Ms Miranda, a NSW Nurses and Midwives Association delegate, is one of a number of health workers and community members around the state who will make a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.

At present, the NSW Public Health Act requires all nursing homes to have a registered nursed (RN)  on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but changes to Commonwealth legislation in mid-2014 could lead to the loss of this requirement later this year.

The inquiry will examine the need for RNs in nursing homes and other aged-care facilities across the state with residents who require a high level of care. Submissions close on Thursday.

RNs – who are university trained – provide a range of specialist services including overseeing medications, undertaking procedures including urinary catheters and naso-gastric tubes and providing support and supervision to enrolled nurses and assistants-in-nursing.

‘‘I decided to make a submission because I recognise the value of registered nurses in aged care,’’ Ms Miranda said.

‘‘There’s a need in these settings for the skills and the knowledge base that a university education can provide.

‘‘There’s an argument that they need to be more skilled in a nursing home than in an acute setting [hospital] because they don’t have the back-up and the sophisticated medical equipment available for diagnosis or treatment.’’

Ms Miranda completed an undergraduate degree in nursing at the University of Wollongong before undertaking postgraduate studies in palliative care at Flinders University. As a clinical nurse consultant, she attends nursing homes across the region.

‘‘As a nurse consultant I see first-hand the need for specially trained, evidence-based treatment in the aged-care sector,’’ she said.

‘‘As a specialist service we rely on the ability of RNs in nursing homes to make initial assessments and appropriate referrals and interventions.

‘‘They help to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, which can put added stress on busy emergency departments as well as patients themselves who are often confused.’’

With an ageing population, and advances in medicine, it was becoming more important to have specialist nurses in aged-care facilities.

‘‘People are living longer and requiring more complex medical interventions and if there are no RNs in aged care, then that puts a greater burden on acute settings,’’ Ms Miranda said.

‘‘We have to safeguard our own future, our own health-care needs – if we erode that now, what will it mean for us in 10, 20, 30 odd years when we need that care?’’ she said.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery added his support for the ongoing NSWNMA campaign.

‘‘It’s very important to have RNs available for high care, high dependency facilities, especially where the aged are involved,’’ Cr Bradbery said. 

‘‘At the same time I understand it’s very difficult to recruit them simply because the wages and conditions for nurses are so appalling ... so that needs to be addressed, too.’’

In June, the state government committed to leaving the current arrangements for RNs in nursing homes in place while a broader consultation process occurred.

Parliamentary inquiry committee chairwoman Jan Barham encouraged individuals, groups and organisations to make a submission. ‘‘We hope that this inquiry will identify and address any gaps in the level and quality of care provided by nursing homes and other aged care facilities,’’ Ms Barham said.

To make a submission visit www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/gpsc3 or call the committee secretariat on (02)92303081.