In a major development for the aged care sector, Penelope Marshall has been appointed as the first representative of aged care nurses on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Ms Marshall, the Executive General Manager of Clinical Governance, Risk, and Innovation at BlueCross Aged Care, brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to the role, including serving as the Director of Nursing at a major metropolitan hospital.
Ms Marshall’s appointment is a significant step forward in ensuring that the aged care sector is represented in the governing body of the nursing and midwifery profession. As the Victorian Practitioner representative on the Nurses Board, Ms Marshall is able to provide an aged care focus to the discussions.
Ms Marshall is passionate about advocating for the aged care sector and is committed to giving back to her community. She has been instrumental in helping BlueCross Aged Care maintain high standards of care and safety for its residents through her experience in clinical governance and risk management.
Ms Marshall’s focus on the board will be on speeding up the pathway to work, especially for nursing students who wish to work in aged care. She is also keen to advocate for more Nurse Practitioners in aged care, particularly those with prescribing authority, and to ensure that support services are available for nurses and midwives who may be reported to the Board for impairment or code of conduct concerns.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is responsible for registering nursing and midwifery practitioners, developing standards, codes, and guidelines for the nursing and midwifery profession, handling complaints, investigations, and disciplinary hearings, assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practice in Australia, and approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.
Ms Marshall’s appointment to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is a significant achievement for the aged care sector. Her experience and passion for advocating for aged care will be invaluable in ensuring that the sector’s voice is heard in the governing body of the nursing and midwifery profession.
