The Lamp June 2010

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

volume 67 no.5 June 2010

BECAUSE WE CARE DELIVERS

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$130 MILLION FOR AGED CARE

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ABOUT THE LAMP

C O N T E N T S

Cover story

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

Because we care delivers $130 million for aged care 14

volume 67 no.5 June 2010

14 $130 million to bolster nursing in aged care 17 Great progress in Because we care but more to be achieved

18 Funding for 4,600 general practice nurses BECAUSE WE CARE DELIVERS

$130 MILLION Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

FOR AGED CARE

Cover Jeanette Yeaman (right), CNS, George Forbes House, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and resident Mary Primmer.

Photography by Panny Kavouras

News in brief

NSWNA news

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ANF calls on Government to fund needle-less access devices Update on national registration Changes to Working With Children Check Distractions lead to mistakes by nurses Rudd guarantees future of Ryde Hospital Nurses and midwives critical to implementing flu vaccines Union members earn more than non-members Budget delivers $10 million for union training ACTU revamps workers’ rights website Abbott sides with big business at expense of workers Why no outcry over car bomb attack on union building?

Workplace safety promoted ‘Flo’ the nurse joins soldiers on Anzac Day American nurses call for national nurse ratios Nurse mentors still unwilling to fail students Young women stressed at work face higher risk of heart attack Skilled migrant women wanted for research project

NSWNA education program 13 What’s on

Campaign 2010 20 Member feedback and research strengthens case for safe staffing 21 Another night nurse for Coffs Harbour 21 Kempsey vigil for more ED nurses

Industrial issues

Agenda 25 Super changes mean more money for you

NSWNA short film festival 26 Film festival shows off nurses’ creativity and diversity 28 Glamorous film festival goers

International nurses’ day 30 Happy International Nurses’ Day and International Midwives’ Day

Obituaries 39 Michelle Lorraine Beets: the best nurse and a beloved friend 41 Rhonda Moon: huge heart that lifted everyone

Notice 46 WARNING! 30 workplaces without local branch representation

Regular columns 5 6 36 37 38 44 47 49

Editorial

by Brett Holmes Your letters to The Lamp Nurses online Nursing research online Ask Judith At the movies Books Diary dates

Competition 45 Win a DVD package

22 Experienced nurses and midwives case adjourned

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Contacts NSW NURSES’ ASSOCIATION For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office.

SYDNEY OFFICE 43 Australia Street Camperdown NSW 2050 PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9550 3667 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au W www.nswnurses.asn.au HUNTER OFFICE 120 Tudor Street Hamilton NSW 2303 ILLAWARRA OFFICE L1, 63 Market Street Wollongong NSW 2500 NSWNA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Noel Hester T 8595 2153 NSWNA COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Laura McDonald T 8595 1258 For all Lamp editorial enquiries, letters and diary dates: Editorial Enquiries T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnurses.asn.au M PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 THE LAMP PRODUCED BY Sirius Communications T 9560 1223 W www.siriuscommunications.com.au PRESS RELEASES Send your press releases to: T 9550 3667 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au THE LAMP EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Brett Holmes, NSWNA General Secretary Judith Kiejda, NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Coral Levett, NSWNA President John Lyons, Baradine MPS Roz Norman, Tamworth Base Hospital Elsie May Henson, Barraba Multi Purpose Service Peg Hibbert, Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital Michelle Cashman, Long Jetty Continuing Care Richard Noort, Justice Health ADVERTISING Patricia Purcell T 8595 2139 or 0416 259 845 F 9550 3667 E ppurcell@nswnurses.asn.au RECORDS AND INFORMATION CENTRE – LIBRARY To find old articles in The Lamp, or to borrow from the NSWNA library’s nursing and health collection, contact: Jeannette Bromfield, RIC Coordinator T 8595 2175 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au THE LAMP ISSN: 0047-3936 General disclaimer The Lamp is the official magazine of the NSWNA. Views expressed in articles are contributors’ own and not necessarily those of the NSWNA. Statements of fact are believed to be true, but no legal responsibility is accepted for them. All material appearing in The Lamp is covered by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission. The NSWNA takes no responsibility for the advertising appearing herein and it does not necessarily endorse any products advertised.

Privacy Privacy statement: The NSWNA collects personal information from members in order to perform our role of representing their industrial and professional interests. We place great emphasis on maintaining and enhancing the privacy and security of your personal information. Personal information is protected under law and can only be released to someone else where the law requires or where you give permission. If you have concerns about your personal information please contact the NSWNA office. If you are still not satisfied that your privacy is being maintained you can contact the Privacy Commission.

Subscriptions Free to all Association members. Professional members can subscribe to the magazine at a reduced rate of $50.

Individuals $73, Institutions $120, Overseas $130.

Go Direct Debit &

Win the trip of a lifetime to Alaska and Canada Start paying your NSWNA fees by Direct Debit for the chance to win an unforgettable trip for two people to stunning Alaska and Canada in 2011. Travelling with Spectrum Holidays, the itinerary for this unique escorted group tour will cover destinations such as Vancouver, Victoria, the Canadian Rockies, Northern British Columbia, Alaska’s Inside Passage, The Yukon, Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Anchorage. The prize includes return economy class airfares from Sydney with Air New Zealand and flights within Alaska and Canada.

Our lucky Direct Debit winner and friend will explore the beautiful Inside Passage using the local Alaska Marine Highway ferries and sail through narrow sheltered stretches that the big cruiseliners simply cannot access.

During the voyage, you will stop in wonderful little towns including Prince Rupert, Wrangell and Haines and undertake incredible sightseeing tours to AnAn Bear Sanctuary and the pristine wilderness of the Stikine River.

Here’s how you can win • cancel your payroll deductions and start paying your fees through direct debit and you will go in the lucky draw and/or • convince your colleagues to convert from payroll deductions to direct debit and you, and each of your colleagues who switch to direct debit, will go in the lucky draw and/or • sign up a new member using the direct debit method of paying their fees and you, and the new member, will go in the lucky draw.

3PECTRUM (OLIDAYS

Direct debit is not only the easiest and most convenient way to pay your membership, but switching over could win you a luxury holiday!

Don’t risk your membership lapsing from changing workplaces. With direct debit you are always protected on the job.

Membership Application forms or Direct Debit forms can be downloaded from our website www.nswnurses.asn.au Alternatively call the NSWNA on 8595 1234 (metro area) or 1300 367 962 (non-metro area) for more information.

4 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

Information on tours to Alaska and Canada are available at www.spectrumholidays.com or call Spectrum Holidays on 1300 130 840

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E D I T O R I A L

BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY

$130 million to bolster nursing in aged care g It has been a long time coming but aged care nurses are starting to get the recognition they deserve for their passion and commitment to Australia’s elderly.

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urses in aged care had very good reasons to celebrate after the Federal Budget was passed down by Treasurer Wayne Swan last month.

For some time these nurses have told us they want to be able to deliver quality care to their residents and the Treasurer has responded with a $130 million package of initiatives that will allow them to upgrade their skills and further their education (see page 14).

The Budget also contained other elements we welcome and that have been an important part of our Because we care campaign.

There is $3.5 million to explore the regulation of AiNs and personal care workers in aged care. This should be the first step towards the licensing of AiNs and other workers who have direct resident contact.

Licensing would bring AiNs the recognition they deserve as part of the nursing family. It would also bring reassurance to residents and their families and safety for nurses, knowing their colleagues have sufficient training, and are of good standing and suitable to undertake the responsibility of caring for vulnerable residents.

The Government has also set aside $500,000 for a research study on staffing levels, skills mix and resident care needs in Australian residential aged care facilities.

This will set the stage as we continue the Because we care campaign. What we have won in the Budget is welcome but there is still unfinished business.

There remains the major issue of the

Aged care nurses have shown how a strategic campaign with clear objectives and driven with passion and commitment in the workplace and community can produce good results. wage gap between aged care nurses and their colleagues in the public health system.

There is also a need to tie any increase in funding to the provision of extra nursing care.

This campaign will continue for a fairer deal for nurses and residents and their families. The Federal election this year will be a crucial part of the ongoing campaign.

When we launched our Because we care campaign 18 months ago we were determined to put the needs of the aged care sector front and centre in the public eye. We believed the work of aged care nurses was not recognised or sufficiently valued by Australian society.

This campaigning is beginning to pay off. There are lessons in this for nurses working in the public health system.

Aged care nurses have shown how a strategic campaign with clear objectives and driven with passion and commitment in the workplace and community can produce good results.

Many of you will be aware that our organisers have been out and about in the public hospitals working with our Branches collecting data we see as critical to our campaign for nurse/patient ratios in our public hospitals.

I wish to thank all those NUMs who gave up their time to participate in this crucial data collection.

This will put another piece in place as we ramp up the campaign for safer staffing levels in our hospitals.

This year there has been a lot of extra money committed by the Federal Government to the public health system.

More than $7 billion, in fact, with 500 new beds to begin opening from July.

No amount of reform or money or new beds is going to improve our health system without more nurses with the right skill mix to staff them.

Aged care nurses have shown that this campaign is winnable if we are patient, strategic and committed to the long haul.n THE LAMP JUNE 2010 5

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L E T T E R S

Linda Hardman

themselves but for others. That reminded me why I became a nurse: to help others in need without any expectation except being rewarded by the knowledge that I made a difference. I am so pleased I became a nurse.

Donna Coombes, RN, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital

Louise Howell

Good win for aged care

Thank you NSWNA

To all those staff working in aged care, it looks as though Budget 2010 has indeed taken the first steps to improving the outlook. Congratulations to the NSWNA and ANF on the success and we hope, the continued success of the Because we care campaign.

Those of us working in Aged Care are highly skilled and do really care about the job we do. Licensing for Assistants in Nursing is a good prospect to come out of the budget. Licensing gives AiNs professional recognition, which should encourage more people to enter the aged care workforce, and also gives our elderly population protection and accountability.

Our aim is to always provide quality care for the frail and elderly we look after, so we look to the coming months with optimism. To all those staff involved in the Because we care campaign remember we still have a long way to go. We are stronger together – because we care.

Linda Hardman, AiN, Wollongong Nursing Home

What a success! The NSWNA: we thank you for your never-ending support. The Wallsend Aged Care Facility (WACF) Branch members, community, residents and families thank you for your kind donation to assist with our community BBQ. On behalf of the Newcastle community, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your commitment to making this event so successful. It was our vision to thank the community for their unwavering support in assisting with the campaign to keep WACF in public hands.

Your generous contribution helped make our vision a reality.

The Association has eased the financial burden but equally important, if not more so, your donation to the success of the day provided us with an opportunity to say thank you to all for their support.

We feel a kinship and camaraderie with NSWNA because we have a shared experience. I feel great pride belonging to such a group of people.

Please know that partnerships are vital to success. You are truly appreciated. Thank you for your gift and the immeasurable impact it has had on me. The things we do in life often have measurable results but the extent of their impact is often difficult to quantify.

Thank you to Rita, Nola, Ronelle and Brett.

Louise Howell, WACF Branch Delegate, on behalf of the WACF Branch of the NSWNA and the Newcastle Community.

Helping others because we care Recently I was asked to find some photos for both International Nurses’ Day and International Midwives’ Day. While trying to locate these photos, I learnt more about the people they were of.

There is a midwife who writes books and donates the profits to others; friends and colleagues who come together not only to celebrate a special day but to remember a special person.

And none of these people did this for

Andy Brown

Ratios in ED are not safe I read with interest the article covering nursing workloads in the April issue of The Lamp.

There is discussion where ratios of 1:5 in general wards, and 1:1 in ICUs are considered appropriate, whereas 1:7 in a Rehab unit is too demanding.

Ballina ED for the majority of the day has two nurses to manage nine beds, triage and assist up to two doctors. At busy times when presentations can approach nearly 100 per 24-hour period, this keeps one nurse in triage, also often attending reception, and leaving the other nurse to look after up to nine patients and assist the two doctors.

Requests for appropriate nurse-patient ratios have been listened to, and refused.

However, at the same time, Medical Officer numbers have been increased, presumably to cater for increased patient numbers.

I don’t think anyone considers a nurse-patient ratio of 1:9 in an ED appropriate, let alone safe.

The sooner NSW Health commits to realistic ratios across all areas of nursing, the better for everyone – except the ‘bean counters’.

Andy Brown, Emergency NUM, Ballina Hospital

THE TROUBLE WITH TUESDAYS You may be finding it hard to talk to our information officers on Tuesdays. This is because Tuesday is the one day of the week when all our staff are in the office for staff and team meetings. These meetings are essential for information distribution and planning activities.

If at all possible, please don’t ring on this day

as there can be considerable delays. But if you need urgent assistance, you will get it.

Our information department receives approximately 900 calls per week, and the phones are ringing hot from 8.30am to 5pm. NSWNA Information Officers are available until 7pm.

We are working hard to meet your needs and thank you for your patience.

CALL 8595 1234 (METRO) OR 1300 367 962 (NON-METRO).

6 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

Every letter published receives a 6 month weekend subscription to the Herald, valued at over $114!

Subscribe to the Herald today to save 37% off the newsstand price and enjoy the convenience of the paper delivered to your home each morning.

Visit www.subscribe. smh.com.au/lamp for more details.

Got something to say?

Send your letters to: Editorial Enquiries email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au fax 9550 3667 mail PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 Please include a photograph along with your name, address, phone and membership number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Nurses need to get healthy Looking at recent issues of The Lamp, and working at several hospitals, I can’t help noticing the number of overweight nurses in the workforce.

As I am slightly overweight myself, and am trying to shed a few kilos, I feel we all need to be more aware of the practical ways we can improve our diet and get more exercise.

This will impact on our own health and fitness, and provide a good role model for our clients. I know nursing is a stressful profession, but we can find alternatives to reaching for high-fat/high-sugar foods to relieve tension.

At our workplace we’ve started to bring in vegie sticks and fruit to snack on, and we are starting to enjoy a lot more than toast and muffins. We also feel good because we have a joint goal of keeping healthier and looking better.

Let’s all try to create a healthier workforce – nurses lead the way!

Ann Fenton, RN

Wayne Lynch

Between the Flags’ rollout was wrong I write in regard to the letters ‘Don’t be insulted: embrace change’ and ‘Between the Flags will save lives’ in the May issue of The Lamp.

Words I once uttered in jest, ‘If you can’t embrace change, at least give it a lukewarm hug’ have come back to haunt.

Circulating through wards, privy to nurses’ unsolicited feedback (similar to March correspondents: ‘An insult’, ‘Dumbs down nursing practice’), I felt the wave of disapproval must be disheartening to Clinical Excellence Commission program design staff, trying to turn around NSW hospitals’ mishap, morbidity and mortality statistics (quoted by Sharon Nash).

I presume a different roll-out team,

attempting to have Between the Flags (BTF) understood by everyone, adopted a ‘lowest common denominator’ implementation plan. Instead of enlisting significant staff to ‘sell’ BTF’s advantages to clinicians, we were ‘press ganged’ into completing training that was mandatory and condescending to many.

When dinosaurs trained, patient assessment relied on Mercury thermometers, sphygmomanometers, watches and a majority of senses (taste reserved for the Prince Henry Hospital dining room), so the admonishment to ‘not rely on machines’ was redundant and patronising.

Further alienation and distraction from the safety message occurred when some senior staff, keen to tick a completed box, acted less motivational coach and more Stasi operative. Did I hear Jaws playing in the background, as I completed the training under sufferance?

I received my ‘Bronze Medallion’, but at a cost: antagonism towards the program and diminution of loyalty and goodwill towards NSW Health. Pity.

Wayne Lynch, Consultation-Liaison CNC Concord Hospital Drug Health Services

ORGANISER – SECONDMENT POSITION Do you want to be involved and make a difference?

The NSW Nurses’ Association is seeking applications from our membership for an Organiser position on a secondment basis, located in our Camperdown office. The position will allow applicants to develop the skills in the following areas to take back to the workplace.

“While doing my secondment at the Association I developed my skills in interpreting awards, advocacy for members and negotiating with senior management.

I have gained confidence in negotiating with management as well as understanding processes with Procedural Fairness, preparing statements other aspects involved in supporting nurses.

I feel this is going to be of advantage in my role as a union activist when I return to the workplace. I have more confidence when advising and supporting members as a result of my time at the NSWNA in my secondment as an Organiser.” Maureen Bunt

THE ROLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: c the development of strategies to recruit new members c advocating on behalf of members and interpreting Awards c participating in workplace campaigns c responding to workplace industrial issues c interpreting and applying industrial instruments in both the public and private sectors c liaison with all levels of management.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE YOU NEED: c a recognised nursing qualification c a current NSW driver’s licence c excellent written and verbal communication skills c negotiation and conflict resolution skills c to be computer literate and selfconfident c to be able to travel regularly and a commitment to improving the working conditions for nurses and midwives and to the Trade Union movement c an understanding of industrial, political and health issues.

WHAT IS A SECONDMENT? c A secondment is an arrangement made with mutual consent of your current employer and the NSW Nurses’ Association c A secondment with the NSW Nurses’ Association is for a period of 12 months c You will continue to be paid by your current employer which ensures that you maintain your continuity of service for the purposes of leave accruals and increments c On completion of the secondment, you will return to your substantive position with your current employer For further enquiries and an application information pack, please contact Robyn Morrison, Employee Relations Coordinator, by telephoning 02 8595 1234 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (country callers).

Applications should be received by 18 June 2010 and addressed to: Robyn Morrison, Employee Relations Coordinator PO Box 40, CAMPERDOWN NSW 1450

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 7

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ANF CALLS ON GOVERNMENT

TO FUND NEEDLE-LESS

ACCESS DEVICES oncerned about the serious risk to nurses from needlestick injury, the ANF is calling for the Federal and State Governments to fund safer access devices as well as provide consistent rules around needlestick injury.

More than 18,000 nurses and health-care workers are pricked by syringes and sharps each year.

ANF Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said nurses were sustaining injuries from contaminated syringes, putting them at great risk of contracting hepatitis B or C, or HIV/AIDS.

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‘We are calling on Federal and State Governments to introduce consistent rules to prevent needlestick injuries in Australia.’

‘Currently only about half of needlestick and sharp injuries are reported. This means there could be as many as 30,000 incidents each year,’ she said. ‘We are calling on Federal and State Governments to introduce consistent rules to prevent needlestick injuries in Australia and fund the introduction of needle-less access devices.’

A coalition of interested groups has united to call for the mandatory use of safety engineered devices, education of health-care workers and mandatory reporting of injuries.

The coalition of partners includes the ANF, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Pathologists, Australian Infection Control Association, Medical Technology Association of Australia, and Associate Professor Cathryn Murphy.

8 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

Update on national registration The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has now written to all registrants to advise each individual of their arrangements for transition into the national scheme. There are some important details for nurses and midwives in NSW to note.

You need to check that your letter records your ‘Profession’ correctly.

If you hold dual registration, that is as a nurse and midwife, you need to check that part two of your letter records your ‘Profession’ as Nursing, Midwifery, and that your ‘Division’ notes that you appear as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) and a Midwife. If this has not been noted on your letter you need to return the correct information to AHPRA. The national scheme will require all registrants to notify Boards of the suburb and postcode of their ‘principal place of practice’. This information will be recorded on the public register.

Depending on the information the NMB of NSW had for you, the address recorded here may be your residential address. If you don’t want your residential suburb to be recorded on the register, you need to return the form with the correction from your residential suburb to the suburb of your principal place of practice.

If you consider that publishing this information would pose a threat to your health or safety as a practitioner, you may apply to AHPRA to have this information excluded. The form is available at the AHPRA website at www.ahpra.gov.au.

Under the national scheme, there will not be an endorsement for ENs to administer medications. ‘Enrolled Nurse’ will mean that you are able to administer medication.

NSW ENs who currently have their practising certificates endorsed to administer medication should transition into the scheme as appearing on the ‘Register of Nurses in Division 2 Enrolled Nurses’. NSW ENs who do not currently

have their practising certificate endorsed to administer medication should transition into the scheme as appearing on the ‘Register of Nurses in Division 2 Enrolled Nurses’, with a notation: ‘Does not hold a Board-approved qualification in administration of medicines’.

The initial letter to you from AHPRA may have had this information incorrect.

If you have not received a correction, you need to contact AHPRA on 1300 088 590 and advise them of your correct details.

NSW ENs on List B of the Roll of Nurses (Mothercraft) will be registered as Enrolled Nurses in the national scheme on the ‘Register of Nurses in Division 2 Enrolled Nurses’ with a condition restricting practice to mothercraft nursing.

If you did not receive a letter from AHPRA by 29 May 2010, you need to contact the AHPRA registration helpline: 1300 088 590 and notify them of the error.

Further information can be obtained from the National Board’s website: www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au as well as the Nurses and Midwives Board’s website: www.nmb.nsw.gov.au/default. aspx?ArticleID=419 You can also get further information from the NSWNA.

Changes to Working With Children Check NSWNA members who offer respite or foster care to children should note that a number of changes have been made to the Working With Children Check in NSW as part of the State Government’s response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection.

As of 31 March 2010, adults who volunteer their services to provide personal care for disabled children and who are involved in mentoring programs for disadvantaged children will require a Working With Children Check before they can begin in these roles.

Other changes include extending the Working With Children Check to adults who live with foster carers and family daycare providers, those who are licensees of child-care services, and students involved with practical training placements with the Department of Community Services.

For more information about the changes, visit www.kids.nsw.gov.au/check.

The Prime Minister takes time to speak with patient and Densitone East resident Margaret Parry.

DISTRACTIONS LEAD TO MISTAKES Photo courtesy of Northern District Times.

BY NURSES rocedural and clinical errors occur more frequently when nurses are interrupted during the administering of medicines, a study has found.

Researchers tracked 98 nurses at two hospitals in Sydney over two years, during which time they administered almost 4,300 medications in a busy work environment and were frequently interrupted from the task in hand.

‘We found a significant doseresponse relationship between interruptions and procedural failures and clinical errors in medication administration at both study hospitals,’ said Professor Johanna Westbrook from the University of Sydney’s Health Informatics Research and Evaluation Unit, who led the study. ‘The more interruptions nurses received, the greater the number of errors. Furthermore, we found that, as interruptions increased within a single drug administration, the greater the severity of error. The risk of a patient experiencing a major clinical error doubled in the presence of four or more interruptions.’

The mistakes ranged from nurses forgetting to wash their hands or not reconfirming a patient’s identity through to administering the wrong drug dose. In some cases the oversight was life-threatening.

Professor Westbrook said nurses faced a multitude of competing demands while in a hospital ward, and the more they were interrupted the more mistakes they made.

‘In 80% of administrations of medication there was at least one procedural failure or one clinical error,’ she told Australian Associated Press. ‘What we showed is that if you were interrupted you were more likely to make one of those errors.’

With nurses overworked and understaffed, this study lends weight to the NSWNA’s campaign for correct staffing levels and manageable workloads.

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Rudd guarantees future of Ryde Hospital Prime Minister Kevin Rudd paid an impromptu visit to the staff at Ryde Hospital in Eastwood in April, where he guaranteed the future of the hospital, which, until then, had faced uncertain prospects.

Mr Rudd also announced a $13.6 million funding package to support additional clinical training places at universities throughout NSW. ‘I think the staff here are a fantastic group of people,’ Mr Rudd told The Northern District Times. ‘My mum was a nurse, my brother is a nurse, my sister-in-law is a nurse and I am always impressed by the dedication of our nurses and hospital staff.’

Mr Rudd, along with Bennelong Federal Labor MP Maxine McKew, toured the hospital where they met patients, nurses, doctors and other staff.

Nurses and midwives critical to implementing flu vaccines Influenza experts have recognised the role of nurses in implementing the extension of the National Immunisation Program.

Under the program free flu vaccines have been made available to around 2.2 million Australians aged under 65 who live with underlying medical conditions, are pregnant or are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Kerryn Lajoie, a member of the Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) and representative of the ANF’s Immunisation

Nurses Special Interest Group, said nurses and midwives working across numerous sectors would be involved in the program.

Kerryn urged nurses and midwives to vaccinate themselves. ‘Wouldn’t it be good as public health professionals if we could have an impact on reducing the number of deaths and hospital admissions each year? We can do this by being vaccinated ourselves and encouraging others to do so,’ Kerryn said.

In related news, last year, Australian hospitals ‘only just’ coped with the swine flu, and the system was stretched almost to the point of turning people away, according to an intensive care unit doctor.

Sydney-based Dr Ian Seppelt said at the peak of last winter’s outbreak, swine flu accounted for up to 20% of all patients in the nation’s major intensive care units (ICUs).

Dr Seppelt, who is based at Nepean Hospital’s ICU, said if the caseload had been double or even 1.5 times, the system ‘could not have coped’ and some patients would have been refused intensive care admission.

‘That’s the sort of decision we’re not so used to making, but would have to make if there is a future epidemic that is more severe,’ he said at an expert briefing in May. Dr Seppelt said that while swine flu was a ‘relatively mild disease’ for the hundreds of thousands of Australians it infected, it was a different story in ICU. ‘What we saw from an intensive care perspective ... was previously well, young people becoming critically ill and dying.’

There have been 191 deaths recorded in Australia that have been formally attributed to the swine flu since May 2009.

Dr Seppelt said he did not expect these statistics to be repeated in the winter of 2010 because a vaccine is now available.

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UNION MEMBERS

EARN MORE THAN NON-MEMBERS orking people are turning to unions to improve their pay and conditions, data released last month by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals.

According to the ABS figures, there was a hike in union membership of more than 82,000 workers and the proportion of the workforce in unions increased from 19% to 20% between August 2008 and August 2009.

The data shows there are 1.9 million Australians who are members of a union and that union members earn, on average, $145 a week more than non- members.

There has been a rise in union membership density in both the public and private sectors with the strongest gains among male fulltime workers.

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said the new data was very encouraging considering most of the Liberals’ WorkChoices IR laws were still in place when the ABS survey took place in August 2009.

‘The lift in union membership is very encouraging,’ Jeff said. ‘It shows working Australians are turning to unions to improve their living standards. They know that being an active member of a union and bargaining collectively is the best way to improve their wages and conditions.

‘There has always been a pay bonus for union members and this year’s ABS data shows an enormous 51% increase in the union wage advantage. Overall, this is a great result for unions given the Global Financial Crisis. It shows the underlying strength of the economy and the success of unions in bargaining and campaigning for growth.’

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Budget delivers $10 million for union training Almost 80% of $12.7 million in new funding to provide education on the Labor party’s new industrial relations system will go to a union trust fund.

Union Foundation – a not-forprofit trust of the ACTU – will receive $10 million ‘to develop and deliver national workplace education programs for employee representatives’, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The new funding was announced in last month’s Budget. The latest $12.7 million is part of a $30 million education and training plan that uses union and business groups and the Fair Work Ombudsman to explain the laws.

Previously, almost $10 million was provided to employer organisations, $2.5 million to the ACTU and $4.2 million to the Ombudsman.

Ms Gillard said all the grants would be audited to ensure they were being spent appropriately.

ACTU revamps workers’ rights website When the ACTU first launched the Your Rights at Work campaign before the 2007 Federal Election, it was widely acknowledged as breaking new ground in Australia not just for enlisting a broad community coalition opposed to WorkChoices, but because of the use of online technology and social media to communicate rapidly and directly with the ACTU’s 200,000 followers.

With another crucial Federal election in the wings, the Your Rights at Work website has had a makeover, with some new features to make it easier for you to participate in campaigns. The site is also becoming more interactive to allow users to share campaigns and actions with family, friends and co-workers.

Some of the new features of the site include: c A news blog called R@W News, which will feature articles, comment and opinion from the world of work.

Plus you’ll be able to share your experiences, thoughts and ideas with the Your Rights at Work team. c Specific campaign groups. c Blogs to keep you informed of the latest news for each campaign. c New resources to download and share. c Comment on and contribute to the campaigns you’re interested in. c More ways to make your voice heard. c Ways to track what actions you’ve taken and the campaigns you follow.

To make the most of the site, you’re encouraged to join up. It will only take you a few seconds, and becoming a member of the site means you can import your videos and pictures for the campaigns you support.

You’ll also be able to take action faster with crucial details already filled in for you. And you’ll continue receiving the Your Rights at Work monthly newsletter.

Visit www.rightsatwork.com.au for more information and to sign up.

Abbott sides with big business at expense of workers Tony Abbott has committed the Liberal Party to bringing back WorkChoices by winding back unfair dismissal protection and reintroducing individual contracts.

In his Budget reply speech last month, Mr Abbott vowed to resurrect the core elements of WorkChoices, the policy that was so resoundingly rejected by Australian voters less than three years ago, said ACTU President Sharan Burrow.

She said Mr Abbott’s plan would remove protection from unfair dismissal for millions of employees and once again allow employers to dictate pay and conditions on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis with individual contracts.

Ms Burrow said Mr Abbott was also putting at risk improved superannuation for all working Australians with the reckless promise in his speech to oppose the Resources Super Profits Tax. ‘The Liberals are siding with big multinational companies against the retirement security of working Australians,’ she said. ‘[Abbott] has brazenly committed the Liberal Party to giving back to employers the power to sack workers unfairly.’

Why no outcry over car bomb attack on union building?

The NSW Secretary of construction union CFMEU has lambasted the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) for failing to investigate a car bomb attack on the union’s building last month.

The attack on the NSW State office’s headquarters in western Sydney destroyed part of the building’s lower level, with extensive smoke damage to the upper level. The union believes the attack is connected to a dispute with a Sydney contractor over its maltreatment and underpayment of migrant workers.

The ABCC is the government body charged with ensuring that workplace laws are upheld in the building and construction industry and investigating contraventions of those laws.

But Andrew Ferguson, CFMEU’s NSW Secretary, has called for the abolition of the watchdog, which he said has ‘not bothered to contact the CFMEU to discuss the violent

attack or the conditions these migrant workers were forced to accept’.

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Ferguson said, ‘The ABCC’s inaction over the bombing of the CFMEU buildings emphasises why the watchdog must be abolished. Despite its protestations, the ABCC is more interested in crushing union influence on job sites than in increasing productivity or, more importantly, protecting workers.’

An anonymous former CFMEU insider also condemned the print media’s scant coverage of the event and lack of condemnation of it by the country’s political leaders on the Crikey website.

The NSW Police are investigating the attack but no arrests had been made at the time The Lamp went to press.

Workplace safety promoted WorkCover NSW has developed two new initiatives to raise awareness about

the importance of workplace safety.

The first is an advertising campaign called Homecomings.

The print, TV and radio campaign encourages people to think about the effects a workplace incident would have, not just on them, but their whole family.

The second is an online tool specifically for young workers aged 15 to 25 and school students aged 15 to 18. The online training tool is in a fun, interactive gameshow-style format called Hazard a Guess.

The tool simplifies the education process around work hazards and safe work practices with its user-friendly application and hands-on format that is specifically designed to appeal to a younger audience.

Promotional kits for Hazard a Guess and Home Safely are available for employers and workers by visiting www.workcover. nsw.gov.au and the Hazard a Guess tool can be viewed at www.youngworkers.com.au

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The Edith Cavell Trust

Scholarships for the academic year 2011 Applications for the Edith Cavell Trust Scholarships are now being accepted for 2011. Members or Associate Members of the NSW Nurses’ Association or the Australian Nursing Federation (NSW Branch) are invited to apply.

Applicants should meet one of the following criteria: 1. Student nurses undertaking full-time courses leading to initial registration as a nurse.

2. Registered or enrolled nurses who wish to attend:

an accredited clinical nursing education course of six months or less, either full-time or part-time; an accredited nursing conference or seminar relevant to applicant’s clinical practice.

3. Properly constituted nursing organisations, faculties or schools of nursing or registered or enrolled nurses wishing to: attend full-time, relevant postbasic studies at an approved institution for a period or periods of more than six months;

undertake an academically approved research program in the theory and practice of nursing work; conduct or fund a relevant professional or clinical nursing educational program.

Applicants must be currently registered or enrolled with the NSW

Nurses’ Registration Board (or the Registration Board of the state where practising).

Applicants must use the official Edith Cavell Trust application form. Details of the Edith Cavell Trust Rules are available on request and will also be supplied with the application form.

For further information or forms, contact: The Secretary – The Edith Cavell Trust PO Box 40, Camperdown NSW 1450  Mrs Glen Ginty on 1300 367 962  gginty@nswnurses.asn.au  www.nswnurses.asn.au – click on ‘Education’ THE LAMP JUNE 2010 11

Applications close 5pm on 30 July 2010

s

More than 1,000 RNs rallied in Washington DC in May to call for improved standards for patients and nurses.

N E W S I INN BBRRI IEEFF

‘FLO’ THE NURSE JOINS SOLDIERS ON ANZAC DAY he dawn stand-to at Merrylands on Anzac Day saw women’s efforts in times of conflict celebrated – with a statue named after Florence Nightingale.

‘Flo’, as the statue has been nicknamed, was commissioned by Merrylands RSL alongside a monument featuring three soldier statues outside the club, in time for 25 April.

‘The Anzac period of 2010 will long be remembered as the time Flo the nurse joined her male colleagues at the front of our club,’ Merrylands RSL Sub-Branch President John Murphy told the gathering. ‘This enhancement gives women recognition for the role they played in the defence forces and their commitment and loyalty and dedicated service.’

CRICOS: 00102E

Photo courtesy of Merrylands RSL.

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American nurses call for national nurse ratios America’s largest nurses’ union and professional association – the 155,000member National Nurses United (NNU) – is calling on the Government to implement patient safety reforms and new national standards for patient care conditions and standards for nurses.

More than 1,000 Registered Nurses from across the country rallied in Washington DC last month to urge the Government to pass two bills: one to establish minimum ratios of nurses to patients for all US hospitals, which is modelled after a successful California law, and one that would promote nurse retention and reduce patient accidents and injuries by establishing safe patient lifting and handling policies.

The NNU is also seeking passage of another bill to restore equal collective bargaining rights for Veterans Affairs nurses.

Strengthening the rights of direct

care RNs and their ability to more effectively advocate for patients and their colleagues was another major theme of the NNU gathering.

‘We’ve got to say something in a united way that tells employers it’s a new day in America and RNs are going to stand up and not take it anymore,’ NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro said.

The RNs unanimously endorsed a resolution to establish national collective bargaining standards and said they would ‘oppose “concessionary agreements that are injurious to our patients, our members, and our profession that undermine all represented RN contract standards’, which include reductions in health coverage, pensions and other retirement security, two-tier programs for new hires, and reductions that impair patient safety.

The resolution also pledged NNU to fight for enhanced RN staffing and other improvements in patient care standards, improved retirement security for RNs, limits on the introduction of new technology that displaces RNs or RN professional judgment, and additional workplace safety measures.

Improving the Skilled Migration Experience for Women … Make your voice heard.

Your involvement can help to improve the future experiences of new migrant women.

If you are a skilled migrant female we want to hear from you to understand what contributes to your wellbeing and any barriers or challenges you may have faced when arriving to Australia.

Participation in this University study will involve a 20-minute telephone interview. Collection and reporting of the data will not identify individuals in any way.

For more information, or to be involved as a participant in this study, please contact Katie Cliff on (02) 4221 5919 or email: kl67@uow.edu.au

12 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

Nurse mentors still unwilling to fail students Nurse mentors in the UK are reluctant to fail students, according to a new study.

Unpublished research from the University of Hertfordshire shows that nurse mentors are still ‘failing to fail’ poor students, seven years after the issue was first raised.

In 2003, the Nursing and Midwifery Council published research by Kathleen Duffy entitled Failing to Fail, which showed mentors were passing students they believed should have failed. That research eventually led to the NMC issuing revised guidance on mentoring in July 2008.

But seven years on from the original research, a study led by University of Hertfordshire senior lecturer Louise Lawson shows the problem still remains.

‘Many felt they should give students the “benefit of the doubt”. But doing that cannot be in the best interests of patients.’

Ms Lawson told Nursing Times: ‘Many of the mentors I interviewed told me it was difficult to fail a student. Doing so is both time-consuming in terms of the paperwork but also emotionally difficult.

‘Many felt they should give students the “benefit of the doubt”. But doing that cannot be in the best interests of patients.’

The research also supports a survey carried out by Nursing Times. Based on interviews with more than 300 nurse mentors, a quarter said they did not feel confident in managing challenging behaviour and poor performance by students. This figure tallies with the 37% of the journal’s readers who said they had passed poor students and 31% who said they did this because they knew the university would only overturn a fail.

Mentors also found it difficult to create and maintain professional boundaries between themselves as mentors and their students, Ms Lawson said. ‘They have a relationship with the student and they are often counted as a part of the team and they might socialise with them, which makes it difficult to fail them.’

Young women stressed at work face higher risk of heart attack Work pressure is a significant factor in increasing the risk of heart attack for younger women, according to a study.

Nurses who reported work pressure to be much too high had a 1.4-fold increased risk of ischaemic heart disease.

The 15-year research, known as the Danish Nurse Cohort Study and involving 12,116 female nurses aged 45-64, showed that nurses who reported work pressure to be much too high had a 1.4-fold increased risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) compared with nurses who reported work pressure to be suitable.

This effect was significant only among the younger nurses aged under 51 years.

‘We find that work pressure that is too high is a significant risk factor for IHD in younger female employees (under 51 years of age),’ the researchers noted.

‘The results should be taken into account in the planning of primary prevention.’

Skilled migrant women wanted for research project Researchers at the University of Wollongong are conducting a study looking at the role of community connectedness in retaining skilled migrant women.

This project aims to understand the experiences and challenges of skilled migrant women. It will look at what contributes to their wellbeing and overall quality of life, barriers or challenges they may have faced when arriving in a new country, and how they dealt with their new environment.

Study participants will be asked to do a face-to-face interview in a place convenient to them, or a telephone interview can be arranged. The interview will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

If you know anyone who would like to participate in this study, contact Katie Cliff on 0409 4509 57 or email: kl67@uow.edu.au

s Legal & Professional Issues for Nurses and Midwives 25 June, Tweed Heads, ½ day 2 July, Albury, ½ day 12 July, Sydney, ½ day 20 August, Coffs Harbour, ½ day Topics covered include the Nurses and Midwives Act 1991, potential liability, importance of documentation, role of disciplinary tribunals including the NMB, writing statements.

Members $39 Non-members $85 s Basic Foot Care for RNs & ENs 3 & 4 June, Shellharbour, 2 days 11 & 12 August, Newcastle, 2 days 19 & 20 October, Tamworth, 2days This course aims to provide nurses with the competence to provide basic foot care.

Members $203 Non-members $350 s Computer Essentials for Nurses and Midwives 3 August, Concord, 1 day 25 October, Concord, 1 day Seminar is suitable for all nurses and midwives.

Members $85 Non-members $170 s Appropriate Workplace Behaviour 17 June, Newcastle, 1 day 27 August, Tamworth, 1 day 29 October, Coffs harbour, 1 day Topics covered include understanding why bullying occurs; antidiscrimination law & NSW Health policies; how to behave appropriately in the workplace; identify behaviour which constitutes unlawful harassment and bullying; what to do if subjected to unlawful harassment and bullying; how to use workplace grievance procedures; identify, prevent and resolve bullying.

Members $85 Non-members $170 s Policy & Guideline Writing 10 September, Camperdown, 1 day Seminar is suitable for all nurses.

Members $85 Non-members $170

TO REGISTER or for more information go to www.nswnurses.asn.au or13ring THE LAMP JUNE 2010 Carolyn Kulling on 1300 367 962

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Because we care delivers $130 million for aged care g The Because we care campaign has achieved a major win, with the Rudd Government allocating $130 million to initiatives that will improve the skill level of aged care nurses and recognise the professionalism of AiNs through a national licensing system.

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urses were prominent in this year’s Federal Budget with the Rudd Government allocating $130 million for nursing initiatives in aged care and a further $523 million for extra practice nurses as it increased its health spending by another $2.2 billion. This brings the increase in health spending this year to more than $7 billion.

Thrilled with the Budget announcement, ANF Secretary Ged Kearney, with PM Kevin Rudd.

14 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

Of the money allocated to aged care nursing, $60 million will become available from 1 July for a raft of education initiatives.

50,000 aged care workers will be eligible for the incentives to improve their skills: c Unqualified carers will be eligible for $1,000 to attain a Certificate III or IV in nursing; c Certificate III holders will be eligible for $2,500 to upgrade to an EN;

After announcing a Budget allocation of $130 million for initiatives to improve the skills of aged care nurses, PM Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon visited happy staff and residents at George Forbes House, Queanbeyan.

ENs will be eligible for $5,000 to upgrade to an RN. The grants will be dependent on an employee remaining in the aged care sector for two years if they are an RN or EN, or for one year for a Certificate III worker.

An extra $20 million has been allocated for an increase in nursing scholarships.

There will be 600 additional scholarships for ENs and another 300 for RNs.

c

‘We are thrilled with the $60 million education incentive for aged care nurses.

This will lead to thousands of nurses upgrading their skills, ensuring high quality care is delivered.

There is also another $500,000 to conduct a research study on staffing levels, skill mix and resident care needs in Australian residential aged care facilities.

ANF Secretary Ged Kearney said she was pleased with the Government’s response to our Because we care campaign.

‘The $132 million aged care workforce package announced by the Treasurer in Budget 2010 ensures nurses will remain front and centre in the delivery of aged care in Australia.

‘We are thrilled with the $60 million education incentive for aged care nurses.

This will lead to thousands of nurses and Assistants in Nursing upgrading their skills, helping them to stay working in the aged care sector and ensuring high quality care is delivered.

‘This is vital given the number of nurses in aged care actually declined by 4,000 between 2003 to 2007, while the number of residents increased by 15,000 in that time.

‘The introduction of a national licensing system for AiNs and personal care workers will recognise their professionalism while ensuring high standards of care, safety and protection for residents,’ said Ged.

A new aged care Nurse Practitioner project An innovative scheme to use Nurse Practitioners in aged care was also announced

in the budget. $18.7 million will become available from 1 July to fund 25 Nurse Practitioners covering 100 nursing homes.

‘This will further the career pathway for nurses in aged care and greatly benefit residents in those homes,’ said Ged Kearney.

Other funding initiatives in aged care announced in the Budget are: c The Government will invest $98.6 million over five years to improve access to primary health care for older Australians. The funding provides financial incentives to GPs to provide more services to aged care homes. The Government expects an additional 295,000 GP and primary health-care services to older Australians over the next four years. c The Government will provide a further $300 million in loans to support the development of an extra 2,500 aged care places. c The Government will provide up to $280 million to the State Governments to meet the cost of older Australians who are waiting in public hospitals for suitable aged care places.n THE LAMP JUNE 2010 15

Sign up a new member and win a fabulous Hong Kong Holiday for 2

ARE YOUR WORKMATES OR FRIENDS MEMBERS OF THE NSWNA? Why not ask them and if they aren’t, sign them up.

Like you, they need the security of belonging to a strong and dynamic union.

DRAWN 3 0 J UN E 2010

Not only will you be building your union by signing up a new member, you and a friend could win this fabulous Hong Kong holiday.

The more members you sign up, the more chances you have to win!

THE PRIZE INCLUDES • Return airfares for two flying Virgin Atlantic • Five nights’ accommodation at the Harbour Plaza 8 Degrees Hotel • Return Airport Express Link transfers • Delicious seafood dinner on Hong Kong’s Lamma Island • Explore the city with a 24 hour MTR rail pass.

HURRY! Call the Association now for a recruitment kit and recruitment incentive scheme details.

Ph: 8595 1234 (metropolitan area) or 1300 367 962 (non metropolitan area) or go to www.nswnurses.asn.au

16 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Great progress in Because we care but more to be achieved

T c

c

he original goals of our Because we care campaign were to raise awareness and recognition of Australia’s highly skilled and dedicated aged care nursing workforce. Our goal is to attain: The right balance of skills and nursing hours so that nursing and care staff can provide quality care for every resident.

Recognition of the professional skills of Assistants in Nursing and care staff through a national licensing system.

c

Fair pay for aged care nurses and care staff. c A guarantee that taxpayer funding is used for nursing and personal care for each resident.

‘We have made significant progress on the first two objectives with these announcements in the Budget,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘But we will not rest there. We will continue to campaign for improved wages for aged care nurses and to ensure that any additional Government

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd chats with George Forbes House resident Mary Primmer, who turned 99 last month.

funding in the sector is transparently directed towards nursing care.

‘We note the Federal Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into Australia’s aged care system including a wideranging brief regarding workforce needs.

‘The NSWNA, along with the ANF, will be using this opportunity to advocate for fairer wages for aged care workers that bring them into line with public hospitals.’n

VERY WELCOME OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE SKILLS Jeanette Yeaman, CNS at George Forbes House, welcomed the $130 million Budget allocation to improve aged care nurses’ skills and education.

‘The nurses at George Forbes House are all keen to improve their skills and qualifications. This announcement is a very welcome opportunity.

‘Higher skill levels of staff will improve the care delivered to residents and enhance their lives. It’s what they deserve,’ said Jeanette.

Jeanette has worked as an aged care

nurse for more than 30 years and ‘a lot has changed in that time’. ‘Residents are more frail and have higher and more complex care needs because they are entering aged care at an older age. They need quality, skilled nursing staff.

‘And thanks to the campaigning of the NSWNA, we’ve seen great improvements in aged care nurses’ pay and conditions over the years. The Association has fought hard for aged care nurses and it’s been noticed and appreciated. I would have felt very vulnerable if I hadn’t had the NSWNA behind me.’

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 17

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Funding for 4,600 general practice nurses

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reasurer Wayne Swan announced the Government will invest $390.3 million to fund 4,600 full-time practice nurses in general practice, in a major boost to primary care.

For the first time, GPs in urban areas will be eligible for funding to help employ practice nurses. More practice nurses will help take pressure off GPs by providing clinical support in areas such as wound care and immunisation; managing recall and reminders systems; and patient education in areas such as weight loss, reducing alcohol consumption and quitting smoking.

Annual incentive payments of $25,000 per full-time GP for a Registered Nurse and $12,500 per full-time GP for an Enrolled Nurse will be made available to eligible accredited practices.

By 2013-2014, an estimated 4,537 GP practices will receive more funding – worth $31,500 per year on average – to make better use of highly-skilled practice nurses.

‘This is a great result for practice nurses and will give more opportunities and career options to nurses,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes.

‘The increased investment in primary care should go some way to easing the burden on our overstretched public hospitals.’

‘Nurses play a vital role in our hospitals and our communities and we have listened to their concerns. So I am announcing $523 million to train and support nurses.’

Wayne Swan, Federal Treasurer, in his Budget speech

‘Putting money into frontline care, especially when it is directed towards the frail, elderly and those with complex care needs is a welcome change of direction in Government policy. It will take considerable pressure off our heavily strained public hospitals, making them more sustainable.’

Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society

‘We are thrilled with the $132 million aged care workforce package announced by the Treasurer in Budget 2010.This package will enable thousands of nurses and assistants in nursing to upgrade their skills and will help them stay working in the aged care sector. It will also ensure high quality care is delivered to the 200,000 aged care residents whom we care for.’

Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary, ANF 18 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM c $5.5 billion from an increase in tobacco taxes. c An increase in Government revenue as the economy grows and unemployment drops (forecast to fall to 4.75% next year and 4% the year after). c $12 billion from the Resource Super Profit Tax.

Support for nurses and allied health professionals in rural areas The Federal Government will provide $34.1 million for two new rural locum programs to give around 3,000 nurses and 400 allied health professionals time to take leave, achieve appropriate work-life balance and attend continuing professional development over the next four years.

The Government will also invest $6.5 million in providing 400 additional

clinical training scholarships over four years for allied health students in rural and regional areas.

Mental health nurses The Government is committed to supporting and expanding the number of specialist mental health nurses. As part of the Government’s mental health package, $13 million over two years will be provided to employ 136 mental health nurses and provide an estimated 11,700 sessions to people with mental illness.n

‘This Budget delivers strongly for health.The Budget confirms the promised funding for the COAG health agreement and spells out new spending in key areas of the Government’s health reform agenda, including primary care and e-health.’

Dr Andrew Pesce, AMA

GOOD MOVE FOR PRIMARY CARE ‘When it comes to nurse billing in general practice, it’s very restrictive in terms of the work nurses do that can be billed through to Medicare,’ said Tom Van Dam, RN at an inner-west GP practice. ‘This announcement of funding will open up the recruitment of practice nurses and expand the scope of services the practices can provide, particularly those in rural areas and smaller practices in the cities. It’s a good move for everyone: nurses and doctors work well together in primary care, so this is beneficial for patients, GPs and nurses.’

The College of Nursing creating nursing’s future

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CALL NOW! 1800 265 534 for your 2010 course handbook email: csc@nursing.edu.au web: www.nursing.edu.au When phoning please quote L1003

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 19

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C A M P A I G N 2 0 1 0

Member feedback and research strengthens case for safe staffing g The NSWNA has interviewed NUMs at almost all public hospitals in NSW to substantiate our claim for safe staffing ratios.

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ver the past few weeks 30 NSWNA Officers have hit the road to visit public hospitals across NSW to conduct in depth interviews with NUMs about safe staffing and skill mix on their wards.

Using the research tool developed by experts on nursing skill mix

and workplace research, Professors Christine Duffield and John Buchanan, the NSWNA conducted face-to-face interviews with NUMs at 96 public hospitals and phone interviews at 97 hospitals in selected specialties.

The NSWNA also visited or contacted many community health centres, in-patient mental health centres and community health centres across NSW. The feedback from NUMs will substantiate our 2010 Campaign claim for a mandated nurse/midwife to patient ratio to ensure the delivery of safe patient care.

The interviews with NUMs will inform the development of ratio models for the specialty areas of general medical/surgical wards, palliative care,

rehabilitation, Emergency Departments, community health and mental health.

‘We’ve received resounding support from NUMs for our claim for a mandated staff ratio to ensure safe staffing on their wards,’ said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda.

This extensive qualitative research builds on the data collected by the NSWNA earlier in the year on current staffing ratios and skill mix.

‘During this period of intensive research, most NSWNA Officers have been on the road visiting public hospitals and members may have experienced delays in having their usual phone calls and queries responded to. I’d like to thank members for their patience and consideration over the past month,’ said Judith.n

THANKS FOR YOUR VALUABLE FEEDBACK …

Some of the NUMs from NSW hospitals who have provided feedback for Campaign 2010

Shellharbour Hospital 20 THE LAMP JUNE 2010 Medical Respiratory Unit, NUM, Scott Lang

Shoalhaven Hospital Rehabilitation Unit, NUM, Lynn Hewitt

Westmead Hospital ED, NUM, Lisa Dillon

Bega Hospital Maternity Unit, NUM, Simone Shaw

Bega Hospital ED, NUM, Cathy Boyle

Shoalhaven Hospital Medical Ward, NUM, Gordon McKeown

Another night nurse for Coffs Harbour

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ublic protests and lobbying over staff shortages at Coffs Harbour Hospital have paid off, with the allocation of another night shift nurse to the Emergency Department.

Coffs Harbour nurses see this as a breakthrough in their campaign for one more nurse per shift, with one more night nurse the priority.

The NSW Nurses’ Association Branch Secretary at the hospital, Amanda Short, said ED nurses were prepared to abandon the recently-introduced electronic medical records system and return to paper records if North Coast Area Health Service did not approve a fifth night nurse.

Amanda said the Branch would now press ahead with the campaign to get extra staff on morning and afternoon shifts.

‘Now that we have got a result for night shift we are putting in a submission for extra staff on morning and evening shifts.’

‘Extra staff is about reducing waiting times for patients. In particular an extra nurse on mornings and afternoons would allow the Clinical Initiatives Nurse to go back to looking after patients in the waiting room instead of having to be pulled back into the department, leaving patients in the waiting room unattended,’ she said.

Along with a public rally and media publicity, nurses used the hospital’s Reasonable Workloads Committee to put their case for an additional night nurse.

NSWNA Branch President and Councillor Sue White said the Branch’s presentation to the committee was supported by a site inspection and report by the NSWNA Occupational Health and Safety Co-ordinator.

Sue said the report identified many problems related to understaffing in the ED, with night shift the most urgent case.

‘Now that we have got a result for night shift we are putting in a submission to the workloads committee for extra staff on morning and evening shifts,’ she said.n

Kempsey vigil for more ED nurses

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empsey nurses held a vigil outside the local hospital’s understaffed Emergency Department as part of their ongoing campaign for one extra ED nurse per shift.

Nurses assembled outside the entrance to the ED under an NSWNA

Kempsey Hospital members’ vigil for more staff.

banner declaring: ‘Take Care! Stay Safe!

Nurses Warn of Understaffed Health Service Ahead’.

They handed visitors pieces of fruit with stickers bearing messages such as ‘One Nurse Short Today’ and ‘Staffed to Budget Not to Patient Care’.

NSWNA Branch Secretary at Kempsey District Hospital, Di Lohman, said the Branch also provided a free pizza lunch to ED staff who are often too busy to take meal breaks.

Di said protesting nurses were visited by Mayor John Bowell, ‘who has been very supportive through the whole campaign’. The vigil gained prominent coverage in local news media.

She said NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt declined to meet a deputation of Kempsey nurses and arranged a meeting with her advisors instead.

‘We were hoping to talk to the Minister and present her with our petition seeking one more RN per shift, but will instead present it to our local MP Andrew

Kempsey Hospital Branch warns motorists about the understaffed hospital.

Stoner, who is supporting our campaign,’ Di said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the North Coast Area Health Service, Chris Crawford, has commissioned a review of Kempsey ED staffing.

As part of the review, an emergency services Clinical Nurse Consultant from Tweed Heads Base Hospital and a doctor from the Greater Western Area Health Service conducted interviews and inspected the ED and related services.n THE LAMP JUNE 2010 21

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I N D U S T R I A L I S S U E S

Experienced nurses and midwives case adjourned g IR Commission temporarily sets aside part-heard case for pay increases.

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ue to significant pressure from the NSW Industrial Relations Commission Full Bench, the part-heard case for 3.8% pay increases for experienced nurses and midwives has been adjourned to a later date.

However, this move will not affect the NSWNA’s 2010 pay campaign.

In October 2009 the Association filed the comprehensive evidence of 17 nurse and midwife witnesses in support of the claim in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. NSW Health opposed the NSWNA’s application and the hearing was scheduled from 27 April to 13 May with further dates in June.

But the Full Bench took an unexpected and unprecedented approach to hearing the case. ‘Rather than hear from witnesses during the proceedings at the beginning of May the Commission directed conciliation between the parties,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘These attempts took several days that had been set aside for the hearing of witness evidence.’ On 3 May, the Commission issued a statement formalising its concerns about

the prospect of an industrial campaign during the period of the hearing or while awaiting a decision. ‘It is not in the public interest for the Full Bench to be placed in a position of continuing to hear and determine a claim while a campaign is underway seeking further significant increases, potentially on the same or similar grounds, for the very classifications that are the subject of the present proceeding,’ the statement said.

matters both in the 2010 Campaign and in these proceedings.

While this position was opposed by NSW Health, the Commission accepted the Association’s application on the basis that it was ‘appropriate and responsible’.

The Association will consider the most appropriate time to re-list this case at a later date.

The adjournment will not affect the 2010 pay campaign. ‘The 2010 wages

The NSWNA Council held an extraordinary meeting to consider these developments in the case and decided to seek an adjournment to allow the NSWNA 2010 Campaign to run its course.

On 4 May, the NSWNA Council held an extraordinary meeting to consider these developments in the case and decided to seek an adjournment to allow the NSWNA 2010 Campaign to run its course, at least to enable the parties to explore the possibility of settlement of

and conditions campaign claims that Branches overwhelmingly endorsed in April are still going ahead,’ said Brett Holmes. ‘In addition, those claims being arbitrated in the above case will be added to the negotiating agenda as was recommended by the Commission.’n

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22 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

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N S W N A N E W S

New name for NSWNA? g Annual Conference to debate our name

A

ssociation or union? And should ‘midwives’ be part of our name? These are two important issues to be examined at this year’s annual conference.

The NSWNA Annual Conference, to be held on 21 and 22 July, will consider two resolutions in relation to the Association’s name.

One will advocate replacing ‘Association’ with ‘Union’. The other advocates for the incorporation of ‘midwives’ into our name.

NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes said that while each resolution proposes changing the name of the Association, neither proposal impacts on the purpose or operation of the organisation.

‘However, it is important to consider that if the changes are adopted they will communicate a different and new message or image for our Association and therefore need to be considered carefully,’ he said.

‘It is important to consider that if the changes are adopted they will communicate a different and new message or image for our Association and therefore need to be considered carefully.’

THE PROS AND CONS OF A NAME CHANGE There will be two resolutions before conference that seek to change the name of the NSWNA: c A Committee of Delegates’ resolution proposes that the NSW Nurses’ Association be renamed the NSW Nurses’ Union; c A resolution from the NSWNA Council proposes a name change to the NSW Nurses’ and Midwives’ Association.

The main arguments against the proposed name changes are related to: c A view that the NSWNA is a well recognised and valued brand

The arguments for ‘Union’ The NSWNA was established at a time when trade unionism was generally associated with militant blue-collar workers and the socialist political philosophy.

There was a reticence within the profession to identify with a wider, strongly masculine trade union movement.

The Your Rights @ Work campaign has demonstrated that trade unions have resumed our role as a legitimate and influential political base in Australian society.

It could be argued the proposed change would give potential members a clearer understanding of our organisation as an industrial body and would clarify for many potential members what we stand for.

Conversely, there is also the possibility that negative attitudes to trade unions could discourage some nurses and midwives from becoming members.

The professional component of the NSWNA role could also be overlooked if union was the main focus.

What about ‘Midwives’?

In recent years, the acknowledgement and acceptance of midwives as distinct from nurses has become more widespread.

In 2004, under the State professional regulatory scheme, the Nurses Act 1991 (NSW) was replaced by the Nurses and Midwives Act 1991. The ‘Nurses Registration

within both the health sector and the community; c the cost implications of the name change; and c it is seen by some as a divisive move.

Arguments in support of the proposed name changes include: c The desire to positively and proudly associate ourselves with the broader trade union movement; c A clearer message about our identities; c Acknowledgement of each profession.

Board NSW’ is now known as the ‘Nursing and Midwifery Board of NSW’.

The new Act also provides for a separate midwifery register. This is particularly relevant due to direct entry midwives who complete a degree in midwifery alone.

At the Federal level, the national professional regulatory scheme is soon to commence. There will be a ‘Nursing and Midwifery Board’ with two registers.

One register will be for nurses (including a related sub-register for mental health, Nurse Practitioners and Enrolled Nurses) and one for midwives.

The Australian Nursing Federation is currently considering the inclusion of ‘midwifery’ in their title and the South Australian Branch is now known as the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch).

A question of identity Brett Holmes said the two proposals set the scene for a vibrant and interesting debate at the Annual Conference.

‘It will make us think about our identity as an organisation and both propositions have merit,’ he said.

‘But it is vital we also consider the negative implications of changing our name. Our research indicates that the NSWNA has very strong, positive brand association. Consideration of all aspects and a lively debate is expected.’n THE LAMP JUNE 2010 23

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24 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

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A G E N D A

Super changes mean more money for you g Kevin Rudd has agreed to increase employer super contributions to 12% – a big win for nurses and Australian workers.

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he Rudd Government’s decision to accept the recommendation of the Henry Tax Review to increase employer superannuation contributions to 12% from the current 9% is a big win for Australian workers.

The increase will be phased in over several years to ensure there is minimal impact on workers’ take-home pay.

The ACTU said unions will still need to bargain hard to lift the superannuation contributions up to our long-term goal of 15%.

Low-paid workers especially stand to benefit from the new super win.

In addition to the increased employer contributions, workers on less than $37,000 a year will receive a Government contribution of up to $500 a year. This effectively means they will pay no tax on their super.

The superannuation savings of 3.5 million low-income earners will be boosted by $830 million.

ACTU modelling shows that together these two measures will deliver an extra $108,000 in retirement for a 30-year-old worker earning average full-time wages.

NSWNA Secretary Brett Holmes said many employees in aged care will have a boost to their retirement incomes.

‘We expect a large number of AiNs in aged care will benefit from the changes,’ he said.

ACTU modelling shows that together these two measures will deliver an extra $108,000 in retirement for a 30-year-old worker earning average full-time wages. A large number of AiNs in aged care are expected to benefit in this way.

A big win for industry super funds Garry Weaven, the chair of Industry Funds Management, said the new changes will lead to a more transparent, fairer and better superannuation industry.

‘The milestone has been achieved because the industry funds themselves have demonstrated commitment to a better way of superannuation provision,’ he said. ‘It’s a model that puts net benefits to members at the centre rather than the

MINING PROFITS TO BE USED FOR THE NATIONAL WELLBEING Another key recommendation in the Henry review that has been accepted by the Federal Government is the introduction of a Resource Super Profits Tax. The ACTU and key mining unions have endorsed the introduction of this tax. It will apply to mining companies that are making supernormal profits. Mining unions say

rights of service providers to make profits for their shareholders.’

There are other changes in the Henry Review, accepted by the Government, which aim to improve fairness by giving concessions to those with the biggest need to increase their retirement savings.

it will not threaten jobs or mining exploration and the proceeds will help to even out Australian economic development across regions and industries.

‘It will ensure that all Australians benefit from the resources boom – not just highly profitable mining companies,’ said ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence.

Individuals aged 50 or over with total superannuation balances of less than $500,000 will be able to make up to $50,000 in superannuation concessional contributions.

Brett Holmes said this will allow individuals to ‘catch up’ on their superannuation at a stage in their lives when many are able to do so.

‘It will particularly benefit women, including nurses, who have had periods outside the workforce,’ he said.n

SUPER GAINS FOR WORKERS WON IN THE HENRY TAX REVIEW c

An increase in the employer superannuation contribution from 9% to 12%

c

A boost in the super of low-income earners by $500 a year

c

An extension of the $50,000 concessional contributions cap for over 50s.

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 25

s

NSWNA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

l a v i t s e f Film f f o s w o sh y t i v i t a e r nurses’ c y t i s r e v i d and

l ilm Festiva F t r o h S A ond NSWN A’s Parade ID N t g The s e c a d w e packed cro hospital to a divers d e a t trac te d a t a e r t e infection r ho we rates and nur s e s and Theatre, w t u o b a s film f o n patient io n t c io e t coll bra care, the ses, in cele r u n y b e d ’ ma s e dehumanisation s r ional Nu of nursing, of Internat .

0 1 0 the importance of 2 y a D

L

ast year’s inaugural NSWNA Short Film Festival was such a success it’s become a permanent fixture on the Association’s calendar. Tapping into nurses’ creativity, the festival provides the opportunity for nurses to tell their stories.

Selected participants completed a filmmaking workshop at NIDA to equip them with the basic skills necessary to make a short film.

Each of the 14 films that made it into the finals was unique and made in a variety of genres from a reality TV show format to documentaries about the lives of working nurses and midwives.

Midwifery and childbirth, encouraging student nurses, preventative healthcare, the impact of budget problems in the health system, the emergence of super bugs, the impact of nurse shortages on 26 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

ongoing education, rural nursing issues and the risks of deregulating the nursing workforce were among the issues covered creatively, sensitively and, at times, humorously.

The star of this year’s festival was – The Lamp! Yes, your favourite magazine was featured in every single film (ok, it was part of the requirements, but we’re thrilled that you love to read it!).

Proudly sponsored by First State Super, the NSWNA Short Film Festival was judged by series producer for Channel 7 and previous producer of RPA Patrick McInerney, Managing Director of Shannon’s Way Michael Daddo, and NIDA film director Clinton Smith. The evening was hosted by NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes, with awards presented by Sydney Morning Herald film critic Paul Byrnes.

Brett congratulated the filmmakers and encouraged nurses to participate in next year’s festival. ‘There are lots of challenges ahead and we look forward to your entries next year,’ he said.n

THE WINNERS FIRST PRIZE: Escape from the Café of Healthy Salvation

Susan Ling Young, RN at McKesson AsiaPacific, took out the gong for her film about a waitress/nurse angel who succeeds in helping a customer escape the ‘revolving door’ of the Café of Healthy Salvation.

Working from McKesson’s Lane Cove office, Susan liaised with her colleagues, some of whom work from home, to make the film. ‘What I’m trying to get across is nursing can be many different things nowadays,’ she told The Lamp.

‘My film is about what we’re trying to do with McKesson in the disease management team – it’s trying to help patients with chronic diseases to minimise the

Robyn Moon accepted her joint third prize from Brett Holmes for Baby Nurse.

CNE Carolyn Guichard celebrated winning joint third prize for her moving film about midwives The Gift.

progression of the disease when they are well and help them stay well and reduce their hospital stays. This is a win for everyone: Nurses get more balance in their lives and more beds become available – it’s about trying to break the revolving door of what happens with people with chronic diseases.’

Susan won a $5,000 first prize.

Runner-up Frances Usherwood thanked everyone involved in the making of her film Robo Nurse 2.

SECOND PRIZE: Robo Nurse 2 Last year’s winner Frances Usherwood from Sydney Children’s Hospital was runner-up with Robo Nurse 2. The futuristic sci-fi thriller is set in 2024 in a dystopian society where the Facist Benevolent Neo-Conservative party has moved to replace all working Australians with robots. All union activity is now illegal and small bands of freedom fighters – including renegade nurses – struggle to survive.

Frances won a $2,000 second prize.

THIRD PRIZE 1: Baby Nurse

Susan Ling Young was thrilled to win first prize.

What do you do when you’re a student nurse and the RN in charge is a bitch?

‘Bring her some lollies’ is EEN Ariel Moon’s strategy. In a candid interview, shot by her mother Robyn Moon, an RN at Royal North Shore Hospital, Ariel talks about her experiences with staff in the delivery suite in Baby Nurse.

Robyn was thrilled to take out joint third prize of $1000. ‘I’m absolutely ecstatic,’ she said. ‘It’s lovely to be able to give something back to the profession.

The NSWNA has supported me well over the years. I’ve been an RN for 33 years, and with a daughter coming through nursing, I really wanted to explore what it was like when I started and how difficult it is for them now, so she was the perfect vehicle.’

THIRD PRIZE 2: The Gift In what was considered by some in the audience to be the most confronting and moving film of the night, Carolyn Guichard’s The Gift documents the process of childbirth, showing the parents and midwives just before, during and after the birth.

The couple featured in the film are Carolyn’s son and daughter-in law.

Although Carolyn is not a midwife – she’s a Clinical Nurse Educator at Coffs Harbour Community Health – she was eager to ensure midwifery was a part of the festival. ‘I’m in awe of the work they do,’ she said.

Carolyn’s other entry Bop Till You Drop was also a finalist and next year she plans to submit two more films.n All the films featured in the NSWNA Short Film Festival are available to watch online at the NSWNA website www.nswnurses.asn.au THE LAMP JUNE 2010 27

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NSWNA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Jodie Haswell, Maria Mungioni, Ana Harkin, Bev Triuntutillides, Amy Bolton, Nikki Bradley, Anna Grosse.

s u o r o m a l G l a v i t s e f film goers Sydney Morning Herald film critic Paul Byrnes (left) with film festival judge Clinton Smith.

Frances Usherwood (third from left, back row) poses with supporters and members of the cast and crew of her film Robo Nurse 2, which won second prize.

28 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

r ty kicked a p il a t k c o sive c ival. g An exclu t Film Fest r o h S A N W d off the NS orms behin if n u ir e h t Nurses left st d their mo and donne r for ening wea v e s u o r o glam ory event. t a r b le e c this

Coral Levett and Brett Holmes with Tim Smyth, Deputy DirectorGeneral, NSW Health (centre).

Marian Caswell with John Muddle who stars in her film Sometimes I Forget.

Pamela Studdert, filmmaker Ann Ausburn, and Paul McGuire from the film NURSE!

Tristan Santos and Maureen Puhlmann.

Coral Levett, Gary Clark, Margot Clark.

Jigisha Karia, Sue Taggart and Tom Leong who were involved in making Bon Appetit.

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 29

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INTERNATIONAL NURSES’ DAY

Happy International Nurses’ Happy International Midw 5 May 30 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

550 years’ experience …

Congratulations, Bankstown Hospital midwives!

1091 reasons to celebrate

Hooray for Bankstown midwives g With 550 years’ nursing experience between them and 541 babies born in the first quarter of 2010, Bankstown midwives had much to feel proud of on International Midwives’ Day.

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he Birthing Unit at Bankstown Hospital was ablaze in a warm purple glow on International Midwives’ Day, 5 May – heralding a big day of celebrations for Bankstown Hospital midwives. Purple, the universal colour of midwives, was everywhere you looked: the Unit’s midwives all donned purple shirts, purple balloons added to the festive atmosphere and there were purple roses – one for each of the 38 midwives working on this special day.

For Bankstown Hospital midwives,

International Midwives’ Day was a special day to reflect on their achievements, professionalism and hard work. And The Lamp discovered there was much to commemorate: between them, Bankstown Hospital midwives have more than 550 years’ experience under their belts – a comforting thought for the thousands of mums and babies in their care each year.

Speaking of beautiful, bouncing bubs, International Midwives’ Day also marked 541 births in the Birthing Unit in the first few months of 2010, and there were 541 flowers to mark this impressive milestone.n

Day

12 May

ives’ Day Well done on 541 births (clockwise from bottom left): Midwife Ronia Awick, Acting NUM Pam Keith and Acting NUM Yvonne Mendoza.

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 31

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INTERNATIONAL NURSES’ DAY

Happy International Nurses’ Day

12 May

Happy International Midwives’ Day 5 May

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE Dragan Novakovic, owner of Bogota Coffee (left), was so happy with the care nurses at RPA Hospital delivered to his dad Nikola (right), that he wanted to give a token of his thanks on International Nurses’ Day. Dragan and his staff packaged up 50kgs of freshly roasted coffee beans into beautiful 100g packs (pictured behind Nikola), which were delivered to delighted staff members on 12 May. 32 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

SWEET DELIGHTS FOR PORT MACQUARIE MIDWIVES Midwives at Port Macquarie Hospital celebrated International Midwives’ Day with a fruit and chocolate box supplied by the NSWNA.

BUSHLAND THANKS NURSES - PRETTY IN PINK Nurses at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital brightened the place up by dressing in colourful outfits to celebrate International Nurses’ Day. The theme was a ‘happy day in May’ and they raised money to go towards the Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust. Pictured L-R are Annette St Clair, Michelle Hocking, Daryl Mitchell, Donna Taylor, Louise Wood, Linda Wolfe and Kim Gordon.

LET THEM EAT CAKE First-year RNs celebrated International Nurses’ Day with a delicious cake. Cutting the cake is Director of Nursing Robin Norton.

Aged care provider Bushland Health Group acknowledged the great work of its nurses on International Nurses’ Day. ‘We want to thank all of our wonderful nurses who enthusiastically and diligently care for our residents and improve the quality of their life,’ said a spokesperson.

Pictured (left to right) are nurses from the group’s Karingal Gardens facility: Kim Saville, Sarina Budden, Gwenda Pullen, Shirley O’Neill and Jonette Ruprecht.

TEA TIME Nurses and community health staff at Urbenville MPS posed for a photo before sharing morning tea with some of the residents and visitors to the facility on International Nurses’ Day.

WINED AND DINED

DOUBLE CELEBRATIONS AT WESTMEAD

Sydney Children’s Hospital was a hive of activity on IND. The day kicked off with afternoon tea and a slide show, followed by a delivery of food, fruit, pastries and drinks for the nightduty staff to each ward at 3am in the morning by Phyllis Moran, Director of Nursing. A Nurses Dinner (private function room with a three-course meal) was also held at the Coogee Bay Hotel on 14 May. Pictured (left to right) at the dinner are: Rebecca Pitt, Glenda Mullen, Alison Coall, Emma Lockington and Janelle Davis.

Midwives at Westmead Hospital’s Maternity Ward celebrated news that, after more than 14 months of a recruitment freeze, the hospital will be advertising 17 midwifery positions at Westmead. The move to advertise positions at Westmead followed rallies across the Sydney West Area Health Service where midwives and nurses protested against the lack of recruitment, citing fears that safe patient care was at risk. So International Midwives’ Day was a day for double celebrations!

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 33

A D V E R T O R I A L

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council appointed as independent accrediting body

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he Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) has welcomed the recent Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council (AHWMC) decision to endorse a newly constituted ANMC as the independent accrediting body for the nursing and midwifery professions.

The AHWMC have endorsed the new Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) decision to appoint the ANMC as the professions’ independent accrediting body under the new National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for Health Professions commencing 1 July 2010.

This appointment is for a period of 3 years from 1 July 2010, which is consistent with arrangements previously made for the other nine health professions in the National Scheme.

Currently nursing and midwifery courses are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Regulatory Authorities in each of the states and territories. The AHWMC decision brings nursing and midwifery in line with the other professions under NRAS which already have independent accrediting bodies.

34 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

AHWMC’s decision is a commitment to safety and quality as only an independent accrediting authority has the capacity and remit to ensure high standards in nursing and midwifery education are maintained.

The ANMC has been committed and dedicated to nursing and midwifery accreditation and standards over many years and the AHWMC has recognised its reputation, skills and experience in the development of professional standards in making this decision.

The ANMC is currently restructuring the organisation to fulfil this additional role and will post regular updates on its website for nurses, midwives, education providers and all other interested stakeholders.

The ANMC remains the gazetted assessing authority for General Skilled Migration for the Commonwealth Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and will continue this role in addition to its accreditation functions.

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INTERNATIONAL NURSES’ DAY

MUSIC TO HIS EARS EEN Danny Grammel was the proud recipient of Coledale Hospital’s Nursing Excellence Award on IND. The hospital holds the event each year, which recognises the outstanding efforts and achievements of its nurses.

Management provided a delicious lunch for all nurses, and Danny was presented with an MP3 player. He is pictured cutting a celebratory cake to mark the occasion.

IT’S A BOY! What better way to mark International Midwives’ Day than a birth! A beautiful baby boy, Hayden, popped out at 5.34am on 5 May at The Tweed Hospital.

Pictured (left to right) are midwives Mary-Anne Howard Clarke, Jenni Sullivan, Pam Knowles, Hayden’s mother Maria Fenwick and midwives Donna Smith and Alinta Sutton.

Happy International Nurses’ Day

12 May

Happy International Midwives’ Day 5 May

BOOKED UP TEA TIME AT WOLLONGONG Midwives at Wollongong celebrated their special day with an afternoon tea where everyone brought food. Pictured (left to right) are Kerry Willett and Robyn Mitchell.

Midwives at Wagga Wagga celebrated International Midwives’ Day by attending a book launch at Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga Campus).

The book was No Births on Monday by midwife Dr Mavis Gaff-Smith. This is her third title and Mavis is donating the proceedings from the book’s sales to the Australian College of Midwives Scholarship Fund for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Midwives who attended the launch also celebrated 20 years of midwifery education (Distance Education) at CSU Wagga Wagga. Pictured (left to right) are midwives Maureen Allen, Annette Spruhan, Nicole Dunn, Collen Paech, Dr Mavis Gaff-Smith and Pat Douglas.

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 35

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N U R S E S O N L I N E

What’s hot on Nurse Uncut HOT TOPICS Graduating student nurses unprepared Final-year student nurses often feel unprepared to enter the workplace. Universities pile on the theory work, while pracs can involve little more than showering people and making beds. How can experienced RNs help students gain valuable clinical experience?

What advice or tips would you give a graduating nurse? Tell us at Nurse Uncut.

Violence towards nurses Retaining privacy in today’s world is hard. Even though workplaces are not legally allowed to give out personal information about staff – even to fellow workmates – the age of the internet means it’s not hard for patients or staff to track you down. How are we supposed to protect ourselves?

Would it be wrong if nurses remained anonymous at work? Or, we use nicknames instead of our real names? And our name badges have our selected names on them instead of our real names? Have your say at Nurse Uncut.

Malnutrition allegations in aged care The Dieticians Association of Australia (DAA) has claimed that one in two elderly people residing in an aged care facility was malnourished and it is asking the Government to do something about it. When people hear aged care and malnutrition, they automatically think of neglect – staff not feeding residents or giving them small-portioned meals. But there are many reasons why elderly patients are malnourished – and it’s rarely to do with staff neglect. What do you think? Tell us your views at Nurse Uncut.

36 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ... RUDD’S NEW HEALTH-CARE REFORM

‘I suspect there will be no real difference in day-today running of wards etc, except for probably more paperwork and more difficulties trying to get needed resources … there will probably be extra levels of management as well, because that’s exactly what the health system needs – more bureaucrats to answer to!’

‘After 36 years in the hospital system I am at my wits end. And a manager suggests that I could improve my attitude to the workplace (you could imagine my reply). My God, what sort of monster has the Government created? One that has a bureaucrat’s mouth with an insatiable appetite for the health-care dollar. Why don’t we put the word “health” back into where the money is being spent.’

‘After some 30 years in the profession it is crystal clear to me that whenever the medical fraternity are given a leading role in administration and budget nursing becomes a problem rather than an asset ie nurses take up too much of the health dollar. So long as doctors run hospitals these institutions will remain cash cows for the paternalistic elite who (with some heroic exceptions) invest more time and public money protecting their own professional territories than focusing on the health of ordinary Australians.’

‘How about we get the top notch politicians and ministers who throw the money around, and choose where it goes, to work in the public hospitals in rural and remote areas and do everything that nurses do? For instance, bed pans, IV lines, feeds, routine medication rounds, routine observation rounds repetitive paperwork, etc. Let them deal with the abuse and aggression from patients, doctors and managers because of something that really had nothing to do with the frontline workers.’

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NURSING RESEARCH ONLINE

Research hub g The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing continues to provide an excellent vehicle for nurses to publish original research and scholarly papers about all areas of nursing.

Development of a clinician-led research agenda for general practice nurses Elizabeth J. Halcomb, University of Western Sydney; Louise Hickman, University of Notre Dame

This study sought to identify and prioritise Elizabeth Halcomb research issues as perceived by Australian general practice nurses.

In this context, a research priority refers to the most pressing research problems that necessitate exploration to improve clinical practice.

The researchers Louise Hickman conclude that issues identified in this study reflect current patterns of practice nurse workload.

Emphasis needs to be placed on the translation and use of evidence by practice nurses, as well as the ways in which evidence can support and promote development of their role. The study findings highlight the need for research that is responsive to clinical demands. www.ajan.com.au/Vol27/27-3_ Halcomb.pdf

The relevance of psychosocial indicators in community palliative care: A pilot study Associate Professor Mary Oliver, University of South Australia

The objective is to discuss a framework in psychosocial care in community palliative care and the outcomes of Associate Professor a pilot study. This study adds to the existing body Mary Oliver

of knowledge in palliative care especially in psychosocial aspects of community care.

The pilot study shows that by incorporating psychosocial care in community, palliative care improves decision-making in the terminally ill. The implication for practice is that psychosocial aspects of palliative care can indicate patients’ care needs, leading to better satisfaction.

professional issues, the main challenge seemed to relate more to the clinical workforce culture that operated at some hospitals. Nurses reported feelings of disempowerment caused by discriminatory practices, professional isolation and unrealistic expectations by local nurses. www.ajan.com.au/Vol27/27-3_ Deegan.pdf

www.ajan.com.au/Vol27/273_Oliver.pdf

Expert to novice: Experiences of professional adaptation reported by non-English speaking nurses in Australia Dr Joan Deegan, LaTrobe University; Dr Keith Simkin, LaTrobe University

Adaptation to a new area of clinical practice creates a significant challenge for any nurse, Dr Joan Deegan but this is particularly so for migrant nurses of non-English speaking background (NESB).

The aim of the study was to understand the perceptions of overseasqualified nurses from non-English speaking Dr Keith Simkin backgrounds of their educational experiences in a competencybased assessment program (CBAP) in Melbourne with a particular focus on the clinical component.

Strengths of the program revolved around the opportunity for NESB nurses to undertake a formal assessment process in order to achieve registration in Victoria. Limitations related to lack of support in the clinical environment.

It was revealed that although the adaptation process was complicated for individuals by cultural, linguistic and

Reasons for and barriers to influenza vaccination among health-care workers in an Australian Emergency Department Abdi D. Osman, Austin Hospital Emergency Department, Melbourne

The purpose of this study is to examine attitudes and beliefs about the influenza vaccination among health-care workers in an Australian Emergency Department and to assess the vaccine uptake for the 2007 influenza season and intentions for the 2008 season.

Only 56.4% of nurses and 58.7% of all staff including nurses were vaccinated in 2007.

Despite campaigns by the infectious disease unit and an outbreak of influenza A in Australia with confirmed cases by laboratory tests being in the department, misconceptions about the vaccine were common and only 56.4% of nurses and 58.7% of all staff including nurses were vaccinated in 2007 with an expected uptake of 71.4% in 2008. Some employees’ attitude towards the vaccine remained unchanged; therefore combined strategies in campaigns may be needed to increase the vaccine uptake.n www.ajan.com.au/Vol27/273_Osman.pdf THE LAMP JUNE 2010 37

s

Q & A

ASK

JUDITH

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS AT WORK, NSWNA ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY JUDITH KIEJDA HAS THE ANSWERS.

Can I use super to make up lost income?

I am a nurse on the Workers’ Compensation statutory rate. Am I able to use my superannuation income protection scheme to make up my lost income?

If you are still totally unfit for work more than 26 weeks after an injury, you may be placed on the statutory rate, which is usually lower than your Award rate. As income protection products vary, you will have to check with your individual superannuation provider whether your policy covers ‘make-up pay’ for lost income. It may also depend on what other paid entitlements you have available, such as annual leave, long service leave and sick leave.

What do I do about overpayment of wages?

I am a public hospital RN and have recently received a letter from my Area Health Service regarding overpayment of wages. What is the process now?

Under Policy Directive PD2009_015 ‘Recovery of Overpayments for NSW Health Service Employees’ (and clause 27(b) of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives (State) Award) the employee must be given a full explanation of the cause of any overpayment and the details of the calculation of the amount. One-off overpayments will be recovered in the next normal pay, except that where the employee can demonstrate that undue hardship would result, the recovery rate shall be at 10% of the employee’s gross fortnightly base pay. This may be further

38 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

reduced by agreement if the employee can demonstrate that undue hardship would result.

Part-timers and public holidays I am a permanent part-time RN working in a public hospital four days a week: Monday to Thursday.

However, when a public holiday falls on a Monday, my NUM says I must either take a day of annual leave or work the Friday to make up the day.

Does this mean part-timers don’t get public holidays?

The provision under the Public Health System Nurses’ & Midwives’ (State) Award at 29 Part I (v) is: ‘For employees who work less than five days per week, when a public holiday occurs on a day of the week on which an employee regularly works that employee shall be entitled to observe the public holiday without loss of pay – ie the employee’s roster must not be changed to avoid payment of the public holiday.’

So, you are entitled to the Monday public holiday off without loss of pay and the day should not be taken as an annual leave day.

Have we lost annual leave loading?

I have been told that under the new Nurses Award 2010 we are no longer entitled to annual leave loading.

Is this correct?

No, this is not correct. Under the Nurses Award 2010 an employee, other than a shift worker, will be paid annual leave loading of 17.5% of their ordinary pay

on a maximum of 152 hours/four weeks annual leave per annum. Shift workers, in addition to their ordinary pay, will be paid the higher of: an annual leave loading of 17.5% of ordinary pay; or, the weekend and shift penalties that you would have received had you not been on leave during the relevant period.

Am I entitled to back pay?

I am an RN in a public hospital working in a psychiatric unit. I have a postgraduate qualification in psychiatric nursing, which I have held for five years.

My colleagues advised me that I was entitled to an additional qualification allowance and I subsequently applied for and received this allowance.

However, the pay office has advised me I am not entitled to any back pay and they have only paid me from my application date. Is this correct?

No, this is not correct. You are entitled to back pay for the period that you have held your qualification, providing you were working in the relevant field (ie in the psychiatric unit) for the same period. The Continuing Education Allowance (CEA) was introduced as a result of a decision made by the Industrial Relations Commission in November 2004. Depending on the qualification held (eg certificate, diploma, degree etc) the qualification is paid providing it is relevant to the clinical field in which the staff member is working. Holding a post-graduate qualification in psychiatric nursing and continuously working in a psychiatric unit should be recognised as being eligible for payment of back pay.n

s

O B I T U A R I E S

The best nurse and a beloved friend MICHELLE LORRAINE BEETS • 22 February 1953 – 27 April 2010

T

he huge mass of people from all corners of the world and from all states and territories in Australia, who have paid tribute to, shown their respect and honoured and celebrated Michelle Beets’ life is indicative of the positive impact and effect Michelle had on our lives. We are privileged to have known her. Always unpretentious and unassuming, Michelle had no idea that she had impacted and made a difference to so many.

Michelle Lorraine Beets, or ‘Beetsy’ as we fondly referred to her, was born in Kawerau, New Zealand on 22 February 1953. She was the second born of four children to Robbie and Nancy Beets. Marty was the eldest, then Michelle, Yvonne and Robyn. Her beloved mother Nancy died just on two years ago. Michelle was a devoted and loving daughter. She was very close to her dad and often had him come and stay with her and her partner David over the years. He was invited to many functions with her so we got to know him well.

Michelle was the matriarch of our ED and she also protected her staff.

Michelle had an idyllic childhood on Gilbert Is of the Gilbert and Ellis Islands.

This is a tiny pacific Island now known as the nation of Kiribat. Here she enjoyed swimming, diving and horse-riding and a happy lifestyle.

In 1966, at the age of 13, Michelle became a boarder at Auckland Epsom Girls Grammar. Here she met Fiona, who became a lifelong friend. She describes Michelle at this point as a beautiful girl with long sun-bleached hair, big brown eyes, a beautiful infectious smile and a

loyal friend who wore her heart on her sleeve. She was also cheeky and a prankster and made everyone laugh. Fiona recounts an incident at school on a regular Saturday morning Dormitory inspection. Michelle knew the head teacher had her hair styled every Friday so as she bent down low to inspect under the bed, Michelle ‘accidentally’ vacuumed her hair up as all the girls suppressed their giggles.

In 1970, at the age of 17, Michelle and Fiona went to Green Lane Hospital in Auckland and began their nurse training.

She graduated in February 1974 and worked in a Surgical Ward there. She promptly became a well respected and highly regarded Sister.

In 1976 Michelle travelled to London and flatted with a group of five, including Fiona and Michelle’s other good friend, Kathy, who has also remained a lifelong friend.

She was a very considerate flatmate and was very caring and easy to get on with. She did lovely caring things spontaneously like prepare a lovely meal for everyone or place hot water bottles in the beds one hour before everyone was due in on a cold English winter’s night.

In London, she nursed long and hard for five years. She did a stint in Harley

Street in a private clinic and she did agency nursing in all of the major London Hospitals.

In 1983 Michelle went to the Colorado ski fields and worked there as a professional photographer with her friend Kerry for two seasons. She returned to New Zealand for a period of time before working at Adelaide Hospital for a short time.

In August 1985 Michelle began working in the Emergency Department at RNSH. She fitted in straight away and was a friendly and happy woman held in high regard due to her excellent nursing skills and high standard of care that was immediately evident. In 1988, she gained Clinical Nurse Specialist status in Emergency as soon as it was introduced and she was in her element as a mentor and clinical teacher to other staff.

By this time, David Grant was working in Emergency and he was very impressed with Michelle but she paid him no attention, except on a professional level.

He continued to pursue her and we all had a few laughs at his expense as she tried to ignore him. In 1991, he finally charmed his way into her heart and became her loving partner from here onwards.

Michelle was very happy, content and in love with David ever since then.

In 1999, Michelle became the Nurse Manager of Emergency at RNSH and remained in this position ever since. She may have been small/average in stature but she leaves behind extremely big shoes to be filled! Michelle’s core values and integrity never veered from what was best for the patient. She demanded all decisions, policies, procedures and models of care were based around best patient outcomes.

Michelle was the matriarch of our ED and she also protected her staff. She had an ‘open door policy’ and she was always available to any one of us, no matter how big or small the problem was. With a staff of 90 FTE nurses, 13 ‘orderlies’ Continued on page 40 THE LAMP JUNE 2010 39

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O B I T U A R I E S

The best nurse and a beloved friend From page 39 (until recent restructure), and 15 clerical staff, this meant a lot of extra work and interruption to her but she never closed her office door to her staff in need.

She was resilient, determined, tenacious, loyal, compassionate, kind, protective, funny, cheeky, intelligent, hard-working, dedicated, unpretentious and she still wore her heart on her sleeve!

Michelle had a marvellous memory and remembered everyone’s likes and dislikes; availability; babysitting days; courses attended or to be attended by each individual; all staff children’s names

etc. She could even remember who worked on Christmas Day in 2002, for instance, and why.

She was resilient, determined, tenacious, loyal, compassionate, kind, protective, funny, cheeky, intelligent, hard-working, dedicated, unpretentious and she still wore her heart on her sleeve!

Many ex-colleagues who have moved on into expert positions all over the country and world have repeatedly stated to me: ‘She was the best nurse I have ever worked with’, ‘She taught me everything I know’, or ‘I try to measure up to Beetsy’s standard even now!’

While she had the stress of working in a large public teaching hospital ED, Michelle enjoyed a quiet and reserved private life with David. She got a lot of pleasure from tending to her garden, cooking a lovely meal and having some friends over to dinner, and keeping a lovely home.

Michelle’s good looks belied her age.

She really did look 20 years younger and

she kept fit with her brisk walking. She had a distinctive quick walk and when you heard her shoes clicking up the corridor at work, everyone scattered, trying to have everything up to her high standard.

To many of us, Michelle was not only our Manager, she was also our friend and confidante along life’s journey. She experienced great joy with engagements, marriages, and children born, and she also experienced our sorrow with our personal crises and divorces, ill health and deaths. She was shattered when our friend and colleague Rhonda Moon was tragically killed in a car accident last year.

We all mourn the loss of Michelle. At work her extended family will continue her legacy by maintaining the excellence in patient care that she demanded. She would be very proud of each and every one of us for continuing to work and support one another in this extremely sad and difficult time.n

By Mary Separovich

Sydney Nursing School at the University of Sydney is embracing the challenges of health care now and for the future.

Formerly known as the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sydney Nursing School takes its new name into a new era.

With new and revised programs and a strengthened research framework, we are preparing health care professionals for leadership in clinical practice and research.

We offer students a full suite of nursing programs, from our pre-registration degrees through to PhD.

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE SYDNEY NURSING SCHOOL

Registered nurses will gain advanced learning through our specialty areas of: – clinical nursing – cancer and haematology nursing – clinical trials practice – emergency nursing – intensive care nursing – mental health nursing – nurse practitioner (subject to NMB approval) Join us to help shape the future of health care. For more information head to: sydney.edu.au/nursing

40 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

H34623 CRICOS 00026A

Huge heart that lifted everyone RHONDA MOON • 6 December 1955 – 24 April 2009

R

honda was born in Rosebery, the eldest of three children to Lillian and Bob Moon. She trained as an Enrolled Nurse at Rachael Foster Hospital in 1975 and went on to work in the Emergency Department at Eastern Suburbs Hospital, then Sydney Hospital, for several years. In 1982 Rhonda came to Royal North Shore Hospital to work in the Emergency Department and she continued to work there until her sudden and untimely death on 24 April last year.

Rhonda was struck by a car at Berowra as she was about to get into her car. She had effective CPR at the scene where kind locals responded until dedicated ambulance officers and paramedics took over. She was retrieved by the highly skilled Helicopter Retrieval Team and brought to RNSH, to the very same Emergency Department she had loved and worked in for 27 years.

Her colleagues and friends there worked tirelessly and professionally in very difficult circumstances, until she was eventually transferred to the ICU, where outstanding care continued. Rhonda never regained consciousness and died there later that night surrounded by her husband John, her parents and siblings and some of her friends beside her.

We were all privileged to have known Rhonda. She was an incredible human being and a wonderful nurse. She loved life and had a huge heart that was

full of compassion for her patients, her colleagues, her family and her friends.

Once you met Rhonda, you never forgot her! She was a unique individual that you were lucky to meet once in a lifetime. She was a strikingly beautiful, intelligent woman with an amazing smile and glorious head of hair that saw many colours. Rhonda was immaculately groomed and never came to work without her make-up perfectly applied. She was full of colour and a very creative and talented florist who arranged wedding bouquets for the whole bridal party for many friends she made through work over the years.

She had a wicked sense of humour and boundless energy and was extremely hard-working and selfless. She was a great organiser, both at work and socially. She kept the RNSH ED staff entwined and cohesive and brought us together for countless farewells, Christmas parties, balls, weddings, engagements, baby arrivals and, yes, deaths. Years ago, her sausage sizzles and BBQs at work were known all over the hospital by both patients and staff alike. The multicultural dinners on a Sunday evening were incredible and it was Rhonda’s drive and organisation that made you happy to work on a Sunday evening.

Her generosity, empathy and loyalty were impressive. She made lifelong friends and travelled the world on some incredible holidays and would always look up friends she had made through work all over the

globe. She treated everyone equally and looked out for new staff with a smile and some helpful advice. Initially some found her directness surprising but all were endeared to her within a very short time and she was the first person they would seek with any queries or problems.

Rhonda was the glue that kept everyone connected; even after they had left she would bring everyone together.

The RNSH kindly availed the Lincoln Hynes Memorial Chapel for a beautiful service in honour of Rhonda’s life and nursing contribution to the hospital for 27 years. A memorial plaque has been placed in honour of Rhonda Moon in the Emergency Department at RNSH by her friends and colleagues.

It is now almost a year since Rhonda died and she is deeply missed by her family, friends and work mates.n

By Mary Separovich, on behalf of Rhonda’s friends and work colleagues

17th Enrolled Nurse State Conference

TWENTY 10 and BEYOND Enrolled Nurse Professional Association NSW 17th NSW Enrolled Nurse Conference DATE

16th and 17th September 2010

VENUE

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Sessions/Speakers include : • Organ Tissue Transplantation • The transition from EN to Nurse Practitioner • Infection Control & Immunization Updates • EN’s in Perioperative Nursing

• • •

To register or for further information please contact: Rebecca Roseby PO Box 775 KINGSWOOD 2747 Phone: 1300 554 249 E-mail: nroseby@bigpond.net.au Assessment & Retrieval of a Paediatric Patient Cardiac Rehabilitation EN Education – current information THE LAMP JUNE 2010 41

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Mother and Child

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g Women’s relationships with their children are movingly portrayed in Mother and Child.

Review by Sharon Ketelaar, RN

GIVEAWAYS FOR NSWNA MEMBERS The Lamp has 100 double passes to preview screenings of Mother and Child.

To enter, email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au with your film preference, name, membership number, address and contact number. First entries win!

M

other and Child is a sensitive exploration of the powerful connection between a mother and her child.

The story follows the parallel lives of three women in Los Angeles, all strangers to each other, but whose paths eventually intersect and create colossal change. It is a thought-provoking film that enriches the viewer thanks to incredible performances from fearlessly age-lined female leads and a silky smooth script by Rodrigo Garcia, who is also the director.

The central character is Karen (Annette Bening), a single 50-year-old woman still living in her childhood home. Her daily work as a rehab nurse is mirrored at home where Karen also cares for her elderly ailing mother, Nora. From the outset we see Karen is pining for the daughter she gave birth to at 14 and is haunted still by the decision forced upon her to give up the baby for adoption.

Leading her own life in the same city is the daughter Karen has never met, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), a fiercely independent and successful lawyer with lofty career goals.

44 THE LAMP JUNE 2010

Estranged from her adopted family and essentially a loner, she uses sex callously to wield power and substitute for the emotional intimacy missing in her personal life.

Lucy (Kerry Washington) is a woman desperate to become a mother, and after four years of trying to conceive, is now applying to adopt a child with her husband.

The adoption process shines a spotlight on their marriage and illuminates their individual needs and differing beliefs.

Mother and Child delves into a myriad of issues concerning women – our relationships as daughters, mothers, partners and with ourselves; trust in our doctor; the miracle of birth, our caregiver role; love; loyalty and forgiveness.

Samuel L. Jackson and Jimmy Smits are the stand-outs among several male characters in this female-driven story.

Through dealing with the men in their lives, Karen, Elizabeth and Lucy reveal their states of minds and chronicle some personal growth. Despite never having met, Karen and Elizabeth show similarities in their treatment of men, at emotional arm’s length, both carrying wounds from their loss-in-common decades before.

The mother and daughter relationship theme is continued with the minor characters – in the personal journey of a young girl, Ray, interviewing adoptive parents for her unborn child, and a blind teenage girl stifled by her concerned mother and befriended by Elizabeth. Sofia, a carer/ housekeeper with a tiny daughter, looks after Nora when Karen goes to work and is instrumental in helping Karen forgive her mother and ease her bitterness for the world. Lucy, Ray and Karen all have mothers who are influential in the story.

This film highlights the perpetual bond between mother and child. It reminds us of the consequences of choices we make and chances we ignore along the way, yet beyond our control are the actions of others that may direct our destiny.

Mother and Child is a moving story you won’t forget (and remember the tissues.)n Mother and Child opens on 17 June.

We are seeking closet film buffs to share with other nurses their views on the movies they love and hate. It’s a chance to see previews of next month’s new releases. Please contact us with expressions of interest to be part of our movie review team. Call Editorial Enquiries now on 02 8595 1258 or email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au

C O M P E T I T I O N

The Secret in their Eyes g A passionate thriller

T

he story centres on a retired Argentinean criminal court investigator – Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin) and his battle with the demons of his past. Haunted by an unjust ending to one of his investigations 25 years ago, as a cathartic exercise he begins penning a novel about the brutal rape and murder of a young woman. Obsessed and unable to move on from the investigation, it cripples him socially. He is unable to approach the beautiful judge he works with and secretly loves.

Slowly, the gruesome and poignant story unfolds through a series of flashbacks. It is compelling viewing. We have seen many times on screen the victims of rape and murder. This film really captures the emotion of such a setting, where others have failed. The audience can feel the shock and pain the characters are enduring.

The cinematography is interesting, used cleverly to capture the emotional atmosphere of certain scenes. The performances of the actors are superb – particularly that of Ricardo Darin and Pablo Rago, who plays the victim’s husband.

The screenplay is complicated. I did have some trouble accepting the plausibility of some of the plot points; then again I am unaware of the mechanisations of the Argentinean criminal justice system. And I suppose we must allow the writer/director some poetic licence.

I would highly recommend this film to the die-hard arthouse cinema goers, who do not mind reading the subtitles.

The film deserves the Oscar it won for best foreign film. It is incredibly moving, and just when you think it’s over and all resolved – it isn’t. Be prepared for a unique ending – I wasn’t.n The Secret in their Eyes opened on 27 May. Review by Meg Collins, RN, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

WIN A DVD PACKAGE After announcing a Budget allocation of $130 million for initiatives to improve the skills of aged care nurses, PM Kevin Rudd visited happy staff and residents George Forbes House, Queanbeyan.

Thanks to Paramount Home Entertainment, the NSWNA is offering 10 lucky members the chance to win the ultimate DVD library to keep you entertained during those cold, winter nights when you fancy staying indoors curled up on the sofa in front of the fire.

We’ve got 10 packs to give away that include the following films: c Sliding Doors c Shirley Valentine c How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days c Tomb Raider c Just Like Heaven c Sahara c Breakfast at Tiffany’s c The Incredible Hulk c First Wives Club Prizes are valued at $135 per pack.

To enter this month’s competition, simply write your name, address and membership number on the back of an envelope and send it to: Paramount DVD pack competition PO Box 40, Camperdown, NSW 1450.

Competition closes 30 June 2010.

Please note: only one entry per member will be accepted.

TM, ® & Copyright © 2010

by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

The Incredible Hulk, the Movie © 2010 MVL Film Finance LLC. Marvel, The Incredible Hulk, all character names and their distinctive likenesses: TM & © 2010 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Super Hero is a co-owned registered trademark.

THE LAMP JUNE 2010 45

s

N O T I C E S

BRANCHES NO LONGER EXISTING

WARNING!

c

Australian Red Cross Blood Service – Hunter Area c Australian Red Cross Blood Service – Parramatta c Batlow District Hospital c Bellorana Nursing Home c Bingara District Hospital c Bourke Street Health Service c Bundaleer Nursing Home c Byron-Ballina Community Nurses* c C A Brown Anglican Village c Clarence Valley Community Nurses c Coolah District Hospital c Courtlands Retirement Village c Gladesville/Macquarie Hospital c Greenhills Churches of Christ Nursing Home c Hawkesbury District Health Service c Langton Centre c Macquarie Care Centre c Macquarie Lodge Nursing Home c Metropolitan Nurse Managers c Nambucca Valley Care c Nareen Gardens Nursing Home c Northern Beaches Mental Health Nurses c Regis Hastings Manor c Richmond Valley Community Nurses c Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney c Skin and Cancer Foundation c Tamworth Mental Health Nurses c Warrigal Care Goulburn c Whiddon Group (The) Grafton c Wontama Nursing Home (* Request for new branch formation. Contact Sukhwinder Kaur at the NSWNA for details).

30 workplaces without local Branch representation

T

he 30 NSWNA workplace Branches listed here no longer operate because they did not hold or complete their 2010 elections. Under the Rules of the Association, members of these former Branches may apply to the Council of the Association to belong to another Branch.

However, not having a Branch at your workplace limits your local representation and power.

A Branch gives you a voice at work.

It gives you authority to meet, discuss and negotiate with your management under the umbrella of, and with the full backing of, the NSW Nurses’ Association.

A Branch is the source of collective power for large issues such as inadequate staffing, hospital closures, occupational health and safety issues.

Branches also take up local individual issues for members and are a source of advice and support close at hand.

Most importantly, Branches give every individual member a chance to influence state action at the bimonthly Committee of Delegates, and set the policy of the Association at the Association’s Annual Conference.

Don’t go without – you may not

have a problem today but there’s always tomorrow and you need to be organised.

Management is well organised with human resources departments, employer associations, and in the public sector, NSW Health, ready to step in. Not to mention the bevy of solicitors they can drum up at moment’s notice.

THE BOTTOM LINE You have three choices: 1. Talk to nurses at the workplace and get support for the Branch to be reformed. Then contact the NSWNA for help with the process; or 2. Write to the Council of the Association and request a transfer to another Branch. This is possible under the rules but obviously does not give you as much influence if other workplaces are involved; or 3. Do nothing and hope you never need the support of your colleagues in taking a united stand. Remember, it’s always easier to pick off individuals than deal with a determined group of nurses and midwives!

The choice is yours but think carefully, is there really a choice?

Contact your NSWNA organiser to re-form your Branch – 8595 1234 (metro) and 1300 367 962 (non-metro).n

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Craving for Ecstasy and Natural Highs: A Positive Approach to Mood Alteration

Book me A Reader in Promoting Public Health: Challenge and Controversy (2nd ed.)

Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families (2nd ed.)

By Francis Mark Mondimore, MD, Footprint Books, RRP *$73.00: ISBN 0801883148 Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families offers detailed help for sufferers of this disease as well as information for their families and friends. Illustrative case studies help the reader to see how some of the most common medications to treat this disorder came about and how they work for some people and not for others.

Edited by Jenny Douglas, Sarah Earle, Stephen Handsley, Linda Jones, Cathy E. Lloyd and Sue Spurr, Sage Publications, RRP *$32.00: ISBN 9781849201049 A Reader in Promoting Public Health: Challenge and Controversy brings together a selection of readings that explore and challenge current thinking in the field of multidisciplinary public health. This second edition includes new material on health inequalities, health protection, social marketing and health promotion, as well as highlighting the practical requirements of public health work through ‘grassroots’ accounts of practice.

Dosage Calculations Made Incredibly Easy

By William N. Scott and Deirdre McGrath, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, RRP *$33.00: ISBN 9781901831030 This is a practical book that provides a clear guide to calculating drug dosages, and covers basic maths, measurement systems and practical calculations. Additional chapters cover paediatric, obstetric and critical care dosage calculations. It is also an excellent text for all degree and diploma nursing students who are mastering numeracy skills to ensure safe practice, and qualified nurses doing post-registration numeracy courses.

Professional Nursing: Concepts and Challenges (6th ed.)

By Kay Kittrell Chitty and Beth Perry Black, W B Saunders Company, (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP *$79.00: ISBN 9781437707199 Professional Nursing: Concepts and Challenges introduces the issues and trends likely to be encountered in any nursing practice setting. Each stand-alone chapter introduces and explores a specific topic and gives intuitive discussions of issues such as the health-care delivery system, professionalisation in nursing, standards and scope of practice, socialisation and nursing theories surrounding the profession, and political action facing nurses.

Fundamental Skills for Surgery (2nd ed.)

By Richard Perry, McGraw-Hill Australia, RRP *$74.00: ISBN 9780074713358

WHERE TO GET THIS MONTH’S NEW RELEASES These books are all available on order through the publisher or your local bookshop.

Members of the NSWNA can borrow any of these books and more from our Records and Information Centre.

For borrowing information, contact Jeannette Bromfield, 8595 2175, jbromfield@ nswnurses.asn.au or Cathy Matias, 8595 2121, cmatias@nswnurses.asn.au

PUBLISHERS’ WEBSITES c c c c

Elsevier Australia: http://shop.elsevier.com.au Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: www.lww.com Footprint Books: www.footprint.com.au Sage Publications: www.uk.sagepub.com

Disclaimer: Some of the items featured in Book Me are based on information received and have not been independently reviewed.

Reviews by NSWNA librarian, Jeannette Bromfield.

By Harvey B. Milkman and Stanley G. Sunderwirth, Sage Publications (available through Footprint Books), RRP *$65.00: ISBN 9781412956734 Craving for Ecstasy and Natural Highs is about addictive behaviour and pleasure seeking and the underlying brain chemistry that serves as a common denominator for a variety of addictive behaviours and compulsions, including sex, eating, television watching, internet use, and, of course, drug use.

The book incorporates new research on brain chemistry and neurotransmitters and their effect on prolonged pleasure and life satisfaction and also provides effective treatment approaches emphasising alternative methods of achieving natural highs (for example, through artistic expression and sports).

In this 2nd edition of Fundamental Skills for Surgery the uses of different surgical instruments as well as step-by-step methods of how to apply them are explained. This is an ideal text for those new to basic surgery or any practitioner wishing to clarify correct techniques and which materials and tools are appropriate for each surgical situation.

Tabbner’s Nursing Care: Theory and Practice (5th ed.)

By Rita Funnell, Gabrielle Koutoukidis and Karen Lawrence, Elsevier Australia, RRP $119.95: ISBN 9780729538572 Tabbner’s Nursing Care: Theory and Practice has been written, reviewed and edited by people who educate the Enrolled Nurse. This 5th edition continues to provide Enrolled Nurse students with the most comprehensive resource available in contemporary nursing practice, and reflects the changes and challenges as well as the additions and modifications that are occurring in nursing curricula.n *Price in Australian dollars at time of printing THE LAMP JUNE 2010 47

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DIARY DATES Conferences, seminars, meetings SYDNEY, HUNTER & ILLAWARRA Nurses Christian Fellowship Workshop ‘Spiritual Aspects of Dementia Care’ 15 June, 9am, Baptist Community Services, Marsfield.

Contact: Diana, 9476 4440.

A.C.A.T. Nurses Meeting 15 June, 1-3pm,Bankstown Hospital, 2A/2B conference room, level 2.

Contact: Wendy Oliver, 9722 7236 or wendyoliver@sswahs.nsw.gov.au .

Sydney Alliance Reflection Group ‘The history of coalitions & civil society in Australia’. Guest speaker: Jack Mundy.

16 June, 6-7.30pm, CFMEU Trade Union Centre, Lidcombe.

Contact: Liliana, 8007 6055 or lcapacchione@sydneyalliance.org.au Sydney West Wound Interest Group 29 June, 5-6pm, Education Centre, Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care, Rooty Hill Contact: Jill Sparks, 8887 4484, 0414 192 691 Annual CNS Midwifery Conference – ‘Mountains to the Sea’ 23 July, Wollongong Hospital.

Contact: Jo Goldstein or Snez Avramoska, 4253 4275 Orthopaedic Conference ‘Bones on the beach’ 31 July, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong.

Contact: Carol Jackson or carol. jackson@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au Change Champions Seminar – Climate Change, Healthcare & Carbon Footprints 5-6 August, Amora Jamison Hotel, Sydney.

Contact: Diane Beyrouthi, 9692 0533, info@changechampions.com.au Web: www.changechampions.com.au

Diary Dates Diary Dates is a free service for members. Please send diary date details, in the same format used here – event, date, venue, contact details, via email, fax and the web before the 5th of the month prior, for example: 5th of May for June Lamp.

Send information to: Editorial Enquiries Email: lamp@nswnurses.asn.au Fax: 9550 3667 PO Box 40, Camperdown NSW 1450 Please double-check all information sent is correct. The Lamp cannot guarantee that the issue will always be mailed in time for the listed event.

Balmain Hospital 125 years of service to the community Celebrations for past and present staff.

Open day: 10 August from 10.30am.

Anniversary dinner: 13 August, 7pm, Le Montage, 38 Frazer Street, Lilyfield.

Contact: 9395 2003 Renal Palliative Care Symposium 13 August, St George Hospital, Sydney.

Contact: Elizabeth Josland, 9113 2854 or Elizabeth.josland@sesiahs.health. nsw.gov.au 20th Annual Spinal Injury Conference 26-27 August, College of Nursing, Burwood Contact: www.sina.org.au Day Surgery Nurses Association of NSW Conf. – ‘Education into Practice’ 11 September, Sydney Masonic Centre Earlybird registration closes 11 July Contact: Tricia Goh, 9553 9905 or pgoh@aestheticdaysurgery.com.au, www.adsna.info The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Paediatric Perioperative Seminar 11 Sept, 8am-5pm, The Sebel Hotel, Parramatta. Contact: Claudia Watson, 9845 2112 or claudiw2@chw.edu.au Stockton Centre (previously Stockton Hospital) Centenary Celebrations 13-19 Sept (official opening on 15 Sept), Stockton Centre, Fullerton St, Stockton.

Contact: John Naylor, 4928 0891 or john. naylor@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

RURAL Continence Foundation of Australia in NSW Continence Education Days 9-10 June, 8am-4.30pm, Goulburn Soldiers Club. Contact: Marilyn Woodcock, 8741 5699, cfansw@optusnet.com.au Anaesthetic & Post Anaesthetic Care Conference – ‘The Twighlight Zone’ 31 July, 8am-5pm, The Crowne Plaza, Terrigal. Contact: Nicole Field, 4389 9400 or

Due to high demands on the page, some dates too close to publication or too far in the future may be cut.

Only Diary Dates with an advised date and contact person will be published.

Special Interest Groups Special Interest Groups is now part of Diary Dates. If you are a special interest group, you now must send information about your event as above.

Diary Dates are also on the web – www.nswnurses.asn.au/events

Send us your snaps If you’re having a reunion, send us some photos and any information from the night, and we’ll try to publish them.

fieldn@ramsayhealth.com.au or Elizabeth Hunt, 4389 9490.

Australian Women’s Health Nurses Assoc. Professional Update 2010 – ‘Participate, Progress & Praise’ 5-6 August, Orange.

Contact: Anne Smart, 6392 8600 or Anne.Smart@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au 10th Rural Critical Care Conference – ‘Delivering Safe Rural Critical Care’ 20-21 August, Orange Ex-Services Club.

Contact: www.ruralcriticalcare.asn.au

17 June, Panthers Club, Newcastle.

Education Course: ‘Practical Leadership Skills for Nursing & Midwifery Unit Managers’ 23 June, NSWNA Office, Camperdown.

Education Course: ‘Leadership skills for the Aged Care Team – all Aged Care Nurses’ 8 July, NSWNA Office, Camperdown.

NSWNA Education Courses contact: Carolyn Kulling, 8295 1234/1300 367 962, www.nswnurses.asn.au/topics/2761.html

17th Enrolled Nurse State Conference ‘TWENTY 10 and BEYOND’ 16-17 September, Cessnock Supporters Club, Cessnock. Cost: members $220, non-members $260.

Contact: Roz Norman, 1300 554 249, nroseby@bigpond.net.au

Sacred Heart Hospital, Moreland, VIC, Reunion, Past Nurses 27 June, Box Hill North, VIC. Contact: Shirley, 0419 489 783 or tallangkid@hotmail.com

Community Nurse Audiometrists Association Inc, 28th Annual Conf.

– ‘Hearing Through the Years’ 20-22 October, West Diggers Tamworth.

Contact: Kathy Challinor, 0428 667 502, www.cnaa.org.au

Sydney Hospital, 1975 PTS 2nd Group June.

Contact: Jennifer Clarke, 0414 511 655 or jenclarke58@bigpond.com or Carol Campbell née Feather, 0418 433 152 or lovelife@tpg.com.au

INTERSTATE AND OVERSEAS

30 Year Reunion – General Nursing Training Group, RPAH July 1980 10 July, Summer Hill Contact: Tracey Goddard, 9519 6312, 0425 261 633 or gotracey.g@gmail.com

27th International Congress of Applied Psychology 11-16 July, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Contact: Congress Office: (03) 9417 0888 www.icap2010.com Cancer Nurses Society of Australia, 13th Winter Congress ‘Leadership, Diversity and Innovation: The Global Picture’.

29-31 July, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Perth.

Contact: Angela Delnevo at CNSA, (02) 9265 0700, cnsa2010@airnex.com.au Drug & Alcohol Nurses of Australasia Conf. & workshops 2010 14-16 July, Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise, QLD. Contact: Kim Thorne, (07) 3831 3788, www.danaconference.com.au 3rd Passionate about Practice 2010 Conference, Queensland Health 1-3 August, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Contact: www.iamevents.com.au/qh/ passionateaboutpractice/

NSWNA Events Education Course: ‘Legal and Professional Issues for Nurses and Midwives 25 June, Twin towns Clubs & Resort, Tweed Heads/ 2 July, SS & A Club Albury/ 12 July, Tradies, Gymea, Sydney.

Education Course: ‘Appropriate Workplace Behaviour – all nurses and midwives’

Reunions

Stockton Centre (previously Stockton Hospital) Staff and Client Reunion 16 September, Stockton Centre, Fullerton St. Stockton.

Contact: John Naylor, 4928 0891, or john.naylor@dadhc.nsw.gov.au Sydney Hosp. Graduate Nurses’ Assoc.

Luncheon at State Parliament House and visit to Lucy Osburn / Nightingale Museum 6 October, luncheon starts at 12 midday.

Contact: Jeanette Fox, 4751 4829 Bathurst District Hospital PTS 1980 Seeking interest.

Contact: Marie Cusick by email at pca09713@bigpond.net.au St Vincent’s Melbourne PTS May ’60 September, Melbourne Contact: Carol Launders (Lott), 0405 158 036 or carol.launders@bigpond.com Armidale & New England Hospital, 30 Year Reunion – Light Green Group Seeking interest.

Contact: Brian, 6366 3242 or open1@ iprimus.com.au

Other notices McKesson Branch upcoming branch meetings 28 June, 23 August, 25 October.

Contact: Danielle Verhoeven, mcknswnabranch@gmail.com THE LAMP JUNE 2010 49

% (EALTH #OURSES (EALTH )NFORMATICS Applications can be lodged on line at

$EPARTMENT OF 2URAL (EALTH

www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/recruitment

These e-health courses are appropriate for both health professionals involved in adopting information management tools into their daily work flow and for those interested in moving into the emerging field of health informatics.

Application Information Packages are available at this web address or by contacting the application kit line on (02) 4926 7626.

H5E Graduate Certificate in E-Health (Health Informatics)

Clinical Nurse Consultant

This is a part-time course comprising three compulsory units and one elective. All units are one semester in length.

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, New Lambton, Newcastle, NSW Australia Perm Full Time Position No: 67443 To provide expert clinical practice and consultancy in a complex area of nursing speciality across a mixed clinical environment within, and external to, mental health services as part of a clinical leadership team with a signiďŹ cant involvement in research, education development and delivery, clinical supervision and service planning and improvement.

Enquiries: Maxine Whalen, (02) 4985 5822, maxine.whalen@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au Closing Date: 25 June 2010.

Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply. Salary and conditions in accordance with relevant award.

Hunter New England Health promotes the values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Ethics, Excellence, Caring, Courage & Commitment and is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AfďŹ rmative Action employer.

H6E Graduate Diploma of E-Health (Health Informatics) This part-time course builds on the certificate course, and consists of an additional two compulsory units and two extra electives. All units are one semester in length.

Courses are external, self-paced learning packages using electronic and/or print-based materials. They can be completed with a minimum of disruption to home and work life as there is no compulsory residential component.

Fees: Commonwealth Supported Applications for 2010 are still open.

4,

For more information, contact: University of Tasmania Department of Rural Health Phone: (03) 6324 4000 E-mail: Sue.Whetton@utas.edu.au www.ruralhealth.utas.edu.au/informatics/1006lamp.php

NSW Health Service: employer of choice

#SJEHJOH $PVSTF GPS /VSTFT TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute (NSI) in partnership with the Australian Catholic University (ACU) has developed a Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses.

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