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In respect of professional nursing, the term scope of practice is regularly used, yet is often poorly defined both in Australia and internationally. This study explores the determinants of scope of practice from a national sample of Australian registered nurses using an online survey (Scope-QAu). This paper reports on two parts of a large cross-sectional survey wherein 1231 registered nurses in Australia provided data on how they determined their scope of practice. Scope of practice in the Australian nursing context is influenced by a range of professional publications, guidelines and standards, as well as professional peers and one's own judgement. Findings reveal that few demographic characteristics predicted the way nurses determined their own scope of practice. Nurses commonly relied upon three professional publications, peers and line managers, to establish their individual scope of practice. Impact statement: Registered nurses do not rely solely on professional guidelines or regulatory frameworks when determining their scope of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with serious mental illness (SMI) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death, yet research on nurse-provided health promotion in mental health services remains under-developed. This paper informs efforts to improve the nursing role in physical health of consumers with SMI by establishing what nurse perceptions and background influence their care. Members of the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing were invited to participate in an online survey on their views on physical health care in mental health services. Survey questions included: (a) nurse-consumer collaboration in preventative care and (b) sub-sections of the Robson and Haddad Physical Health Attitude Scale to measure nurse perceived barriers to encouraging lifestyle change of consumers with SMI and frequency of nurse physical healthcare practices. Structural equation modelling was applied to investigate antecedents to physical health care, as well as relationships between antecedents. A national sample of 643 nurses reported regular engagement in health promotion (e.g. advice on diet). There was statistical support for a model depicting perceived consumer-nurse collaboration as a dual-determinant of nurse perceived barriers and self-reported health promotion to consumers with SMI. Perceived barriers to consumer lifestyle change did not predict health promotion. The effects of nurse-consumer collaboration were significant, but small. Perceived consumer-nurse collaboration in preventative care may positively influence the amount of health promotion by nurses in mental health. Perceived barriers to consumer adherence with a healthy lifestyle did not have an impact on nurse-delivered health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To report nurses' attitudes towards older people in the emergency department (ED). Background: A nurse's attitude towards an older person can have an effect on nurses' work practices and interactions and can result in adverse outcomes for the older person. Design: A national cross-sectional survey using a previously validated instrument Older Person in Acute Care Survey (OPACS) was conducted to measure emergency nurses' attitudes towards older people in their care. Methods: Members of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) were invited to participate in the study. There were 371 (39%) completed surveys returned. Results: The OPACS survey identified that ED nurses have positive attitudes towards older people in the ED. Conclusion: The implications for practice are clinically significant because positive attitudes can result in prevention of discrimination and marginalisation of the older person in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]