In this conference, we have two components. The first explores a variety of fascinating topics that have caused debate in the healthcare setting. Many topics will relate to common disorders where societal incidence is increasing rapidly. A number of the sessions will connect to the fat and sugar debate and the outcomes experienced from the low-fat diet that has been the mainstay of dietary advice for many decades in society.

We will explore the controversy of the common hypothesis: when a person follows a low-fat diet and lowers their cholesterol, this will result in a reduction in heart disease. The presenter will explore data from various cardiac disorders, which includes sudden cardiac death. Nurses require advanced skills to assess jugular venous pressure and identify a new murmur accurately.

The conference’s second focus is the skills nurses require when performing critical assessments. The presenter will demonstrate an extensive abdominal assessment and relate this to the two potentially life-threatening conditions of undiagnosed bowel obstruction and abdominal bleeding.

All nurses from psychiatric units, post-operative orthopaedic wards, to aged care must have advanced clinical assessment skills to assess their patients when they manifest signs and symptoms of a bowel obstruction. The assessment of electrolyte imbalance is another essential skill for all nurses and will also be investigated.

This conference covers several interesting topics that apply to clinical practice in various Nursing areas, from the emergency department and critical care areas to the acute hospital setting, primary health care, and the aged care sector. It is essential knowledge for any Nurse working in the current healthcare environment.

Learning outcomes:

• Discuss the general abdominal assessment skills of a deteriorating patient with an abdominal disorder such as bowel obstruction, abdominal bleed and others
• Explore dietary recommendations and the effect on weight loss or weight gain
• Discuss the effect of weight gain on insulin resilience and link to hypertension
• Investigate the presentation of electrolyte imbalance and the repercussions if it is a missed diagnosis

Topics:

• About the controversy regarding a low-fat diet and cholesterol lowering drugs and the impact on health
• How to perform an abdominal assessment on a patient with a bowel obstruction
• The rationale to why some patients in the psychiatric wards or post op orthopaedic surgery have an increased incidence of bowel obstruction
• The assessment of a patient in the surgical ward with an electrolyte imbalance
• The clinical manifestation of the common electrolyte imbalance in the surgery ward
• The pathophysiology of the increasing valve disorders understand the significance of a new murmur
• The presentation of patients who present with anaphylaxis or hypoglycaemia and the management according to the latest ANZCORS guidelines
• Examination on how Cocaine and Methamphetamine cause cardiac damage and sudden cardiac death
• Essential knowledge of renal nurses on how to identify hyperkalaemia on the 12 lead ECG or cardiac monitor
• How to perform an accurate assessment of a patient who presents with unusual signs of endocarditis
• The link between undiagnosed endocarditis and associated complications

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