SA Section in 2022
SA Section Reflection from 2022
By Kerry Santoro, ANZUNS & SA Section Secretary
At the start of 2022 we were SAUNS, South Australian Urological Nurses Society. At the end of 2022 we are still the same group but with a new title of The South Australian Section of ANZUNS. Our state group was united in deciding that a move to merge with all states as one national body was a strong strategic move. It has not been without its challenges, particularly moving over to the new IT systems and different processes which have come with that, but we are all slowly learning and embracing the new changes.
Locally we have tried as a committee to remain connected to our local members, of which we currently have 28 in the SA section. This has been achieved by still holding a three monthly education evening for the SA nurses. Throughout 2022 we have had education sessions on Transgender Reconstructive Surgery, The Role of Palliative Radiotherapy for Bladder Cancer, The Role of Radiological Imaging in Prostate Cancer, and how Hyperbaric O2 Therapy can Reduce Incidence of Radiation Cystitis. One of these educational sessions included a tour of the new Hyperbaric O2 facility at the Royal Adelaide Hospital which was fantastic to see. This year the SAUNS committee had also encouraged our members to present at our education evenings and we thank Ram Vemireddy (Improving Services to Patients with Urothelial Cancers) Tracy Bryant (Setting up a Prostate Cancer Nurse Led Service in Regional SA) & Emily Eime (The Development of a Nurse Led Stone Registry) for their excellent presentations.
Our executive team this year has included Sophie Otto (President), Ram Vemireddy (Treasurer) Kerry Santoro (Secretary) and Narelle Gregor (State Rep). We are grateful for the committees ongoing dedication to the group and organising of scholarships and education sessions.
With regards to scholarships, the SA Section feel very fortunate to have had strong support from our industry trade colleagues this year. We were pleased to be able to offer six scholarships to our members to attend the USANZ/ANZUNS ASM 22 in the Gold Coast in June. These educational opportunities would not be possible without trade support, and we would like to acknowledge and thank Mundipharma, Ipsen, Astra Zeneca, Cipla and Abbvie for their generous support. South Australia was also well represented in the podium presentations at the ASM and were successful in receiving the best paper award (Kerry Santoro) and the best new presenter award (Emily Eime).
I know I speak on behalf of the SA members when I say thank you also to ANZUNS for the volume of online education available this year to our members. The webinars have been broad in topics, interesting and very supportive of ongoing urological professional development.
Moving forward to 2023 the SA section will welcome the educational opportunities offered through ANZUNS and catching up with our national and international colleagues at the 2023 ANZUNS ASM in Melbourne. Locally we plan to continue our state-based education evenings four times a year, and plan to host a SA study day in the middle of the year. South Australia is also looking forward to hosting the 2024 ANZUNS ASM and are excited to start working on this in 2023.
Finally, the SA Section of ANZUNS wish all our fellow urology nurses a wonderful and safe Christmas and a prosperous 2023.