Australia’s future nurse leaders emphasised technological advancements as a priority measure to ensure the nursing workforce can meet demand for quality health care in the future during a panel discussion last night at the National Nursing Forum.

“Millennials are the future of the nursing workforce,” said Australian College of Nursing CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN. “Our younger colleagues are exceptionally well-placed to provide insight on the issues that the nursing profession will face and how we might address these issues now.

“The current nursing workforce in Australia is aging and by 2030, we are predicted to be short 125,000 nurses. To attract and retain the next generations to the nursing profession will help address the looming shortages.

“Last night we held an interactive panel and audience discussion titled ‘Next Generation Health Care – Millennials making the Difference’ with Emerging Nurse Leaders to share ideas about how the profession can shape the health care agenda for the future.

“Research conducted by LinkedIn in 2017 found that over 70 per cent of millennials consider themselves early adopters of new technology. Our millennial delegates this week highlighted the integration of technology in health care delivery as a key tool in supporting our future workforce to meet healthcare demand.

“The evolution of technology has the potential to improve access to health care, particularly in rural and remote areas, and provide the healthcare workforce with real time information and decision support to assist with delivery of best practice care.”

For more information about the Forum please visit: https://www.acn.edu.au/event/the-national-nursing-forum-2018.