In August 1995, at the invitation of Victoria, representatives from Special Interest Groups and Associations in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia met to discuss the possibility of forming a national day surgery nurses association.

The outcome of this meeting was a unanimous decision that this project should go ahead and to this end a Planning Committee was formed. The Planning Committee met again in November, February and June 1996.

Many long hours of discussion and negotiation by this very motivated group developed the official constitution of the Association.

The objectives of the Australian Day Surgery Nurses Association are:-
  • Promote the free exchange and dissemination of knowledge, expertise and developments in all areas of Day Surgery;
  • Promote the concept and benefits of Day Surgery to the community;
  • Co-operate with nursing, medical and allied health professionals in the pursuit of quality improvement;
  • To form links with similar international organisations;
  • To provide a climate which fosters good fellowship and networking between members;
  • To encourage research into all areas of Day Surgery Nursing;
  • To develop and recommend Day Surgery/Procedural Nursing Standards and provide expert advice to government and other relevant regulatory agencies.
Since 1996, ADSNA has raised its profile in a number of ways including:
  • ADSNA is a member of International Association of Ambulatory Surgery (IAAS)
  • Committee members represent ADSNA on the ACHS Clinical Indicators working party for Day Surgery
  • Committee members represent ADSNA on the Australian Day Surgery Council
  • The following Best Practice Guidelines are now available
    - Guidelines for Writing Day Surgery Specific Competencies
    - Guidelines for Preadmission procedures for Day Surgery Units
    - Guidelines for The Care of Patients Whilst in the Day Surgery Unit
    - Guidelines for Staffing in the Day Surgery Unit
    - Guidelines for Discharge Planning
  • Journals have been published since 1999 with a new improved format since 2002 and published 3 times per year
  • Web page launched in July 2002
  • Incorporated in January 2006 (click here to view the certificate - 48 KB PDF)
Membership:
  • Australian nurses can become a member of their state organisation, which in turn means they are automatically a member of the national group and receive the journal as well as enjoy the benefits that their state provides.
  • Overseas nurses can become an International member and receive the journal.
  • Organisations and non-nursing personnel can pay an annual Journal subscription and receive the journal.