APNA launches new Find a Nurse feature to connect nurses with opportunity, and connect Australia with nursing expertise

Media Statement - Monday 16 February 2026

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) has today announced the release of Find a Nurse, a major new feature within its free professional development app, Florence. The new capability makes it easier than ever for nurses to be recognised for their expertise, and for employers, researchers and project teams to connect with the right nurses for the right work. Launched nationally in May 2025, Florence has quickly become a trusted digital tool for nurses to capture CPD, receive tailored learning recommendations and understand their strengths as professionals. Thousands of nurses have already joined the platform, turning everyday learning into evidence‑backed capability. 

Find a Nurse builds on this foundation by allowing organisations to search for nurses based on verified expertise, mapped to a Career and Education Framework for Australian nurses and teaching taxonomy. 

A smarter, ethical way to find nurses with the right expertise 

Find a Nurse enables organisations to discover nurses for a wide range of opportunities, including: 

• research and clinical trials 

• advisory and collaboration 

• program participation and co‑design 

• professional contribution and consultation 

• facilitation, education and mentorship 

• employment and short‑term roles 

Search results are de‑identified. Nurses remain anonymous until they choose to express interest in an opportunity, ensuring privacy, transparency and control. 

Supporting nurses, researchers and employers 

APNA Chief Executive Officer Dr Stephen Duns said Find a Nurse represents an important step forward in recognising nursing capability across Australia. 

“Nurses contribute expertise that is critical to high‑quality care, research and system improvement. But too often, that expertise is invisible or difficult to find. Find a Nurse changes that. It gives nurses a way to be recognised for what they know, and it gives organisations a trusted way to connect with the right expertise. This is good for nurses, good for employers and good for Australia’s health system.” 
— Dr Stephen Duns, APNA Chief Executive Officer 

For nurses, the feature is completely optional and fully controlled through their Florence app. Their expertise is shown in a de‑identified way, and their contact details are only shared once they choose to engage with an opportunity. 

For researchers and project teams, Find a Nurse offers a faster and more precise way to identify nurses with relevant experience, reducing time spent on broad callouts and improving the quality of engagement. 

For employers, Find a Nurse becomes a capability‑first recruitment tool, enabling them to see how many nurses match their criteria before choosing to make contact. 

A growing platform for Australia’s health workforce 

APNA Chief Commercial Officer Mitch Wall, who leads Florence’s future development, said Find a Nurse is one of several major enhancements on the horizon. 

“Florence was built to help nurses grow, and Find a Nurse is the next step in unlocking the value of that growth. We’re creating a platform where nurses can capture their expertise, and have it work for them across their career. This feature is just the beginning. Over the coming year, Florence will continue to expand, offering new tools, new insights and new ways to strengthen Australia’s nursing workforce.” 
— Mitch Wall, APNA Chief Commercial Officer 

About Florence 

Florence is APNA’s free professional development and career growth app for nurses. It helps nurses: 

• capture CPD quickly and easily 

• receive tailored learning recommendations 

• build evidence of capability 

• track progress through coxcomb‑style expertise charts 

• be matched with research, collaboration and employment opportunities 

Florence is designed by nurses, for nurses and is available now in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Visit www.florence.today for more information.  

Media contact 

APNA Media 
E: media@apna.asn.au 
P: (03) 9669 7400 
W: www.apna.asn.au