
The Delegates’ Choice Presentation award went to Dr. Michelle Freeling and Dr. Allison Roderick for their collaborative, insightful ‘Escape the OR’ workshop session on surgical safety and teamwork. Susan Helmrich earned the Delegates’ Choice Speaker award for her inspiring presentation on ‘Revolutionising resuscitation: A new era of team-based training enhancing patient safety in perioperative care.’ The Best Poster award was given to Edwina Holmes for her research on clinical procedure safety, which sparked meaningful conversations around patient safety in clinical settings.

ACORN 2024 was an incredible opportunity to gain experience, connect and reflect on advancements in perioperative nursing. The wealth of knowledge shared by all the speakers, along with the recognition of outstanding individuals, will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the profession. As we look forward to the next conference, we remain inspired by the dedication of everyone in the perioperative community to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence in patient care and professional development.

As 2024 closes, we are proud to reflect on the significant strides made in ACORN’s new portfolio of Clinical excellence, particularly in the areas of standards for practice, advocacy and key documents that shape our perioperative and professional practice.

ACORN Standards and key documents
This year, the ACORN Standards Working Party underwent a substantial reformation to enhance our processes and ensure that our standards remain at the forefront of perioperative nursing excellence. This working party will continue to grow in 2025 as we commence the major review of ACORN’s suite of standards publications. Noteworthy accomplishments for 2024 include:

• A minor review and amendment of Professional Practice Standards for Perioperative Nurses (PPSPN). This was completed to reflect current practices and ensure alignment with evolving industry expectations. To view the PPSPN amendments summary click here.
• A minor review and amendment of Standards for Safe and Quality Care in the Perioperative Environment (SSQCPE) to strengthen its content for safe and high-quality care. To view the SSQCPE amendments summary click here.
• Consensus was reached regarding future iterations of the outlier standards, reinforcing our commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality care delivery and streamlined access to best-practice standards of care.

Several important documents were developed, reviewed and endorsed, marking significant contributions to perioperative nursing. The documents were:

• Creation of the ACORN standards implementation planner (ASIP) tool. This is a major step forward, providing perioperative nurses with a practical and strategic resource to implement ACORN Standards in their practice. ACORN has received positive feedback about its use and applicability in the clinical environment.
• ACORN position statement, Planetary health was developed to address the intersection of environmental sustainability and perioperative practice.
• The ACORN clinical guideline ‘Anaesthetic gas pollution’ was reviewed and updated, awaiting final approval, reinforcing our commitment to safe, sustainable and effective practice in the perioperative setting.
• The development of a pilot 'train the trainer' simulation program to compliment the ACORN Fundamentals of Anaesthetic Nursing course. This pilot was designed to implement clinical excellence into the perioperative role of anaesthesia nursing, drawing upon theoretical knowledge, best-practice standards, and applying them to the participant's own clinical environment. The pilot was completed in November 2024 and ACORN is currently gathering final feedback responses for program evaluation.

Advocacy and representation
ACORN has been highly active in advocating for perioperative nursing and representing the profession across a variety of influential forums.

• Standards Australia Technical Committees: We actively participated in committees HE-003, HE-011, HE-013, HE-023, and TX-015, contributing our expertise to the development of national health standards.
• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC): ACORN contributed to initiatives such as the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard and National Safety and Quality Medical Imaging (NSQMI) Standard and continues to advocate for surgical fires to be added to the National Sentinel Event List.
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS): ACORN has remained actively involved in position papers from colleague organisations on critical perioperative issues, including ‘Alcohol-based hand gel’ and ‘Theatre overshoes’.
• Comprehensive review and endorsement of the upcoming 'Perioperative nursing: An introduction', 4th edition, textbook.
• Other key contributions: ACORN contributed feedback for the review of the AusHFG B-0520 Operating Suite Guidelines, and the TGI Unique Device Identification (UDI) Framework Review, all aimed at improving perioperative care standards.

As we look forward to 2025, we are excited to continue these efforts in new landscapes, with stronger collegiality with our perioperative medical colleagues, research committee and the ACSQHC, with a distinct focus on ensuring high-level evidence to inform ACORN standards, publications and perioperative practices. Together, these initiatives represent our ongoing commitment to advancing clinical excellence and advocating to promote the best interests of perioperative nurses and the patients we serve.
Thank you to all who have contributed to these successes – together, we are shaping a safer, more sustainable and more effective future for perioperative care.
 

Addressing perioperative anxiety in surgical patients

Perioperative anxiety is a common yet often underestimated psychological response to surgery that can significantly impact patient outcomes and overall health care experiences. As perioperative nurses we witness first-hand how fear and apprehension can affect our patients before surgery whether it’s an elective or emergency procedure.

Read the full article

ACORN’s work is supported by seven state and territory perioperative nursing associations (the local associations or LAs).

LA President reports

While each of the associations retains its own integrity and independence, together we find strength in unity to provide professional leadership in perioperative practice and the advancement of safe, quality perioperative nursing care for Australians.

Watch the highlights from the conference.

 

• Four ways to improve intra-op patient safety with positioning assessments
  This AORN article, by Sara Booth, highlights the critical role of intra-operative positioning assessments in improving patient safety. Research shows that regular repositioning can prevent risks like limbs slipping off the table or post-operative stiffness. However, many OR teams lack standardised procedures. Booth's study found that only 65 per cent of cases had one pre-surgery assessment by anaesthesia, with just 4.11 per cent involving nurse-led assessments during the procedure. Among 92 surveyed nurses, only ten felt confident in their training for these assessments. Despite challenges like surgical complexity and limited patient access, Booth argues that implementing structured positioning practices is essential for enhancing patient safety.
• Papua New Guinea Perioperative Standards for Practice (PNGPSP) launched
  The Papua New Guinea Perioperative Nurses Society launched the first edition of the PNGPSP in Port Moresby at their 20-year anniversary conference. Papua New Guinea Health Minister Eilas Kapavore said ‘By adopting these standards, you commit to treating every patient with the utmost care and professionalism, ensuring that practices are aligned with the highest expectations’. ACORN and the Federation of Sterilisation Research Advisory Councils of Australia were acknowledge for their collaboration in developing the standards.
• Res ipsa loquitur in surgical fire cases
  Medical malpractice cases usually require proof of a breach of care, but the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur allows for a relaxed burden of proof in certain circumstances, making it easier to prove negligence. This applies in cases where the cause of harm destroys evidence or makes it difficult to pinpoint a breach. Surgical fires often meet these criteria, allowing negligence to be inferred more easily. Courts have examined res ipsa loquitur in surgical fire cases, creating case law that helps patients prove negligence by inference.

 

Research

• Assessing compliance with surgical safety checklists using Operating Room Black Box (ORBB)
  A study using the ORBB platform analysed 4581 cases to assess compliance with surgical safety checklists and found that surgical teams with higher compliance on the checklist achieved better patient outcomes, including lower mortality rates and reduced hospital stays.
• Experiences of newly graduated perioperative nurses transitioning to clinical practice
  This qualitative analysis explored the experiences of newly graduated perioperative nurses transitioning to clinical practice. Three key themes emerged: expectations of competence, facilitation for new nurses and the shift from student to qualified nurse. Participants highlighted the importance of supportive facilitation, realistic expectations and guidance from leaders and colleagues for a successful transition. The findings are intended to inform universities and health care organisations about enhancing education and mentoring practices, ultimately supporting patient safety.
• The burden of health care utilization, cost and mortality associated with select surgical site infections
  This study, by Shambhu et al., analysed 4620 SSI cases from 2016 to 2021, focusing on mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass and SSIs after bariatric surgery and orthopaedic procedures. It found that patients with SSIs had longer hospital stays, higher readmission rates, increased medical costs and higher mortality in some groups compared to those without SSIs.
• Electronic surgical consent delivery via patient portal to improve perioperative efficiency
  This mixed-methods study, including 7672 adult surgical patients and qualitative interviews, found that eConsents signed at least one day before surgery were linked to fewer first-start delays. Patients generally signed eConsents quickly and viewed the process positively. These results suggest that integrating eConsent with patient portals can reduce surgical delays and staff workload, though the quick review time emphasises the importance of surgeon–patient discussions for informed consent.
• Associations between oversedation and agitation in post-anaesthesia recovery room and subsequent severe behavioural emergencies
  This study explores the link between altered mental status in the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and behavioural disturbances on surgical wards that require behaviour emergency response team (BERT) activation. It finds that early post-operative agitation and oversedation are associated with the need for BERT intervention. Therefore, altered mental status in PACU should be communicated to receiving units to help staff anticipate and manage potential behavioural disturbances.
• Predictors of patient safety culture (PSC) in hospitals
  This systematic review explores the predictors of PSC in hospitals. Patient safety is a major global health issue, with an estimated ten per cent of patients experiencing preventable harm. PSC is recognised as crucial for improving patient safety, inspired by high-risk industries, but its conceptual challenges – such as inconsistent terminology, lack of clear definitions and limited theoretical backing – persist. Despite these issues, PSC is widely used in research and practice. The review identified 81 predictors, noting significant variation in study populations, methods, and outcome measures. The findings highlight the dominance of an organisational/ managerial approach to PSC but suggest that more studies focused on clinical practices are needed to clarify causal relationships.
• Rethinking surgical safety
  This study examines the effect of a gamified team training intervention, the ‘RAS Olympics’, on the safety and efficiency of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS). Results showed that participants in the intervention group had significantly lower flow disruptions (FDs) compared to a control group, especially during the surgeon-on-console phase and in more severe FD cases. The findings suggest that gamified training can enhance RAS safety and efficiency, highlighting the potential of innovative, engaging methods to improve surgical team performance and adaptability in a rapidly evolving health care environment.
• Nurse burnout and patient safety, satisfaction, and quality of care
  This systematic review and meta-analysis, of 85 studies (1994–2024) involving 288 581 nurses across 32 countries, examined the impacts of nurse burnout. The findings revealed that burnout was linked to a lower patient safety climate and grade, and higher rates of nosocomial infections, patient falls, medication errors and adverse events, as well as reduced patient satisfaction and nurse-assessed care quality.
• Implementation and evaluation of cultural safety initiatives in Australian hospital settings
  This scoping review of nine studies examined cultural safety initiatives in Australian hospitals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and identified five key themes: implementation process, evaluation process, changes in health professional and patient behaviour, and future recommendations. The review concluded that significant improvements are needed in adopting evidence-based approaches, with implementation grounded in a validated theoretical framework and attention to practical barriers in engaging health practitioners.
• Organisational factors driving the realization of digital health transformation benefits from health service managers
  This qualitative study, the latest paper in a series on digital health from a health service manager perspective, explores organisational barriers to realising the benefits of digital transformation. It highlights the need for system investments at macro, meso and micro levels, and identifies key enabling factors for adoption, including policy and system, organisational structure and processes, human resource management and people factors.
• Visualisation and monitoring surgical outcomes using the RA O-E CUSUM chart
  To improve patient safety, surgeons can monitor surgical outcomes using statistical process control tools, which are widely used in health care. However, selecting the right tool is challenging as it must balance statistical rigor with usability. The observed-minus-expected (O-E) chart is simple but lacks sophistication, while the CUSUM method is more robust but complex for surgeons. To address this, a new risk-adjusted (RA) O-E CUSUM chart was developed, combining the simplicity of the O-E chart with the statistical depth of CUSUM. This tool helps surgeons identify abnormal trends in surgical outcomes and improve performance over time. The paper outlines its methodology and demonstrates its application using real surgical data.
• Underreporting of adverse events to health authorities by health care professionals: A red flag-raising descriptive study
  This study examined the reporting of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) in a clinical setting following the implementation of Vanessa's Law in Canada, which mandates SAE reporting. A retrospective study at the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec included 500 patients hospitalised between 2018 and 2021. Despite the requirement, the study found that SAEs were underreported to Health Canada, with no SAEs being reported both before and after the law's implementation. The results highlight persistent underreporting of SAEs, even after Vanessa's Law took effect.

Reports and statements

• New report highlights need for sustained investment in infection prevention and control programmes
  A new WHO report on infection prevention and control (IPC) reveals slow progress in addressing HAIs, despite their preventability with improved IPC practices and better water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. While 71 per cent of countries have active IPC programs, only six per cent met the WHO’s minimum IPC requirements in 2023–2024, far from the 90 per cent target by 2030. The report highlights that patients in low- and middle-income countries face significantly higher risks of HAIs. Improving IPC is crucial to reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as 136 million antibiotic-resistant HAIs occur annually. The report estimates that improving IPC could prevent up to 821 000 deaths annually by 2050 and save up to $112 billion in health care costs. The WHO stresses urgent action and commitment to meet IPC standards by 2030 to protect both patients and health care workers.
• Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) position statement (United Kingdom)
  Establishing a seamless perioperative care pathway offers clear benefits for clinical outcomes, finances and patient experiences. Achieving this requires a skilled, motivated and high-performing care team. CPOC's workforce position paper outlines ten strategic themes for success: efficiency, teamwork, staff collaboration, culture, staff groups, education, holistic health, IT systems, patient-centred care and leadership. It emphasises the importance of valuing and supporting all staff, fostering excellent team dynamics and recognising the distinct nature of health versus health care services. CPOC, a cross-disciplinary organisation hosted by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, is ready to collaborate on developing this approach across the NHS.
• AORN position statement on advanced practice registered nurses in the perioperative environment
  This position statement describes AORN's beliefs about the contributions of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in the perioperative setting as supporting optimal patient outcomes. The position statement provides a definition of and the education requirements for a perioperative APRN practicing in the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases of care. It discusses the role of the APRN in the first assistant role, and the qualifications, functions and clinical privileging process for perioperative APRNs.
• ACSQHC Joint statement on climate change and health
  The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHS), alongside the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control and medical colleges, has released a joint statement addressing the health impacts of climate change. Endorsed by all specialist medical colleges and the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association, the statement highlights the urgent climate change emergency and a commitment to reduce the health system’s carbon emissions while providing sustainable care.
• College of surgeons announces historic governance overhaul to strengthen future leadership
  The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is undertaking a major governance overhaul, supported by 82.6 per cent of its members. This update to its constitution aims to enhance financial and risk management as the College adapts to modern governance needs. Founded in 1927, RACS has been instrumental in shaping surgical standards in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The new structure, developed through extensive consultation, will establish a skills-based, professional governance board responsible for fiduciary duties, while the RACS Council will focus on core operations.
• Opinion piece from RACS (New Zealand)
  The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) emphasises the need to upskill nurses rather than introduce non-licensed physician associates to address health workforce gaps. In response to a joint letter from several medical groups urging the reconsideration of physician associates in New Zealand, RACS deputy chair Sharon English advocates for promoting the roles of trained nurses within multidisciplinary teams, highlighting their existing expertise in the health care system.
• NSQHS user guide for the health care of people with intellectual disability
  The ACSQHS developed the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards User Guide for the health care of people with intellectual disability in response to significant evidence of poor health outcomes for people with intellectual disability in Australia’s health system.

In the media

• Medical innovation (United States of America)
  A new heart stent could prevent surgeries for thousands of children. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Minima stent system, the first device specifically designed for infants and young children with congenital heart defects. This innovative stent could help thousands of children avoid multiple open-heart surgeries, as it grows with the child and can be adjusted through a minimally invasive procedure. Traditionally, surgeons have had to modify adult stents for smaller hearts, leading to additional surgeries. Paediatric cardiologist Evan Zahn calls it a significant advancement, with colleague Michael Argilla emphasising its transformative impact on paediatric cardiac care.
• World’s first face and whole-eye transplant marks surgical breakthrough
  A surgical team successfully performed the world’s first combined face and whole-eye transplant, marking a significant advancement in transplant surgery. The operation, performed on a military veteran, involved more than 140 medical professionals, and displayed the potential for future eye transplant procedures. By using innovative microvascular techniques, the team restored blood flow to both the face and the transplanted eye, ensuring its viability. While sight restoration was not the goal, this achievement opens new possibilities for complex transplants and future advancements in vision recovery.