Forty-five remote area nurses (RANs) employed by Victorian Bush Nursing Centres have completed competency-based skills training based on the updated 2006 Emergency Guidelines.

The guidelines provide an operational framework for RANs to respond to emergency incidents when they are unable to access a medical practitioner.

The Department of Human Services and Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV) worked together to produce the guidelines, which underwent rigorous review by RAV's Medical Standards Committee for 2006.

The guidelines reflect current medical, nursing and pharmacological practice.

Major changes from 2005 include updates on cardiac arrest, asthma, anaphylaxis, paediatric information, modifying factors for fluid IVT in trauma, pelvic splinting, cervical collars and spinal clearance and a reorganisation of criteria for assessments and clinical approach.

Vivienne Fazulla and Anne Brewer from the Dingee and Buchan Bush Nursing Centres made a significant contribution in customising the guidelines to the needs of RANs.

As well, to celebrate the second edition of the guidelines, Ms Fazulla presented 14 RAN managers with RAN teddies in handmade matching uniforms and survival bags containing a miniature copy of the guidelines, a bush nursing centre location map (in case the teddy gets lost), an Elastoplast, a chocolate and a tea bag.

She made the presentation at the annual statewide meeting—the only time bush nursing centre teams get together.

Dingee BNC President Tony Doolan said Ms Fazulla, who has been associated with the centre since 1978, had the longest continuous employment of current RANs.

He described Ms Fazulla as selfless.

'She will help anybody at anytime.

'She is, or has been, involved in all parts of the community, working with children and young families, young people, the elderly and everyone in between.

'Viv is passionate about the role of remote area nurses and their extra capacity to perform emergency/trauma skills in rural Victoria.'

Bush Nursing Centres are small, non-bed-based primary health services in small rural communities with catchment populations up to 1,500.

Some of the populations increase considerably during holidays because of nearby tourist attractions and adventure activities.

Remote area nurses service communities in Balmoral, Dartmoor, Buchan, Cann Valley, Dargo, Gelantipy, Swifts Creek, Dingee, Lockington, Harrow, Lake Bolac, Woomelang, Elmhurst and Walwa.