The Lamp June 2011

the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

volume 68 no.5 June 2011

Shellharbour Private

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About The Lamp

c o n t e n t s

Cover story

Shellharbour Private Hospital wins pay rise p14 Cover Linda Knox, EN, and Nadine Quennell, RN. Photography by Sharon Hickey

News in brief

Professional issues

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26 Techno nursing

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Michigan signs anti-ergonomics bill Mental health big budget winner Have your say ...

Working Australia Census Nurses urged to renew registration ANF wins award for membership growth BOAT training Generator failure causes havoc at Shellharbour ACS survey highlights pay and workloads issues Rally for equal pay Diabetes education program for nurses Midwives to play key role in improving oral health in pregnant women

NSWNA Nurses’ Short Film Festival 16 Nurses shine at Film Festival

Aged care 20 New staffing clause in aged care standards 21 The first Aged Care Delegates Forum held at NSWNA

Industrial issues 23 First Agreement for Family Planning 28 How to read your payslip

Agenda

International Nurses’ Day 30 Happy International Nurses’

and Midwives’ Day

Fighting Fit Nurse 35 A good sport

NSWNA matters 36 NSWNA Branch News

Obituary 38 Bob Fenwick

Regular columns 5 Editorial by Brett Holmes 6 Your Letters to The Lamp 33 Ask Judith 41 Nurse Uncut 42 Nursing Research Online 46 Books 45 At the movies 49 Our nursing crossword 50 Diary dates

Competition 21 Win tickets to Hairspray

Special offers 45 Win 10 double passes to Oranges and Sunshine.

24 Health to benefit from National

Broadband Network

16

25

28

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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 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au W www.nswnurses.asn.au Hunter Office 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle Ease NSW 2300 Illawarra Office L1, 63 Market Street Wollongong NSW 2500 NSWNA communications manager Noel Hester T 8595 2153 NSWNA communications assistant Janaki Chellam-Rajendra T 8595 1258 For all Lamp editorial enquiries, letters and diary dates: Editorial Enquiries T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnurses.asn.au M 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 The lamp produced by Sirius Communications T 9560 1223 W www.siriuscommunications.com.au Press Releases Send your press releases to: F 9662 1414 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 9662 1414 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.

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.

Not only will you be building your union by signing up a new member, you and a friend could win this fabulous holiday on Lord Howe Island. The more members you sign up, the more chances you have to win!

The prize* includes a seven-nights’ stay with meals at Pinetrees Lodge, return flights for two on Qantaslink from Sydney, airport transfers on Lord Howe Island, and some activities.

4 THE LAMP june 2011 *

Conditions apply.

Experience the natural beauty and tranquility of world-heritage-listed Lord Howe Island. Enjoy great food, good accommodation and outstanding hospitality at the historic Pinetrees Lodge.

Pinetrees Lodge is situated on one of the prime aspects of Lord Howe Island as it has unsurpassed access to the lagoon.

Cycling, reading, birdwatching, scuba diving, surfing, swimming and bush climbing – it’s up to you! And if you believe your cardiac health is up to it you can always attempt the challenging climb up Mt Gower. We have been told that this climb is worth every strenuous step as the views from the top are incredible.

So, if you are up for this sort of holiday where you will enjoy uncomplicated days, crystal clear waters and uncrowded and unspoilt beaches, make sure you ask the nurses and midwives you work with if they are members of the NSWNA!

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 DRA

WN 30 JUNE 2011

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BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY

O’Farrell wipes out IRC’s powers on wages g After only 50 days in office, the new Liberal Government in NSW has already moved to make it more difficult to get pay rises in the public sector and has started to significantly wind back the State’s OHS laws.

The NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced that his government will retain the previous government’s 2.5% wages policy but will enforce it by regulation. This means Parliament will set the policy by regulation and the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) will be tightly constrained by the policy.

Under the last government, NSW Health was required to propose offsets to be implemented after the wage increase was granted to fund any increase over 2.5%. Now, offsets will have to be implemented before nurses can get a wage increase over 2.5%. Nurses will have to put their faith in management to find the agreed employee-related cost savings and deliver them to Treasury before you can contemplate getting a pay rise over 2.5%.

Effectively, the regulation circumvents the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The Commission was never consulted about the loss of these powers.

The real impact of this change will mean that the NSW IRC will lose its arbitration powers in relation to wage and condition setting for all cases before the Commission and all future cases.

If the Government’s legislation and regulations are passed by the NSW upper house it will have a direct impact on NSWNA members in Ageing, Disability and Home Care in the coming award negotiations and the rest of the Public Health System after 2013.

This agenda has a long history NSWNA members should cast back their minds to 2007 when we predicted before that year’s

The real impact of this change will mean that the NSW IRC will lose its arbitration powers in relation to wage and condition setting.

State election the Liberal Party, if elected, would introduce WorkChoices or alternatively they would neuter the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

Four years on they have gone for option 2.

Everything we did in 2007 and since to protect our members’ interests has been justified.

During that campaign we produced a report, Industrial Relations and the NSW Nurse Shortage, which analysed nurses’ pay rates over the previous 20 years. It showed that access to the independent umpire of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission was absolutely critical to improving nurses’ pay.

‘The Commission had assessed nurses’ pay rates on a number of occasions since 1986 and determined that, in addition to the increases negotiated with the Health Department, significant pay increases were needed to compensate nurses for the increased value of their work: in 1986 increases ranging from 10% to 28%; 1988-1990 increases for Registered Nurses of between 3% and 13%; and in 20032004 increases of 9%,’ the report said.

The NSW IRC should retain its rights and responsibilities as the independent umpire to arbitrate outcomes. The O’Farrell Government’s proposed laws would reduce it to a rubber stamp on government wage policy.

OHS drastically watered down The Government has also moved quickly to weaken the State’s OHS laws. A new OHS bill removes the right for unions to take prosecutions. Unions will have no right to request WorkCover to bring a prosecution for any breaches that take place between now and 30 June 2012 – nearly a whole year.

This OHS bill waters down the duties of employers. The former ‘absolute duty of care’ required under NSW OHS laws will be qualified to ‘as far as is reasonably practicable’. This change effectively removes the ‘reverse onus of proof’ that ensured that an employer who was being prosecuted had to show why it had not been negligent or failed to comply with the legislation.

It will make it much harder for WorkCover to succeed with prosecutions.

The passing of the OHS bill had, as The Lamp went to print, been held up in the upper house. The only possibility that could stop the bills becoming law lies with the cross-benchers: the Shooters and Fishers Party and Fred Nile and the Christian Democrats. n THE LAMP june 2011 5

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letter of the month Carolyn Guichard Amanda Short

Is IT challenge beyond NSW Health?

On Tuesday, 19 April, EMR was ‘down’ state-wide for the entire day. The staff on the floor could not access any notes from OT or ED that day, and this caused problems with new admissions coming to our floor as many notes were not converted to paper. We received verbal instructions about follow-up patient care via registrars (and hoped the information we received was accurate). The wards remain in a paper world at this stage.

State-wide outages do occur from time to time in various government departments. And, although not a weekly event, it is more common than most of us think. It is ‘food for thought’ as NSW Health works towards implementing electronic medications.

If we have an outage, as happened with EMR, what is our backup when it comes to medication dispensing?

In a ward of over 70 nursing staff, there are also eight surgical/gynae registrars, six surgical RMOs, ward clerks and numerous allied health staff (let alone the medical/critical care MOs). Our ward has 11 computers (two in doctors/tut rooms) and three computers on wheels. At least two computers are not functioning or running slow on any given day, two are used by ward clerks and the rest are for everyone else. Logins are excessively slow and time-consuming.

Staff are more than happy to embrace the technological age if the infrastructure is supported and updated, your ‘account’ stays active and doesn’t drop out on individual computers sporadically (a frequent problem!), there is a decent-sized IT department to cope with demand and there are sufficient computers to do the job.

Is NSW Health really ready for the challenge?

Amanda Short, Secretary and Delegate Coffs Harbour Branch 6 THE LAMP june 2011

Grateful for film-making opportunity One of the best opportunities that I have had in my nursing career was to gain a spot to attend a two-day Film Workshop at NIDA in 2009 and a five-day Film Workshop at NIDA in 2010 (both sponsored by the NSWNA). At both of these workshops I was able to meet and form friendships with other nurses who are just as passionate as I am about film-making and are keen to get their stories up on the big screen. This opportunity has opened up a world I never thought I would be a part of because of my age. With the skills I have developed I have been able to make training films

Flu vaccine myths and misconceptions I am writing in response to the article in the May issue of The Lamp ‘Nurses called on to encourage flu vaccination’.

Recently, our hospital has had flu clinics for staff to get the free flu vaccination.

I have been shocked by the number of nurses declining the free vaccination, but even more so by the reasons for declining. As a newly-graduated nurse who has spent three years completing a university degree focused on producing highly-educated nurses with a focus on evidence-based practice I was completely disillusioned. It seems to me that before we call for nurses to encourage patients to get vaccinated, a massive education program needs to occur to call for nurses themselves to get vaccinated. The culture in my workplace has been one of utter discouragement against vaccination. The most common excuses I have heard are that ‘The flu shot gives you the flu’ and ‘Don’t do it, it’s bad, it made me sick’.

I wish to debunk a few myths.

Yes, like almost anything, a very small percentage of the population may have an allergic reaction. If you have an allergy to eggs, for example, you should not get the flu vaccination as egg shells are used to produce the vaccine.

and produce a Health Inservice Lecture Series, which has been viewed by four participating hospitals in rurally-isolated areas of the Mid North Coast.

This year I was lucky to be chosen as a finalist for the NSWNA Short Film Festival where I was able to have my three submitted films shown on 9 May at the new NSWNA building in Waterloo.

Seventeen of my friends/actors and family travelled from Coffs Harbour for the Festival where they had a wonderful time mixing with other film-makers and watching the films they participated in shown in front of a live audience. I was very fortunate to win joint first prize for my films Malleus Maleficarum and Nurses Strike Train. I want to thank the NSW Nurses’ Association for providing me with the opportunity to learn film making. I still have a long way to go to get really good at the craft but, in the meantime, at the age of 53 I am having the time of my life!

Carolyn Guichard, CNE Yes, you may get a fever reaction in the 24-48 hours post-vaccination. This is expected as this is your body producing the antibodies against the flu, which is the whole point of the vaccination. It is not you developing the flu.

No, you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. The vaccine is not a live vaccine, meaning you are not being injected with live flu viruses and, thus, there is no way you can contract the flu from the vaccine. If you do get the flu in the few weeks post-vaccination it is because it takes time for your immunity to build and you have contracted the flu virus before your body has had a chance to develop immunity. It is therefore wise to get the flu shot early, before the flu season is in full swing.

Why is it all so important? It’s only the flu after all ... Well aside from being sick and needing time off work (and we all know there is never enough staff or enough sick leave and you end up coming to work with a sniffle, anyway). Think of the patients you are looking after. A sniffle to you may be deadly to them.

Personally, years of suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome all started with a simple flu. It can happen to any of us.

As nurses we have a responsibility to ourselves and our patients. I feel the flu vaccination is one of those responsibilities.

Name withheld, RN

Toby Gwynne

Thomas Hoffman

Glad to know link between health and climate change

The letter judged the best each month will be awarded a $50.00 Coles Myer voucher courtesy of Moore equipment.

Clever carts to help clever nurses. For details on the range of clax carts please visit www.mooreequipment. com.au or call (02) 9519 5540

Our role combating climate change I am writing to congratulate The Lamp on your pieces highlighting the effects of climate change on the health and well being of Australians. Unions and nurses have a long history of making progressive change in Australia and these articles help highlight the social, physical and emotional issues we may face if we do not act on climate change. As unionists and nurses, I believe we have a duty to call for action on this issue from politicians and the wider community.

As a nurse, I do not want to have to say to future generations of nurses working in a system overburdened due to climate change that we did not act when we had a chance. I hope the article helped fellow members understand the seriousness of the situation we are facing and members understand that as a progressive organisation the union is about more than just current workplace conditions and we must act now as a union and nurses.

Thomas Hoffman, RN

Every letter published receives the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald delivered 7 days a week for 26 weeks Subscribe to the Herald today to save 41% 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 9662 1414 mail 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 Please include a photograph along with your name, address, phone and membership number.

Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

NC263354

I am writing to respond to The Lamp’s article on health and climate change.

We constantly hear that our lives will be detrimentally affected by climate change.

However, I have never previously thought about the implications of climate change on my health and the health of others.

For me, the article outlined issues of climate change along with issues about our health that are good to know or be reminded about.

As a nurse, I will deal with this as it makes the preventative health spectrum so much broader to understand and cater for.

It also highlighted the link between people’s own personal health and reducing their carbon footprint.

It is important to know that if people spend time walking or cycling it is not only good for the environment, but also for their health.

The idea of reducing carbon emissions and improving your own health at the same time sounds like a great way to motivate patients and everyone in the community to stay healthy and be green.

Thank you for highlighting how climate will affect our industry.

Toby Gwynne, student nurse

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MICHIGAN SIGNS

ANTI-ERGONOMICS BILL

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epublican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has signed a bill repealing the state’s mandatory workplace ergonomic rules.

The rules – which were worked on by the previous Democrat Governor but not enacted – aimed to limit injuries to workers caused by lifting, repetitive motion and awkward work positions.

Snyder said the mandatory regulations would have placed an ‘undue burden’ on businesses, many of which Snyder said already have good ergonomics practices.

Businesses argued that complying with the regulations could have been costly. The new law ensures Michigan cannot have stricter ergonomics rules than the federal government.

Unions said the new bill limits the state's ability to protect workers.

‘Safe lifting techniques, proper posture, appropriate seating position, and adaptive equipment are only a few of the many examples of ergonomics in the workplace.

Now our lawmakers are spending their efforts to do away with these safety regulations in the workplace, instead of focusing on important items – like rebuilding Michigan's economy,’ the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) said on its website.

‘Safe lifting techniques, proper posture, appropriate seating position, and adaptive equipment are only a few of the many examples of ergonomics in the workplace.

Now our lawmakers are spending their efforts to do away with these safety regulations in the workplace.’

8 THE LAMP june 2011

Mental health big budget winner g Mental health was the big winner in this year’s Federal Budget, with a $1.5 billion boost to mental health services.

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he NSWNA welcomes the Budget announcement of $1.5 billion for mental health services.

NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda said: ‘After years of neglect, this is a serious commitment by the Gillard Government to mental health and the NSWNA believes these new initiatives announced in the Budget make up a lot of lost ground in addressing the crisis in Australia's mental health services.’

A raft of new initiatives were announced, many with a focus on prevention and early intervention for children. The Budget increases the number of Headspace mental health services for young people from 60 to 90. The Government will also invest $222.4 million to fund an extra 12 Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centres to help the 11,000 young Australians at risk of mental illness each year. $32 million was also announced for the establishment of a Mental Health Commission to independently monitor, assess and report on how the system is performing, providing greater accountability and transparency to the sector.

Judith Kiejda, NSWNA Assistant General Secretary

To provide better co-ordinated care for those with a chronic mental illness the Government will spend $344 million setting up a single point of contact that will co-ordinate housing, health and social services.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon said: ‘This is the largest Commonwealth commitment to mental health services in Australia’s history. Our mental health reforms will deliver better targeted, better co-ordinated and more comprehensive care for mental health patients and their families.’

While the ANF and NSWNA back the majority of the new initiatives in the mental health reform package, they call on the Government to enter into urgent discussions with the sector's key stakeholders to identify ways to develop the workforce needed to provide the announced new services and programs.

ANF Assistant Federal Secretary Yvonne Chaperon said, ‘The Government must ensure there is an integrated strategy aimed at best developing the new workforce to deliver on this significant investment.’

Nurses urged to renew registration

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urses who have not yet renewed their registration – which was due 31 May 2011 – are urged to do so immediately or they could be removed from the register.

Under the national law, nurses and midwives who do not renew their registration within one month of the registration expiry date must be removed from the National Registers of Nurses and Midwives.

Members are advised to renew online at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.

Nurses and midwives can check their registration expiry date on the National Registers of Nurses and Midwives, published on the website.

Nurses and midwives whose registrations expire on 31 May 2011 will renew for 12 months and their registration will be valid until 31 May 2012. From 2012, the renewal date for all nurses and midwives in Australia will be aligned and registration renewal will be due on 31 May each year.

STOP PRESS Have your say...

Working Australia Census g The ACTU’s Working Australia Census provides a snapshot of Australia’s working life.

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SW nurses still have until the end of the month to have a say in shaping a better future for Australia’s workforce and their families, by taking part in the largest ever, national survey of workers.

Over 1,500 NSW nurses have already participated in a historic census of Australian workers now being conducted by the ACTU. The survey began in May and remains open until the end of June.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said the census is a unique opportunity for workers to have a say about their priorities to help shape the union movement’s agenda for future years.

‘In recent years, unions have restored their rights at work, won a national system of paid parental leave, and we’re fighting for more superannuation and better and more secure jobs.

‘Every day, unions are active in workplaces around Australia protecting rights and winning better wages and conditions for our two million members and millions of other workers.

‘But as we take aim at the challenges facing our members, we need to continue drawing on the energy and ideas of our members, and the Working Australia Census 2011 will directly engage with workers around their priorities.’

NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes said it was important NSW nurses have a major input into the census.

‘Nurses have been very prominent in all of the union movement’s national campaigns in recent years. It is very important that their voice is heard and their priorities are understood as we organise for the future,’ he said.

‘I would encourage as many nurses as possible to take time out, go online and fill out the census. It only takes about 20 minutes and ultimately it will help shape a better Australia for workers and their families.’

Every NSWNA member taking part in the census will be eligible to win a $1,000 prize.

To take part in the survey, visit http://www.workingaustralia.org.au/

At the time of printing, the Liberal NSW Government introduced WorkChoices-style laws into the NSW Parliament. It tabled a draconian bill that strips the NSW Industrial Relations Commission of its independence and would enable the government to dictate to the IR Commission its policy on wages and conditions.

NSWNA Secretary Brett Holmes said the NSWNA is still analysing the detail of the bill but our initial advice is that it will have an impact on negotiations in Ageing, Disability and Home Care, and impact on the Public Health System Award negotiations in 2013. It may have an impact on the Public Health System Award achieved in February.

‘All the NSW Public Sector unions, including the NSWNA, stand together united in their strong opposition to this bill.

‘Our immediate priority is to engage with the Shooters and Fishers Party and the Christian Democrats who hold the balance of power with the Greens in the upper house and are in a position to block the bill and stop it becoming law,’ said Brett.

Here’s how you can help: • Go to http://betterstate.org.au/stop_ ofarrells_law/ and let the Shooters and Fishers Party and the Christian Democrats know you want them to block this bill.

• Let your local Coalition MP know your strong opposition to the bill.

Get a head start by distance education Enrolling now for April Semester The College of Nursing has a range of distance education subjects available that give you credit transfer towards a College of Nursing Graduate Certificate.

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Call 1800 COLLEGE (265 534) or visit www.nursing.edu.au to apply.

CON 11.03 The Lamp 84x176.indd 1

THE LAMP june6:44 2011 23/03/11 PM9

GO DIRECT DEBIT

WIN

a 5-day holiday to Port Douglas

Credit: Tourism Queensland

&

staying at the Peninsula Boutique Hotel

Start paying your NSWNA fees by Direct Debit for the chance to win a five-night stay at the luxurious Peninsula Boutique Hotel in Port Douglas.

The fabulous Direct Debit prize includes return flights for two from Sydney to Cairns, return transfers from Cairns Airport with Exemplar Limousines and Coaches, five nights in an ocean view suite at the Peninsula Boutique Hotel, full buffet breakfast daily, daily room service, complimentary pool/beach towels and guest laundry facilities, PLUS a special bonus dinner in Peninsula Boutique Hotel’s Hi Tide Restaurant, Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise for two with Poseidon Outer Reef Cruises, and a Daintree Cape Tribulation Day Tour for two with Tony’s Tropical Tours.

The 4.5-star Peninsula Boutique Hotel is the only hotel in Port Douglas with beach and ocean views. Exuding luxury, romance and tropical ambience, Peninsula Boutique Hotel offers the travel connoisseur a perfect blend of relaxation, intimacy and unobtrusive personalised service.

Visit www.peninsulahotel.com.au for booking and information.

Please note that the Peninsula Boutique Hotel is a children-free style accommodation.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN WIN 2 Cancel your payroll deductions and start paying your fees through direct debit and you will go into the lucky draw and/or 2 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 into the lucky draw and/or 2 Sign up a new member using the direct debit method of paying their fees, and you and the new member will go into the lucky draw.

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.

10 THE LAMP june 2011

Image supplied by Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree unless otherwise noted.

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.

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BOAT TRAINING T T

ANF wins award for membership growth

he NSWNA is holding a series of Branch Officials and Activists Training (BOAT) sessions. For public-sector members, the training will take place 23 and 24 June, and for aged care members, BOAT training will be held 25 and 26 August, and 27 and 28 October.

All sessions take place at the Association’s office at 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo, and run from 9am to 4.30pm. For more information, contact the NSWNA on 02 8595 1234.

Training for Public Sector members will be on 23, 24 June, and training for aged care members will be held 25, 26 August, and 27, 28 October.

he ANF has received international recognition for its massive growth in membership across the Australian health system.

Over the past 12 months, membership of the ANF has increased 10.5% to more than 200,000 members, making it one of Australia’s fastestgrowing unions.

At the recent International Council of Nurses (ICN) Conference in Malta, the ANF, and the Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) as collaborating partners, was awarded a silver medal in recognition of increased membership growth.

The President of the ICN Dr Rosemary Bryant presented the medal to RCNA President Dr Stephanie Fox-Young and ANF Federal Secretary Lee Thomas.

‘The ANF is honoured to have its membership growth officially recognised

by the ICN,’ said ANF Assistant Secretary Yvonne Chaperon.

‘We thank all of our existing ANF members and welcome all our new members, which includes Registered and Enrolled Nurses, midwives, AiNs and students.

‘There has been unprecedented growth in ANF membership in all sectors including private and public hospitals, aged care facilities, medical practices and community centres.

‘This is an obvious reflection of the very successful campaigns run both nationally and by each State Branch.

‘Our membership numbers now clearly put the ANF front and centre of the health unions and a major stakeholder in the health, aged care and the industrial and professional arenas. We will continue to be a force to be reckoned with,’ said Lee.

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THE LAMP june 2011 11

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RALLY FOR EQUAL PAY

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embers are encouraged to attend a rally organised by the Australian Services Union (ASU) on 8 June to place pressure on the NSW Government to review its opposition to the ASU’s equal pay case for social and community sector workers currently running in Fair Work Australia.

Fair Work Australia has acknowledged that gender has played a role in the significant pay differentials of members who work in the social and community services sector, compared to those in public sector jobs. But Liberal Premier O’Farrell has withdrawn the previous government’s support of the case and has placed on record opposition to the case in regards to the cost it would have to share with the Federal Government.

The ASU is calling on the NSWNA and its members to support its rally on 8 June, 12 noon at Hyde Park South in Sydney to urge Premier Farrell to ‘stop standing in the way of some wage justice for this group of workers who are fundamental to our society particularly those most in need’.

ACS survey highlights pay and workloads issues

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pay rise and reduction in overall workloads were the most important issues noted by members who completed the NSWNA’s Aged Care (Not for Profit) Sector Bargaining Survey 2011.

Almost 900 members took part in the survey as part of the process for negotiations to renew the ACS template, which provides employers in the not-for-profit aged care sector with a benchmark template agreement on which to base their Enterprise Agreements.

‘Overwhelmingly, members said that helping residents was the best thing about working in aged care, and lack of time and low wages were the worst,’ said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith

Generator failure causes havoc at Shellharbour

DIABETES

EDUCATION

PROGRAM

FOR NURSES

T

he Australian Practice Nurses Association and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association has launched Diabetes Management in the Primary Care Setting.

The aim of the online program is to promote best practice diabetes education by improving the knowledge and understanding of diabetes among RNs and ENs currently providing diabetes care and management in the primary care setting. The program was funded by an educational grant from healthcare company MSD.

Kiejda. ‘Of the members who responded to the survey, 76% had performed some unpaid work in the past week. This reflects the fact that 84% of members who responded said that at times their workload is impossible to complete.

‘The clear message to come from the survey was that a pay rise and a reduction in overall workload were the most important issues. Of the returned surveys, 94% of members said that a pay rise was very important or somewhat important and 92% of members said that reduced overall workload was very important or somewhat important. In addition, 78% of respondents said that a better workload was as important as better pay,’ said Judith.

Angela Pridham, RN

A

power cut coupled with a backup generator failure plunged Shellharbour public hospital into chaos, with nurses bearing the brunt as they struggled to care for their patients.

Last month the electricity went down on a Sunday afternoon for more than two hours. During this time all computers and the electronic door swipe system stopped working, and, although a small number of emergency lights came on, the corridors throughout the hospital were mostly pitch black.

Angela Pridham, RN in Mental Health, said the situation was both stressful and dangerous for staff who had to deal with angry, mentally ill patients who were no longer contained in secure wards.

‘There was no way to heat the precooked meals for dinner, so management decided to provide only one sandwich for each patient for their dinner. Because all our patients are on anti-psychotic drugs and one of the side effects is increased appetite, the place went absolutely mad,’ she told The Lamp.

‘Some patients had chosen sandwiches at lunchtime thinking they were going to get a meal at dinner time so they were angry and upset. In the end, the staff put in their own money and bought them all pizzas.’

Because the security doors had been released due to the power outage, the 15 nursing staff on duty – who were responsible for looking after 65 mentally ill patients – had to spend time guarding the doors and attempted to do a lockdown to confine patients to certain areas with manual locking systems.

‘It was impossible to do your normal work without power – we had to man the doors to stop patients escaping and try to navigate our way around the dark hospital with torches,’ said Angela.

Midwives to play key role in improving oral health in pregnant women

M

idwives will play a vital role in improving the oral health of pregnant women, thanks to an innovative online education program developed by The Centre for Applied Nursing Research and Sydney Dental Hospital.

The Centre, a joint facility of South Western Sydney Local Health Network, the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and the Dental Hospital, developed the program as part of a new midwifery-led oral health initiative that incorporates oral health guidelines into normal midwifery practice.

The program, which has been endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives, offers 16 Continuing Professional Development points for midwives across Australia. It incorporates an online education program consisting of pre-reading material, video and photographs of the dental assessment process, and knowledge testing for midwives.

Australian College of Midwives national spokesperson, Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen, said the program offered an exciting opportunity for midwives.

‘Midwives are the leading health professionals caring for childbearing women and, thanks to this program, they can play an important role in ensuring women's oral health care is made a priority during pregnancy,’ she said.

The program has been supported by grants from the NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy, the Australian Dental Association (NSW) and UWS. The program is currently being trialled in south western Sydney, with plans to roll it out across NSW and other states over the next few years.

A prenatal oral health brochure for pregnant women has also been distributed across NSW and can be viewed at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/ resources/cohs/keep_smiling_ pregnant_pdf.asp

s Legal & Professional Issues for Nurses and Midwives - 1 day

1 July, Albury

29 July, Dubbo

Members $39 • Non-Members $85

s Appropriate Workplace Behaviour - 1 day

2 June, Newcastle

4 August, Armidale

25 August, Albury

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s Policy & Guideline Writing - 1 day

3 June, Waterloo

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s Medications in Aged Care - 1 day

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20 June, Port Macquarie

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s Drug and Alcohol Nurses Forum - 1 day

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17 & 18 August, Newcastle

13 & 14 October, Armidale

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‘Midwives are the leading health professionals caring for childbearing women and, thanks to this program, they can play an important role in ensuring women’s oral health care is made a priority during pregnancy.’

6 July, Penrith

Members $75 • Non-Members $170

s Computer Essentials for Nurses and Midwives - 1 day

11 July, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick

9 August, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick

5 September, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick

Members $85 • Non-Members $170

s CPD workshop for ENs - 1 day

13 July, Penrith

Members $60 • Non-Members $170

TO REGISTER or for more information go to www.nswnurses.asn.au or13ring THE LAMP june 2011 Carolyn Kulling on 1300 367 962

s

c o v e r s t o r y

SHELLHARBOUR PRIVATE

Pay rise win g Threatened industrial action delivers the first pay rise in three years for Shellharbour Private Hospital members.

S

hellharbour Private Hospital members are celebrating a 13.5% pay rise over three years. This is the first pay rise in three years for Shellharbour nurses.

Shellharbour Private Hospital Branch was forced to threaten industrial action through the NSWNA when management refused to negotiate a reasonable pay agreement, even though the previous agreement expired in 2008. Nurses at Shellharbour Private Hospital had received no pay increases since 2008.

After 16 months of arduous negotiations, frustrated members asked the NSWNA to lodge an application for Protected Industrial Action, which was granted by the NSW Industrial Relations

14 THE LAMP june 2011

Commission in early May. The NSWNA was insisting on the need to make up for lost time in the pay settlement.

By May 2011, pay rates at Shellharbour Private Hospital had fallen up to 12% behind the rates being received by other nurses in the private hospital sector. Negotiations for new Agreements currently underway between the NSWNA and major private hospital employers, including the Ramsay Group, would have widened this wage gap even further.

‘With the threat of impending industrial action, a favourable Enterprise

Agreement was offered by Hospital management and agreed to by Branch members unanimously. Shellharbour Private Hospital branch members hope this will encourage nursing staff to stay at Shellharbour Private Hospital and attract new staff in the future,’ said Branch Secretary and EN Linda Knox.

The new Agreement delivers an immediate 5% pay rise, plus 4% from May 2012 and another 4% from May 2013.

A ballot on the improved Agreement offer was underway at press time.

Nurses are relieved to have an acceptable pay offer at last. It was a long fight.We wouldn’t have achieved it without the commitment and perseverance of branch members and the NSWNA. Linda Knox, EN

Shellharbour Private Hospital has a strong NSWNA membership with a local Branch of the Association, as well as well-organised, active delegates. Branch members (left to right): Nadine Quennell, RN; Linda Knox, EN; Joy Hamilton, RN; Roslyn Wilson, RF; and Trudie Vinton, RN.

Shellharbour Private Hospital Branch was forced to threaten industrial action through the NSWNA when management refused to negotiate a reasonable pay agreement, even though the previous agreement expired in 2008.

‘The Agreement also increased Annual Leave from four weeks to five weeks per year, and one week can be cashed out. Nurses are happy about this improvement,’ said Linda.

In February 2011, Shellharbour Private Hospital management had tabled an earlier draft agreement with a 3% pay increase, which did not make up for the wage gap that had grown over 33 months. When put out for nurses to vote on it, the NSWNA Branch strongly recommended a ‘no’ vote and the draft agreement was soundly rejected.

NSWNA Secretary Brett Holmes commended the members at Shellharbour

Private Hospital for sticking together during such a slow and frustrating negotiation process to achieve a decent Agreement. ‘Shellharbour Private Hospital employs around 45 nurses and almost all are NSWNA members. Having a strong membership with a local Branch of the Association, as well as well-organised, active delegates, helped achieved this good result,’ said Brett.

‘Nurses are relieved to have an acceptable pay offer at last. It was long a fight. We wouldn’t have achieved it without the commitment and perseverance of branch members and the NSWNA,’ said Linda. n

Having a strong membership with a local Branch of the Association, as well as well-organised, active Delegates, helped achieved this good result.’

NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes.

s

N S W N A f i l m f e s t i v a l

at film festival g The creative talents of NSWNA members shone brightly at the 2011 NSWNA Nurses’ Short Film Festival. Movie-goers were dazzled by the selection of thought-provoking and entertaining short films, created by NSWNA members, which showcase the many different aspects of nursing.

‘I’m having the time of my life – at 53.

I want to thank the NSWNA for introducing me to film.’

NSWNA Nurses’ Short Film Festival winner Carolyn Guichard plans to make a full-length feature film by the time she is 60.

16 THE LAMP june 2011

T

here’s an abundance of creative flair among the NSWNA membership. The NSWNA Nurses’ Short Film Festival was an opportunity for members to harness and let loose their inner film-making talents – and, wow, didn’t you deliver!

Now in its third year, the 2011 festival featured eight finalist films, with themes and styles as varied as the NSWNA membership. The themes included portraying nursing as an art, a dystopic view into a future where nursing is illegal, finding purpose and meaning in nursing, the need for positive staff attitudes to students on placement, and an insight

into the perspective of a patient’s relative.

Several finalists attended the advanced film-making workshop at NIDA, which was sponsored by the NSWNA. The event – once again sponsored by First State Super, which provided the cash prizes for the winners – was held at the Association’s offices in Waterloo.

Judges were ex-producer for RPA Patrick McInerney, Managing Director of The Shannon Company, Michael Daddo, and independent film producer Pearl Tan. This year’s winner was Carolyn Guichard, Clinical Nurse Educator at Coffs Harbour Community Health, who succeeded in getting three of her films accepted as finalists in the competition.

Winner Carolyn Guichard, with her family, actors and crew who worked on her films.

The Film Festival was an opportunity for members to harness and let loose their inner film-making talents.

My Name is Tasha and I’m a Nurse stars young Tasha, who is a wannabe nurse, and the film takes the viewer on a journey through a collage of images depicting nursing as a diverse and rewarding pro­fes­sion. Malleus Maleficarum is a silent film set in 1486 about a healer/midwife whose village and

husband turned against her, branding her a witch and burning her at the stake.

Strike Train captured the re­cent historic rally where 4,000 nurses and midwives gathered at Sydney Olympic Park to fight for nurse-to-patient ratios.

Carolyn won equal first prize ($7,000) for Malleus Maleficarum and Strike Train, while Barbara Marino took out third place for her film Compassionate Gestures and won $1,000.

‘I’m having the time of my life – at 53,’ Carolyn told the audience. ‘I want to thank the NSWNA for introducing me to film.’

Carolyn told The Lamp about her passion for filmmaking: ‘I love it so

much because it’s creative. Being given the opportunity to attend the filmmaking workshops at NIDA has been fantastic and I’m really grateful to the Association for this opportunity.’

Carolyn also revealed that she planned to make a full-length feature film by the time she is 60. But when asked if she is tempted to change careers and become a full-time film-maker, she is adamant that nursing is her first passion. ‘I will nurse for the rest of my life,’ she said. ‘But I look forward to making more eclectic films in different genres.’

Watch the films at the NSWNA website www.nswnurses.asn.au n THE LAMP june 2011 17

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Film-maker Mary Perry (second from right) with members of her family.

Pictured left to right: Angela, Sarah, Mary and Stephanie Perry.

Barbara Marino took out the third prize for her film Compassionate Gestures.

at film festival Representatives of First State Super, which generously sponsored the NSWNA Short Film Festival: (left to right) Graham Green, Deanna Rowe, Karen Volpato, Michael Keyte, and CEO Michael Dwyer.

Left to right: NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes with festival judges independent film producer Pearl Tan and ex-producer for RPA Patrick McInerney.

THE LAMP june 2011 19

s

a g e d c a r e

New staffing clause in aged care standards g The Department of Health & Ageing has just released a draft to update the aged care standards for aged care services, which includes a new staffing clause that may improve nurse workloads.

T

he ANF welcomes the strengthening of a staffing clause in the recentlyreleased draft standards for the accreditation of nursing homes, which appears to address workloads issues.

Where previously there was only a requirement for ‘appropriately skilled and qualified staff’, the new draft states ‘sufficient number and mix of competent and trained staff’ – a main area of lobbying by the NSWNA and ANF in the Because we care campaign.

‘This is one of the areas they have strengthened, so that’s a small gain and is in the right direction,’ said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda.

‘Our lobbying has translated into this small gain.’

Two years ago, the Department of Health & Ageing released a first review of the standards, at which point the Association surveyed members about how the standards impact on aged care nurses.

‘Aged nurses are often part of doing the accreditation by getting the nursing home home ready for the accreditation process,’ said Judith Kiejda. ‘They often

complain that the standards don’t reflect what is truly happening. Nurses say, “They came in and reviewed us and we got accredited, but we don’t always think we should have passed”.’

Other changes proposed are to reduce the four main standards to three, and the overall number of performance measures from 44 to 36. There is also an attempt to make the measures more person-centered, to emphasise residents’ rights, and to improve clarity for approved providers about their obligations.

‘While we support theses aims, our feedback is that the draft standards need more work, especially to ensure every single one is clear and measurable,’ said Judith Kiejda.

‘Overall, the ANF and NSWNA were concerned that the language continues to shift away from nurses and nursing, and refers instead to the healthcare teams, without specifying when that must include a Registered Nurse. People are predominantly in residential care due to complex care needs, and need their care to be led by RNs and supported by the right mix of nurses and care staff,’ said Judith.

Because we care website updated The ‘Because we care’ website has been revamped and is now more interactive than ever, with online polls and links to directly lobby MPs. Visit www.becausewecare.org.au to check it out, stay up to date with what’s happening in aged care, and what you can do to help. n

20 THE LAMP june 2011

What the NSWNA/ ANF response recommends n

The overall ‘statement of intent’ should set out the aim of identifying the accountability and quality expected of approved providers and the requirement to comply with all 36 standards.

n

The specific wording of the standards needs to ensure it makes the outcome measurable, rather than too open-ended. Two examples where changes were suggested for improvement are ensuring care plans meet the requirements of the Aged Care Act and its Principles, and adding more detail to OH&S items to include requirements for implementing management systems, staff training, and safe practices.

n

Adding a criterion related to business management to ensure that residents and their families are assured of good fiscal practices and protection of resident bonds.

n

Reference to ‘individuality, equality and diversity’ should specify intimate relationships, sexuality and gender identity. No mention is made of the right to intimate sexual relationships for older people in care, nor is there reference to the needs or rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

n

The ANF/NSWNA response criticises the omission of referring to nurses in assessment, planning and delivery of care (examples are in items related to care planning, wound care, and referral).

For more information about the standards, contact Stella Topaz at the NSWNA on 8595 1234 or email stopaz@nswnurses.asn.au n

s

‘There was a lot of interest and motivation in the room, and a sense that this will be a strong voice for aged care within the Association.’

c o m p e t i t i o n

s to t e k c i t n i W

NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda

The first Aged Care Delegates Forum held at NSWNA

T

he Association’s first ever forum for aged care Delegates was held last month and was a resounding success. Around 28 Delegates attended from across the State.

The event was opened by Christine Spangler from Broken Hill, who welcomed Delegates and talked about how the forum came about through a resolution at the March Committee of Delegates (COD).

The Forum will be held before each COD to bring aged care Delegates together to share information, plan how to strengthen Branches and work together to campaign for aged care.

‘There was a lot of interest and motivation in the room, and a sense that this will be a strong voice for aged care within the Association,’ said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda.

An NSWNA Officer gave an overview of the Association and explained how each team interacts with aged care, ranging from member issues, workplace matters, professional education, bargaining and campaigning. Delegates then talked in small groups to come up with an agenda for future meetings.

‘Overall, there was agreement that the forum could enable peer support and networking, information sharing about the aged care system, opportunity to work on campaigning, recruiting and strengthening Branches, as well as keeping up to date on industrial matters specific to aged care,’ said Judith. n

Hairspray is the musical with a heart as big as a beehive. A rare treat, Hairspray is a musical with a message. It says something that’s important but says it with joy, energy and humour: We are all special and we are all different.

Critically acclaimed on Broadway, the hit show opens in Australia on 11 June at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, Star City, for a limited season.

The Lamp is offering members the chance to win one of two great prizes in connection with this fun-filled extravaganza.

1st PRIZE

Two nights’ accommodation, breakfast and parking at Mercure Sydney and two tickets to Hairspray. In addition to its beautifully appointed guest rooms, Mercure Sydney has a heated indoor swimming pool with panoramic views, rooftop gym, 24-hour room service and business centre.

2nd PRIZE

Two tickets to Hairspray.*

Mercure Sydney is also offering NSWNA members a special rate of $170 per night including breakfast. To take advantage of this offer, simply show your membership card. Bookings: 9217 6666 or email h2073@accor.com.

Picture courtesy of Jeff Busby

To enter this month’s competition, simply write your name, address and membership number on the back of an envelope and send it to: Hairspray competition

50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo, NSW 2017 Competition closes 30 June 2011.

Please note: only one entry per member will be accepted. * Tickets can only be used on Wednesday or Thursday evenings THE LAMP june 2011 21 and are subject to availability.

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i n d u s t r i a l

i s s u e s

First Agreement for Family Planning g Nurses at Family Planning NSW are set to vote on a new agreement with significant improvements to pay and conditions.

A

fter several months of negotiations, nurses at Family Planning NSW are set to vote on a new, national agreement that will reduce the gap with publicsector wages base rates of pay, as well as delivering a number of additional benefits.

The Agreement – which is the fourth for the organisation but the first national agreement – provides wage increases of 4% to all classifications in July 2011 and 2012, plus back pay of 4% (4.6% for CNSs and 4.3% for RNs 8th year thereafter).

The back pay will be made within two pays of a ‘yes’ vote, rather than waiting for Fair Work Australia approval, which may take some time.

The Agreement also includes new nursing classifications of CNS 2 and AiN, the retention of 14 weeks’ paid parental

leave, paid trade union leave, and the option to cash out some annual leave.

The two-year agreement covers around 30 nurses working in the Ashfield, Newcastle, Penrith, Fairfield and Dubbo clinics of Family Planning NSW, which is a not-for-profit organisation providing reproductive and sexual health services across NSW. The Agreement expires on 30 June 2013.

‘The Association understands that members desire parity with the Public Health System. The wage increases in the proposed Agreement will reduce the gap with public-sector wages base rates of pay,’ said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda.

Lorraine Edney, CNS at Family Planning NSW’s Ashfield clinic, said nurses were happy the negotiations have been finalised.

Key benefits of the new agreement n

4.6% wage increase for CNSs, 4.3% for RN 8th year thereafter, and 4% for all other nurses – backdated to 1 July 2010.

n

4% increase for all classifications from 1 July 2011.

n

New nursing classifications of CNS 2 and an AiN.

n

Improved tea break provisions – increases from 15 to 20 minutes.

n

Annual review of part-time hours to properly reflect the hours worked.

n

Four-hour minimum engagement for part-timers.

n

Improved Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) provisions. If it cannot be rostered within six pay periods, TOIL will be paid out at overtime rates.

n

Paid trade union leave.

n

Increased casual loading and conversion option remains after four weeks.

n

Lactation breaks.

n

Expansion of salary packaging for entertainment.

n

Continuation of the Working Party on nursing classifications.

n

Option to cash out some annual leave.

n

Continuing professional development requirements to be considered in Learning and Development leave applications.

n

The inclusion of ‘midwives’ in terminology.

‘The new Agreement is a positive outcome for our nursing workforce.’

Lorraine Edney

‘The new Agreement is a positive outcome for our nursing workforce,’ she told The Lamp. ‘Nurses at Family Planning NSW feel strongly that our remuneration should be closer to the pay of nurses working in public hospitals and this agreement inches us closer to this. We’ve been looking for a CNC at Family Planning NSW for some time now, and while we haven’t achieved that directly this time, the CNS 2 classification will give us more of a career pathway and something to work towards. It acknowledges our advanced practice skills.

‘The other thing we are very conscious of is the ageing of our workforce, so anything that attracts young nurses to our speciality is a good thing, and paid parental leave will hopefully be an inducement for young nurses,’ said Lorraine, who also praised the employer for looking after its nursing workforce.

‘We’ve always had a very good relationship with management at Family Planning. This negotiation has been mutually respectful. Management has been very supportive in making sure nurses got access to them in order to put forward our claims. For nurses working in a speciality we enjoy an interesting working environment and job satisfaction that keeps us here for a long time,’ said Lorraine.

Lorraine also acknowledged the invaluable assistance provided by the Association in securing a good set of workplace conditions.

‘We wouldn’t have got the outcomes we did without the input and help of our Industrial Officer. She is informed, industrially aware, and so patient with us.

All the nurses here really appreciate the skills she brought to the negotiating table,’ said Lorraine. n THE LAMP june 2011 23

s

a g e n d a

Health to benefit from National Broadband Network g The National Broadband Network has taken a lot of flak but the benefits for our health system, particularly in regional and rural Australia, will be immense.

W

hen Tony Windsor announced his support for a Gillard-led Federal Government after last year’s federal election, the National Broadband Network and health were central to his decision.

‘The issues I thought were critical to this, and possibly the most critical, was broad­band,’ Windsor said at the media con­ference where he announced his decision.

Windsor said the experts he had consulted about the National Broadband Network had been clear.

‘You do it once, you do it right and you do it with fibre’.

Windsor told ABC TV health and broad­ band were the key issues for his constituents.

‘Health, broadband, and how it relates to future health,’ he said were those most frequently mentioned, along with education and infrastructure.

24 THE LAMP june 2011

How the NBN will improve health c Allow the use of high-definition videoconferencing for telehealth applications.

c Facilitate mental health assessments and care for rural and remote patients.

c Support consultations with clinicians and give access to specialist support.

c Provide real-time transfer and management of clinical information and diagnostics.

c Allow self-management, chronic disease management and education for patients, their families and clinicians.

c Improve the collection and transfer of information between clinicians.

Many experts agree that e-health will have a crucial role in providing greater equity of access to health services made difficult by Australia’s large distances and dispersed populations.

There is a plethora of e-health appli­cations that are already available and making a difference where they can occur.

Advocates of e-health say the biggest obstacle to reaping the benefits of the burgeoning number of new technologies is the unreliability of the current system.

The National Broadband Network, with its high bandwidth to most of the population, will facilitate greater use of these technologies.

NSW has great technologies but lacks the network to optimise them NSW Health already has an extensive telehealth network.

Currently, there are more than 600 videoconferencing units, delivering a range of services to rural, regional, and remote health-care facilities across NSW. NSW Health also has plans to expand the current telehealth services including extending video conferencing technology to Emergency Departments and to support primary care providers when patients at residential aged care facilities require movement to acute care.

In its submission to a parliamentary in­quiry into the NBN, NSW Health re­cognised the enormous benefits that the NBN will bring to the delivery of health in NSW. ‘NSW Health needs high-speed broad­band and data communications services that are reliable, available in all parts of the State and reasonably priced.

The NBN will contribute to improved healthcare outcomes by providing such services,’ it said.

A better health service for rural and remote Australia Rural and remote Australia stand to be the biggest beneficiaries from the NBN. The Rural Health Alliance believes people living in rural areas stand to benefit substantially from e-health in its various guises. It warns, however, that rural and remote communities have the poorest infrastructure and thus a limited capacity to access and make use of e-health applications.

‘In the health sector, fast, effective and affordable broadband will be critical in making the benefits of e-health available to rural and remote patients, clinicians and researchers,’ it told the parliamentary inquiry into the NBN. The Alliance said other benefits from the NBN besides its capacity to deliver health solutions will contribute to improved rural health.

‘The broader contribution of the NBN to improving the sustainability of rural and remote communities… [is] relevant to health as well.’ n

The key healthcare services

that will benefit c The Electronic Medical Record (eMR), which tracks and details a patient’s care during time spent in hospital, will allow clinicians to access a patient’s records from any location, at any time, to make assessments and co-ordinate care. c Medical Imaging: the NBN will allow diagnostic images such as x-rays, magnetic resonance images, ultrasounds and CT scans to be captured, transmitted and stored digitally and be made available to clinicians no matter where they are located or where the test was conducted. c Community Health: a community health and outpatient care

system will include electronic discharge summaries and health assessments, test results and medical images that can be delivered to remote community centres, mobile clinics and ultimately to patients’ homes.

c Nurse Practitioners: the NBN will assist Nurse Practitioners with patient care, reporting and billing. c Improved recruitment and retention of the rural workforce: the NBN will help overcome some of the major obstacles to retaining rural staff such as the lack of training and education options and the ability to work more closely with peers.

Jodie says

e-health is fantastic!

J

odie Godrey, a CNS and a Diabetes Educator at Wagga Community Health, is a great fan of e-health.

Jodie’s job is made more effective in several ways by the new technologies she has been using over the past 18 months.

‘We use teleconferencing to link in with Sydney Children’s Hospital.

It’s fantastic. Here in Wagga we would have the child with parents, a dietician and me, consulting with an endocrinologist and maybe a CNE in Sydney. It’s like a face-to-face visit,’ she says.

Jodie says her patients are also able to use internet-based technology to download data from their insulin pumps and send them to her, saving what used to be a time consuming trip to town.

‘It also allows me to read the data, analyse it and make a plan before I ring them. It saves a lot of time.’

Jodie says community nurses in rural areas are benefiting in other ways from the new technologies.

‘I have a computer tablet with an internet stick. I can take pictures of a wound, for example, and then send it to a tertiary centre in the city to find out how to treat it.’

Jodie is convinced it will be even better with the broadband offered by the NBN and in particular will be a boon for isolated communities.

‘The greater the clarity of the images that can be transmitted, the better the diagnosis, especially with wound care,’ she says.

‘If you are living in an isolated community, like I used to, it can often take a day’s travelling each way to get treatment. People would have to take that time off work. You won’t have to do this with the videoconferencing.

It will greatly improve the service.’

THE LAMP june 2011 25

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p r o f e s s i o n a l i s s u e s

Techno nursing g The NSWNA Professional Day on 22 July will cover the burgeoning area of e-health.

The Lamp previews some of the presentations that will explore this exciting field.

COMPUTERISED MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION Marysia Kalcher and Rosemary Jeffery will talk about their experiences in Northern Territory residential aged care facilities using computerised medication administration.

Nurses are familiar with the myriad problems that go with a paper-based medication system and prescription systems: among them illegible handwriting, scripts not matching the medication charts, medical records not available or attached to a paper-based system and signatures difficult to identify.

The General Practice Network of the Northern Territory (GPNNT) was funded for a project in Darwin to provide a solution to these problems and demonstrate a digital signing and transfer of electronic prescription.

The system allows a medical officer to connect remotely to a Medchart at any time of day or night whether from home, the surgery, or anywhere they have access to a laptop computer with an internet connection.

Medication orders for an individual client can be added, ceased or changed and at the same time the pharmacist is alerted and a script dispatched electronically. The pharmacist can also view the Medchart remotely.

The system provides a win/win for clients, nursing home staff and organisations and medical officers and pharmacists.

For clients, there are reduced errors of wrong medications due to checking procedures within the system, and there is more time to spend with the client as the time spent administering medication is reduced. Medication reviews can occur any time and off site.

For nursing staff, less time is spent chasing up medication orders and scripts, medication documentation is much clearer and easy to read reducing potential mistakes and errors and the administration of medication history is at the touch of a button. n

There are reduced errors of wrong medications due to checking procedures within the system, and there is more time to spend with the client as the time spent administering medication is reduced.

To register for the NSWNA Professional Day go to www.nswnurses.asn.au or contact Carolyn Kulling on 8595 1234 (metro), 1300 376 962 (rural) or email ckulling@nswnurses.asn.au 26 THE LAMP june 2011

Alternative futures of health Professor Sohail Inayatullah will explore the alternative futures of health, focusing particularly on the emerging model of Prevention (‘a fence on top of the hill instead of an ambulance below’).

While currently OECD nations only spend 3% of their health budgets on prevention, the reality of an ageing society and more expensive medical technologies will likely force governments to push toward prevention.

Developments in peer to peer networking, genomics, health-bots, green hospitals, healthy cities and the transparent brain make this new future more likely.

However, there are other futures as well: intergenerational and health inequity and the Nanny State.

Professor Inayatullah will address scenarios of alternative health futures, how we think about the long term and the changing metaphors of the life cycle. The audience will be encouraged to explore what this means for the short-, medium- and long-term futures of nursing.

Professor Sohail Inayatullah is a political scientist/futurist at the Graduate Institute of Futures Studies, Tamkang University, Taiwan; the Centre of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, Macquarie University, Sydney; and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs. n

NURSING GRAND ROUNDS VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Jenny Preece from the North Coast AHS will describe the Nursing Grand Rounds via videoconference for nurses in small rural and remote facilities.

This trial by the NCAHS began in June 2009. Eight sites were linked monthly by video-conference for case presentation and discussion of interesting or challenging patient journeys, referral patterns to regional referral centres, retrieval team episodes and/or discharge to community support services.

The aim was to further enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills for staff who often have to triage in the absence of a medical officer, and to foster a mentoring network among nurses from smaller and remote sites.

An evaluation was conducted at 18 months, which clearly demonstrated that Nursing Grand Rounds via videoconference has become an accepted form of peer review, and generates reflection on individual and team clinical practice. These rural and remote nurses now feel part of an extended team.

In the establishment phase, Clinical Champions were identified – Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Consultants and Clinical Nurse Educators – to support nurses at the local sites and to assist in developing the monthly rotational calendar. They also chaired the sessions on a rotational basis and kept sessions structured, focused and running to time.

It is envisaged that site participation in Nursing Grand Rounds via videoconfererence will continue to provide a sense of solidarity for rural or remote generalist nurses from small sites throughout the transition to Local Health Networks during 2011. n

HOME TELEHEALTH MONITORING Kerry Oates, Project Officer from Royal District Nursing Service Victoria, will speak about a Home Telehealth Monitoring project and its impact on the health workforce. Kerry will present an overview of a demonstration project, funded by Health Workforce Australia, where clients were monitored by RDNS using telehealth technology and how this changed the way of managing clients and delivered improved deployment of staff.

The pilot trialled the use of home telehealth monitoring to supplement home nursing visits.

The technology enabled a shift in focus from scheduled to targeted visits by nurses and GPs, based on changes to the client’s health condition instead of booking routine scheduled visits.

Instead of a nurse having to travel to monitor a client’s vital signs on a regular basis, clients who could, were taught to take their own measurements. They could be monitored remotely by a nurse on a daily basis and received targeted home visits as required.

Anticipated benefits included early identification of exacerbations in a client’s

condition, a decrease in unnecessary admissions to hospital, and an increase in the client’s participation in their care.

Benefits for the workforce included establishing the roles & functions required to undertake telehealth monitoring and an expansion of competencies of the current workforce.

Naturally the training of staff and clients and the development of information packages and documentation was important to support staff, GPs and clients.

One surprising result was the willingness of clients to accept the technology and their ability to use the equipment and technology. n

Position available for RN or EN A part time, 3 days per week, RN or EN position to join our ophthalmic practices at Gosford and Wyong on the Central Coast of NSW will become available in August 2011. All prospective applicants are to contact Practice Manager who will send a copy of the essential and desirable criteria.

Applications close Friday 24 June 2011 at the close of business.

Applications to: Ms Jann Van Gestel Practice Manager, Gosford and Wyong Eye Surgeries Email: jann@gandweye.com.au

RNs EENs Sydney wide Great team Flexible hours/shifts

9988 4588 www.healthcall.com.au

Hospitals, Aged Care Facilities, Community THE LAMP june 2011 27

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i n d u s t r i a l

i s s u e s

How to read your payslip g Are you being paid for the hours you have worked?

Are you receiving all your entitlements? The Lamp provides a practical guide on reading your payslip.

W

hen you receive your payslip, do you examine it and check that you’ve been paid correctly including overtime, shift penalties and other entitlements?

If so, well done. If not, you could be missing out on what you are owed.

‘It’s extremely important to check your pay slip to make sure you are being paid for what you have actually worked,’ says NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda. ‘Rosters change, so you have to ensure that what you are being paid is what you have worked, to make sure your hourly rate is correct for your classification, to ensure your shift penalties are correct, and that your deductions come out correctly.’

28 THE LAMP june may 2011 2011

Some of the most common complaints the Association receives from members are: n I didn’t get paid. n I got the wrong shift penalty – for example, my manager has put in the wrong code so instead of getting paid for Saturday I got paid for Sunday. n I didn’t get paid an on-call allowance. n My overtime was incorrectly calculated. n I didn’t get my higher-grade duties.

Occasionally, someone may be overpaid. ‘If you can avoid an overpayment you won’t have the anguish later when you are told you’ve been overpaid by a few thousand dollars. And if you have been underpaid, you can get it fixed quickly. But you don’t know unless you check your payslip,’ said Judith.

The new public sector payroll system When the new public sector payroll system is rolled out in the next few weeks, members will have the option of receiving an electronic, rather than printed, payslip.

The new system uses one program and is award-based, meaning that the person entering data cannot put something into a pay if it’s not under that employee’s award.

For example, they cannot put a tool allowance for a tradesperson into a nurse’s pay.

Public-sector nurses will also now receive one payroll number and one payslip even if they are working for different Local Health Networks.

Things that must be included in your payslip by law The Australian Fair Work Act 2009 requires that the following must be included in all employees’ payslips: the employer’s name the employee’s name the period to which the pay slip relates the date on which the payment to which the pay slip relates was made

What to do if there is a problem with your payslip If you have a problem with your payslip, the first thing to do is ensure you have your payslip in front of you.

Secondly, if you see a problem, go back to your manager or person who has entered the details into the computer to make sure there actually is a problem.

Ask your manager to fix the problem.

If your manager does not correct the problem – which should be done by the next pay – contact the Association, which will determine what pressure it can put on your employer to fix the issue as soon as possible.

the gross amount of the payment the net amount of the payment any amount paid to the employee that is a bonus, loading, allowance, penalty rate, incentivebased payment or other separately identifiable entitlement on and after 1 January 2010 – the Australian Business Number (if any) of the employer if an amount is deducted from the gross amount of the payment, the payslip must also include the name, or the name and number, of the fund or account into which the deduction was paid.

If the employee is paid at an hourly rate of pay, the pay slip must also include: the rate of pay for the employee’s ordinary hours (however described) the number of hours in that period for which the employee was employed at that rate the amount of the payment made at that rate If the employee is paid at an annual rate of pay, the payslip must also include the rate as at the latest date to which the payment relates.

If the employer is required to make superannuation contributions for the benefit of the employee, the payslip must also include: the amount of each contribution that the employer made during the period to which the pay slip relates, and the name, or the name and number, of any fund to which the contribution was made the amounts of contributions that the employer is liable to make in relation to the period to which the pay slip relates, and the name, or the name and number, of any fund to which the contributions will be made.

Members’ and employers’ obligations in regards to payslips MEMBERS ‘Pick up your payslip and look at it,’ says NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda. ‘Don’t just say, “Oh there’s this amount of money in my bank account so I must have been paid this week or fortnight.” It doesn’t work like that – if $2,000 has gone into your account, it could be made up of any amount – it could be totally wrong, half a pay or someone else’s pay! Have a look at your payslip and make sure you’ve been paid what you’ve worked.’

When starting a new job, members must advise their managers to commence deductions. For any deduction to come out of your pay you have to get a written authority.

So if a member doesn’t do this, it may delay or affect their pay. Keep your own records of the hours you work. Make a note of them in your diary or keep a copy of the roster and then make sure this information is reflected on your payslip.

EMPLOYERS ‘Employers must ensure they provide a payslip, that all information required by The Fair Work Act (see box on left) is included,’ says Judith Kiejda. ‘They must ensure that payment hits the employees’ bank accounts on the designated pay day, and fix up any errors within the next pay.

‘When you have new people starting there may be a delay in paperwork – for example, the Nursing Unit Manager can’t put the payroll details in because HR hasn’t done their side of things, so someone might have gone six weeks without pay, which is totally unreasonable,’ says Judith. n THE LAMP june 2011 29

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International Nurses’ Day 2011

Happy International Nurses’ and Midwives’ Day

M

ay was a month to commemorate nurses and midwives and the achievements of our professions, with International Midwives’ Day on 5 May and International Nurses’ Day on 12 May – the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s

Concord nurses get creative Activities at Concord Hospital included a visit from local artists to help nurses ‘express themselves’, and a bed race between wards with members from the local fire brigade and some West Tigers players acting as patients. Meanwhile, Laura Johns, NUM, organised a Florence Nightingale replica, and Victoria Cran, CNS, created a history board. Pictured is Cathy Pink, RN.

I do ... and they did Nurses at John Hunter Hospital’s Education Team took out first prize in the International Nurses’ Day ward/unit decorating competition. Their theme was ‘The Marriage of Knowledge and Practice’. Pictured are ‘bride’ Melissa Oakman, CNS; ‘groom’ Richard Clancy, CNC; and ‘Maid of Honour’ Deb Armitage, CNC. 30 THE LAMP june 2011

birth. The theme for this year’s International Nurses’ Day was Closing the Gap: Increasing access and equity.

The NSWNA congratulates all nurses and midwives on your wonderful work, passion and commitment, and hopes you had a fantastic time commemorating your special days.

Here’s how some of you celebrated.

Closing the Gap Increasing access & equity International Nurses Day

12 May 2011

A feast of fun

A welcome breakfast

Nurses at Nyngan Hospital went out and celebrated their special day with a meal at the local RSL club. Back row, left to right: Jackie Chapman, Acting Nurse Manager; Maureen Jenner, EN; Alison Morris, EEN; Nicole Dowling, RN; Kellie Hatch, TEN; Marg Morley, RN; Jenny Gritths, Acting Health Services Manager. Front row, left to right: Paulette Meldrum, EN; Lyn Webster, EEN; Jan Adams, AiN.

Night-duty nurses at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital celebrated International Nurses’ Day with breakfast at a local café. Back row pictured left to right: Julie Hayward, RN; Roz Norman, EEN (Branch Secretary/Councillor); Ann Taylor, RN. Front row: Jenny Higgins, RN; Lynda Hill, EEN; Monica Gibson, midwife; Maureen Huggins, midwife.

Mater celebrates 100 years – and IND International Nurses’ Day celebrations at the Mater Hospital North Sydney encompassed the Hospital’s 100-year anniversary by commemorating the graduation of the Mater’s first trained nurses in 1911. The event treated both Mater graduates and current nursing staff to a presentation outlining the Mater’s rich nursing history. The Mater will continue its acknowledgement of ‘100 years of Nurse Education’ throughout 2011.

Pictured back row, left to right: Belinda MacNamara, Jacqueline Reardon, Alana Kennedy, Alison Sawkins, Courtney Player, Penny Frost, Catherine Archer.

Front: Sister (Sr) Brigid Rafferty, Religious Sister of Mercy (RSM); Sr Marie Anne Tarlinton, RSM; Sr Josephine Mary Agnew, RSM.

Nurse Excellence Awards Management at Coledale Hospital invited nursing staff to a ‘high tea’ in the staff dining room to show their appreciation for their hard work. The Branch also held the Nurse Excellence Award, which was won by Melissa Harrison, RN (pictured front with Anne Gilholme, DON, cutting the cake).

And the winner is ...

ICU nurses Zhen Cao, RN, and Elize Alchin, RN, had fun on International Nurses’ Day by taking part in a bed-making competition.

31 THE LAMP JUNE 2011

Want an online CPD Portfolio that has been built to comply with the National Standards?

As part of mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Nurses and Midwives we are not only required to complete the correct amount of CPD, but also to document it according to the National Standards.

At eNurse we have read through all the Registration and CPD Standards and built a Professional File that will have you compliant in 4 simple steps. We have also built in a few extras like a Personal Calendar and a Tax Deduction Log.

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Once you are a member, the Professional File will become available for activation

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TOKEN CODE: L002 Full conditions available online.

32 THE LAMP june 2011

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s

Q & A

Upgrading to EEN

ASK

JUDITH WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS AT WORK, NSWNA ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY JUDITH KIEJDA HAS THE ANSWERS. Cashing out accrued leave I have a large amount of accrued leave I would like to have cashed out. Under the new Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2011 how much leave can you cash out?

Employees have the option to cash out additional leave over four weeks per annum as per Clause 30 of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award.

So, if you receive six weeks annual leave per year, you can cash out two weeks plus any additional accrued leave.

However, if you receive four weeks per year annual leave you would not be able to cash out any of those four weeks, but you would still be able to cash out any additional annual leave.

I am a hospital-trained Enrolled Nurse (EN) who wants to upgrade to the Endorsed Enrolled Nurse Certificate (EEN). I made enquiries some time ago about this but was told that only Certificate IV ENs can upgrade.

Is this still the case, and if so, how can I ever upgrade?

The College of Nursing now offers a Diploma of Nursing course that specifically allows ENs with a hospital certificate to gain recognition of prior learning (RPL) and complete the medication units of competence. On successful completion of the course, the EN can then apply to AHPRA to become an EEN. The College of Nursing is an approved provider for the NSW Strategic Skills Program. There is a $500 enrolment fee, which is refunded on successful completion of the course. For further details and to apply for the Diploma of Nursing course contact the College of Nursing on 1800 265 534 or email www.nursing.edu.au.

Revealing criminal conviction I am an EN working in aged care and am about to renew my registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). I have an old criminal conviction from 1991 for which I was fined and given a good behaviour bond for six months. Should I admit to the conviction and, if I do, will it affect my ability to re-register?

You are required to advise AHPRA of any of the following, regardless of whether the offences occurred in Australia or overseas: • every conviction; • every charge made for an offence, and;

• every plea of guilty or finding of guilt whether or not the conviction is recorded.

AHPRA will then determine if your criminal history is relevant to the practice of nursing. You should also provide an explanation of the circumstances surrounding your conviction/offences when you send in your renewal application.

AHPRA will consider the following factors in each individual application: • The nature and seriousness of the offence or alleged offence and its relevance to health practice; • The period of time since the offence was committed or allegedly committed; • Whether a finding of guilt or a conviction was recorded or the charge is still pending; • The sentence imposed; • The age of the health practitioner and of any victim at the time of the offence or alleged offence; • Whether or not the conduct to which the charge relates has been decriminalised since the time of the offence or alleged offence; • The health practitioner’s behaviour since the offence or alleged offence; • The likelihood of a future threat or risk to a patient of the health practitioner; • Any other information given by the health practitioner, e.g extenuating circumstances; • Any other matter the Board considers relevant.

These standards apply to all registered health practitioners whether they are nurses, doctors, physiotherapists or any of the other registered health practitioners. n

THE ENROLLED NURSE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION Presents

CONFERENCE 2011 22 and 23 September 2011 Armidale NSW

Lighting the Way

Venue: Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club Dumaresq St, Armidale 2350 8am-5pm Thursday, 8am-4pm Friday

ENPA2011-quater.indd 1

Conference presentations will include: • • • • •

Mental Health Community Nursing Aged Care – surgical Nursing Drug and Alcohol and other areas of Nursing practice.

For further information contact: Rebecca Phone: 1300 554 249 E-mail: nroseby@bigpond.net.au THE LAMP june 20/04/2011 9:39:192011 AM 33

Don’t be left out in the cold this winter...

DO YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

NSWNA unisex bonded polar fleece zip front jackets are suitable to wear on those frosty morning starts and freezing night shifts.

ORGANISER Secondment position

The NSW Nurses’ Association is seeking applications from our membership for an Organiser position on a secondment basis, located in our Waterloo office.

The position will allow applicants to develop the skills in the following areas to take back to the workplace

The role is responsible for: n n n n n n

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

To be considered for this role you need: n n n n

Bonded Polar Fleece Zip Front Jackets

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available in S, M, L, XL, XXL and XXXL

a recognised nursing qualification a current NSW driver’s licence excellent written and verbal communication skills negotiation and conflict resolution skills to be computer literate and self-confident to be able to travel regularly and a commitment to improving the working conditions for nurses and midwives and to the Trade Union movement an understanding of industrial, political and health issues

What is a secondment?

A secondment is an arrangement made with mutual consent of your current employer and the NSW Nurses’ Association n A secondment with the NSW Nurses’ Association is for a period of 12 months n 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 n On completion of the secondment, you will return to your substantive position with your current employer

MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM

n name address phone (h)

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(mob)

Bonded Polar Fleece Zip Front Jackets $30 size

s

m

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please include postage and handling of

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mastercard

bankcard name of card holder

visa

money order

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For further enquiries and an application information pack, please contact Employee Relations by telephoning 02 8595 1234 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (country callers).

signature

To order, fax the order form to Glen Ginty on (02) 9662 1414 or post to: NSWNA, 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo, NSW 2017 Merchandise order forms available on our website

www.nswnurses.asn.au

Applications should be received by 17 June 2011 and addressed to: Robyn Morrison Employee Relations Manager 50 O’Dea Avenue WATERLOO NSW 2017

s

f i g h t i n g

F i t n u r s e s

A good sport g Joanne Colja, a perioperative nurse who works in theatres at Murwillumbah Hospital, enjoys a range of sporting activities. They also keep her fit and help her to cope with a busy lifestyle and workload.

I

love my job, but at times the busy schedule and long hours are tiring.

I think what keeps me going is my involvement in sport. It gives me a level of fitness that helps me cope with my workload.

I have been involved in different types of sports for a long time now; some might say I am a fitness fanatic and as I sit here and write about it I realise they could be right. My plan is to be fit for life, but I am not one to just go out and exercise – I need goals to aim for, therefore I will find an event, enter and start a training plan. I am also lucky enough to have a husband who has a degree in sports science, and he helps me with my training plan.

I like to enter local events such as fun runs and triathlons and I am a member of the Twin Towns Triathlon club. The hardest event I have ever competed in was the Anaconda Adventure race on the Gold Coast. This event involved a 2km ocean swim, 16km ocean and creek ski paddle, 14km cross country run, 18km mountain bike ride (the toughest ride I have ever done) and a 2km beach run. The sense of achievement when you complete an event like that stays with you for a long time.

One of the most important things about being involved in sport and staying fit is the friendships you make. About 10 years ago my son was involved in nippers, so I decided to do the bronze medallion after joining a local surf club.

This for me has been one the best things I have ever done as I have become part of a group who likes to stay fit and have fun as well. Once a week I try to go out with a group of ladies for a board paddle.

There is nothing better than sitting out in the ocean on your board and letting all the stress from work leave your body.

The coffee you have afterwards with the girls helps as well.

There is nothing better than sitting out in the ocean on your board and letting all the stress from work leave your body.

The surf club I am a member of at present is Cudgen Headland and we recently held the NSW State championship at our beach. I was lucky enough to win a gold medal in the 2km beach run 45-49yrs (with a bit of hard training as well) but my efforts seem mediocre compared to my fellow clubmate, Jan Gielis who won numerous gold medals. What makes this so special is that Jan is 64. Last year she competed in the world Surf Life Saving championships in Egypt and won 11 medals. She is a role model and if there were more people like her, our health system would have less business.

Recently I purchased a new bike and have set myself a new goal. On 20 and 21 August I am taking part in a two-day bike ride around the Queensland countryside in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. In the lead up to this ride I have a few smaller goals: the Byron Bay swim, the Byron Bay Triathlon and the Gold Coast 10km run. I am up to run number six and hope to complete 10 runs of 10km in 10 years. With all this activity it’s a wonder I am able to fit work in!

In the Ride to Conquer Cancer (www.conquercancer.org.au) I am part of the Cummingswest Team and aim to raise $2,500. n

COULD BE OUR

FIGHTING FIT

NURSE MONTH OF THE

What do you do to stay fit and healthy? Whether you’re into extreme sports, or just like to walk around the hospital block and anything in between, we want to know! Email your story and tips in the first person (500 words) to lamp@nswnurses.asn.au.

THE LAMP june 2011 35

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n e w s i nMATTERS NSWNA b r i e f

NSWNA Branch News ge c NSWNA members

. t active across NSW

* South Coast Labor Council May Day Rally NSWNA members participated in the South Coast Labor Council May Day Rally. Thirty members were represented from Illawarra Community Nurses, Illawarra Mental Health, Wollongong Hospital, Justice Health, Shellharbour Private, Coledale, and Port Kembla.

) Meeting at Guyra District War Memorial Hospital Members at Guyra District War Memorial Hospital got together with NSWNA staff to discuss the new Public Health Award. From left: Christine Fennessy, AiN; Barbara Ellis, AiN; Rosalie Mepham, Jean Gaddes, AiN; Tina Kelly, Sue Croaker, RN; Judy Grills, RN.

* Last Drinks Coalition launches video Member Bree Graham, RN at RPA, was on hand at the official launch of a new video that shows the dangers of alcohol abuse by the Last Drinks Coalition in March, along with project sponsors Rugby League Team the South Sydney’s Rabbitohs. ‘We see a lot of alcohol abuse incidents in our line of work. The event was great for the community because it highlights the violence that occurs, not only to those involved but also to health care professionals,’ said Bree. From left to right: Bree Graham, RN, RPA, pictured with Rabbitohs player Dylan Farrell, Steve Pollard and club co-captain Roy Asotasi.NUM; Morisset Mason’s Graham Train and Bill Welch; Julianne Angel, Acting Nurse Manager.

36 THE LAMP june 2011

) Hunter Nurses Forum at Newcastle Members from aged care, public and private hospitals attended the activist meeting where they discussed a range of workrelated issues. Front row, left to right: Robyn Penning, RN; Jenny Sneath; Neil Harris, CNS; Kerrie Hile; Tracey Webb, RN; Elizabeth Montgomery, RN; Middle: Robyn Keath, CNS; Loretta Steers, midwife; Terry Head, RN. Back row, left to right: Janice McNamara, EEN; Nola Scilinato, NSWNA Organiser; Natalie Lambie, RN; Monica Smith, EEN; Adam Holland, RN; Keren Payne, NSWNA Member Officer; John Paul Morris, NSWNA Organiser.

* St John of God Branch meeting Members from St John of God Private Hospital Branch met to discuss their upcoming Enterprise Agreement. Branch Officials felt that the response from members so far has been very positive.

‘Eleven members participated in the meeting, which was unusual for us, and we’re all feeling good about the upcoming Enterprise Agreement,’ said Margaret Reddy, RN and Branch Secretary. Pictured left to right: Murray James, RN; Karolin Matic, NUM; Margaret Reddy, RN; Jit Lim, RN; Sumon Ghazi (new recruit); Nadel Obligacion, RN.

) St Vincent’s Hospital Branch vote for Log of Claims Members at St Vincent’s Private Hospital voted in favour of the Log of Claims for their upcoming Enterprise Agreement.

Pictured in the front row are Paul Pager, CNE and Branch President; and Justine Jones, CNS and Branch Official.

THE LAMP june 2011 37

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o b i t u a r i e s

Bob Fenwick...

A generous friend and deeply-respected nursing professional g Bob Fenwick was a highly-

experienced, dedicated Community Mental Health nurse who was a passionate advocate for his patients and consistently supported his colleagues, particularly junior mental health nurses. He was also a strong unionist and tirelessly defended nurses’ rights’ at work.

Devastatingly, Bob was murdered on 2 January coming to the defence of a colleague who was being attacked by a patient. Bob was deeply loved and respected by his colleagues, who miss his passion, advocacy, generosity and kindness every day. Some colleagues share their thoughts about Bob Fenwick with The Lamp.

MENTORING PROGRAM HONOURS BOB FENWICK In recognition of his compassion and lifelong commitment to assisting people with severe mental illness as well as his mentoring of less-experienced colleagues, the Department of Health has developed a new initiative to honour Bob’s memory.

The Bob Fenwick Memorial Mentoring Program will fund up to 20 individuals to a total of $80,000 to encourage mental health nurses to take on a mentorship role. The NSWNA will administer the grant.

38 THE LAMP june 2011

From Bob’s colleagues at Bloomfield Hospital Bob Fenwick joined the Bloomfield Hospital staff in 2002. He came to the Bloomfield facility with a background of years of psychiatric mental health nursing experience and was immediately able to show that he could step into a number of senior roles around our large facility.

Bob showed he had an aptitude for hard work and many staff fondly recall Bob’s capacity to work with and mentor new students and other new practitioners in the mental health environment. Bob was very skilled in this area and always took the time to show people around the facility and show how to do things the correct way.

Bob was the type of person who was not afraid to speak his mind and this quality meant that he was both well respected by his colleagues and by the management of the facility.

Bob’s understanding of psychiatric illness was second to none and this showed with the warm empathy he used to care for the clients within his units. His clinical skills were excellent and he had a caring drive and was known to be both comforting, accepting and seen as a friendly face that the patients could talk to.

Bob was a very calm person; very ordered, and when he was on shift he was a natural-born leader who was able to take charge of issues that occurred.

Bob was renowned around the Bloomfield campus for his love of cars and his capacity to fix things. His colleagues and friends nicknamed him ‘Bob the Builder’ and staff at the facility would contact him if they needed help with anything.

Bob was a gentle, kind man who had devoted his working life to assisting people with the most severe mental illnesses. His respectful, compassionate approach to care, his calm demeanour and his down-to-earth manner made him a natural mentor to younger staff.

The staff of the facility miss Bob but take courage from his actions and know that deep down he is still with us in spirit and will forever remain as someone we speak proudly of in the Bloomfield family.

From Bob’s colleagues at Goulburn Hospital The bonds within mental health services can be likened to those in a family. There is lots of caring and interest. Bob in my early days, back in the ’60s, was perhaps like a big brother in the Kenmore family.

This protector role stayed with him in his professional life across the next decades, though his position in the ‘family’ changed more to that of the father.

Some of us have been around since Bob’s bachelor days when his big interest outside work was his Kombi van. We have shared the joys of his courtship with Jan, his marriage and parenthood.

By Jan Lucas, mental health colleague at Goulburn Hospital

a fridge, a TV and a comfortable lounge chair. If you visited Bob and got no answer at the front door, a quick walk to his shed would invariably find him there.

Professionally, Bob had a calmness and confidence about him, and a strong belief in allowing as much selfdetermination for his clients as he could, and was happy to advocate if necessary against what he considered paternalistic interference in his clients’ lives. To this day, I channel Bob’s calm manner and subtle inflections when speaking with clients.

By Tony Fry, mental health colleague at Goulburn Hospital

Bob had a passion for two things: his family and his love of his Kombi van.

Often the two would be intertwined, as he and [his wife] Jan enjoyed trips away, some with careful planning, some spontaneous.

Another great love of his was his ‘man shed’ – a refuge that contained all the essentials to a male’s existence:

Bob was the team historian. If ever you needed to know why someone was on a course of treatment or why they lived where they did or who with, Bob was the man. His knowledge and experience saved lots of time and embarrassment.

Bob was a strong role model and mentor – someone who was always looked upon by new staff and student

nurses as a father figure. He was a gentle, understanding and patient man who never seemed to tire of sharing his knowledge and experience with new staff.

Bob accepted and promoted the concepts of diversity, dignity and respect long before it became one of the publicsector values. He had long advocated for the rights of the mentally ill. He fully supported the move to community models of care but only if it was balanced by having enough hospitals to meet the needs of those with enduring illnesses who have never enjoyed a quality of life outside a hospital environment.

Bob was also a strong believer in psychiatric nursing as a profession. It may lack the glamour and high tech of some other forms of nursing but to Bob, and all of us, it is just as important and necessary.

We are all privileged to have known Bob and to have worked with him. The nursing profession has lost one of its most respected and loved people.

By Terry Fitzsimmons, mental health colleague at Goulburn Hospital n

The Edith Cavell Trust

Scholarships for the academic year 2012 Applications for the Edith Cavell Trust Scholar­ships are now being accepted for 2012. 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 50 O’Dea Ave, Waterloo, NSW 2017 T Mrs Glen Ginty on 1300 367 962 E gginty@nswnurses.asn.au W www.nswnurses.asn.au – click on ‘Education’

Applications close 5pm on 30 July 2011 THE LAMP june 2011 39

I

f you think you may have a problem with your sight, you are not alone. By 2020, around 400,000 people in Australia could have a vision impairment that affects their daily life.

But that’s where we can help.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT offers a range of free mobility services to help people with different levels of vision impairment.

You don’t have to be blind, and you don’t have to get a Guide Dog. To find out how we can assist people with impaired vision to get around safely and independently, call 1800-GUIDEDOGS or visit guidedogs.com.au today.

40 THE LAMP june 2011

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n u r s e u n c u t

What’s hot on Nurse Uncut g Should AiNs be licensed? Bariatric patient care. Robots to help nurse dementia patients? Early morning rising for aged care residents. And ethical dilemmas – your thoughts on organ donation. Read all the latest happenings at www.nurseuncut.com.au Fixing the Productivity Commission’s draft report Part 3: Licensing of Carers http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ fixing-the-productivitycommission%e2%80%99s-draftreport-part-3-licencing-of-carers/

The ANF strongly advocates for national licensing of Assistants in Nursing (however titled). The public interest is significant given the frailty and vulnerability of the clients/residents these care workers look after. Do you think AiNs should be licensed? If so, why? Tell us at Nurse Uncut!

Waking, showering and dressing aged care residents at 6am each day?

Bariatric patients: Nursing care and specialist equipment http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ bariatric-patients-nursing-carespecialist-equipment/

As the number of bariatric patients continues to increase, so do the associated risks and costs. In addition to specialist equipment, there is also a need for systems to be in place to ensure a safe environment for both patients and nursing staff. What is the system at your hospital? Do you have lifters and other equipment to help bariatric patients?

Have you ever been injured while lifting a heavy patient? And have you seen the number of bariatric patients increase?

Read more at Nurse Uncut.

Robots to help nurse dementia patients: innovation or disturbing? http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ robots-to-help-nurse-dementiapatients-innovation-or-disturbing/

Interactive robots are being used to improve the care and quality of life for people with dementia. This was the topic of discussion at an aged care and technology forum in Sydney. What do you think of using this technology to help people with dementia? Is it a disturbing turn in the treatment of the elderly or an innovation in care giving? Tell us at Nurse Uncut.

http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ waking-showering-dressing-agedcare-residents-at-6am-each-day/

What are nurses talking about?

Nurses are being told to have residents showered and dressed at 6am, but many of the residents prefer not to get up this early. Have you had a similar predicament in your workplace? Read more at Nurse Uncut.

Ethics: Thoughts about organ donation

EENs: What are we worth?

http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ forum/component/option,com_ ccboard/Itemid,24/forum,9/ topic,68/view,postlist/#ccbp3757

http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ forum/component/option,com_ ccboard/Itemid,24/forum,13/ limitstart,20/topic,174/ view,postlist/#ccbp3750

‘Let us not confuse stem cells and donor persons. They are based on two sections of the law and ethics that do not agree on common grounds. Donor [sic] of organs is an issue based on a person’s right to believe in this clinical area and, alive or dead, your body is yours whilst you maintain “capacity”; after this others can decide.’

‘What is an EEN worth? Not much more than an AiN – guess who is going to be filling the floor in years to come? The government does not want nurses – they would get rid of the lot of us and have unskilled labour doing our work; after all most hospitals are losing the hospital out of their names: Look to aged care nursing – it is worked by cheap labour.’

THE LAMP june 2011 41

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nursing research online

AJAN Update g The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing is a free online publication of scholarly nursing work seeking to develop and enhance nursing knowledge. Highlights include:

The Team Leader Model: an alternative to preceptorship Kylie Russell, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service, Western Australia; Ann Hobson, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service, Western Australia; Professor Robin Watts, Curtin University of Technology, Director of WA Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery, Western Australia.

The objective of this work is to improve the clinical practice environment for student nurses through an increased understanding of the relationships and of the situations in which that practice occurs.

This project sought to assess a new model of supervision and support based on a team approach – the team being a Registered Nurse, Graduate Nurse and a Student Nurse – that supported students, graduates and staff.

This project sought to assess a new model of supervision and support based on a team approach The main outcome measures were: to determine if the student’s clinical placement provided a reality of practice, where the student became the leader of the shift, supervised by the supervisor; to understand the relationships of support between graduate and student nurses; and to determine if the allocation of students via the Team Leader method reduced preceptor burnout.

The researchers found that the Team Leader Model demonstrated that it provided an improved allocation model of student supervisors, students felt a greater sense of reality of practice, and graduates appreciated the support of the Team Leader.

42 THE LAMP june 2011

Preferred models of cardiac rehabilitation in rural South Australia from a health consumer’s perspective

Senior clinical nurses effectively contribute to the pandemic influenza public health response

Tracey M. Wachtel, Lecturer in Nursing, Flinders University School of Nursing and Midwifery, South Australia.

Kirsty Hope, Peter D Massey, Maggi Osbourn, David N Durrheim, Christopher D Kewley, Catherine Turner.

The objective of the study was to investigate preferred models of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in rural South Australia from a health consumer’s perspective.

A previous heart condition was reported by 57.5% of participants and 7.5% had previously been referred to CR. More than half (52%) considered their condition ‘not serious at all’ or ‘slightly serious’ despite reporting a significant cardiac history. Transport, convenience, and flexible programs were raised as major considerations for planning future services. Most participants (69%) listed their local hospital as a preferred program location, with 55% stating they would not use an internet-based program. Overall, a group program was preferred to an individual program (46% vs 36%), with a higher proportion of men preferring an individual program.

The author concludes that while the main aim of cardiac rehabilitation is to maximise health and quality of life, it is vital to consider other characteristics of CR, such as convenience, accessibility, flexibility, and personal beliefs and preferences. Health consumer preferences are therefore an important consideration when designing future programs, to ensure interventions are individualised, and designed to increase access and attendance while minimising barriers.

The researchers sought to describe the experience of engaging senior clinical nurses as surge staff in a pandemic public health response and determine the effect of an online training package and exercise participation on these individuals’ perceptions and confidence of being deployed during an influenza pandemic.

Observers’ comments and afteraction reviews indicated that by the end of the deployment, day surge staff were able to perform public health surveillance functions competently. The end of day survey showed that the online training package served as a useful reference document but alone was an inadequate means of equipping staff for deployment.

Exercise pre- and post-perceptions surveys found that self-perceived knowledge and confidence in performing duties increased following the exercise from 46% to 93% (p<0.01) and from 46% to 90% (p<0.01), respectively.

The authors conclude that Clinical Nurse Consultants, Nurse Educators and Nurse Managers working within a health authority are an appropriate surge workforce during public health emergencies if provided with appropriate training and support.

The latest edition can be downloaded at ajan.com.au.

t n E m t r a p E D y c n E g r E Em

Schol arShipS

y nurSing, or working nc gE Er Em in ED St rE tE in arE you Ent? in an EmErgEncy DEpartm Scholarships are now available in the following areas:

Postgraduate study including but not limited to: – Nurse Practitioner

Applications: Open 23 May Close 1 July 2011

Clinical Placement in an emergency department for: – Undergraduate nursing students – Postgraduate nursing students

Continuing Professional Development

For the details, eligibility and applications please go to our website:

RCNA

freecall 1800 117 262 scholarships@rcna.org.au www.rcna.org.au

– Registered nurses who want to enhance their experience or change their area of professional practice Scholarships are also available for: – Emergency department administrative support staff wanting to undertake continuing professional development

Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS) is funded by the Australian Government.

RCNA, Australia’s peak professional nursing organisation, is proud to partner the Australian Government as the fund administrator for this program.

THE LAMP june 2011 43

Registered Nurse Goonellabah, Northern NSW UnitingCare Ageing is the single largest provider of Ageing care services in NSW/ ACT. UnitingCare Ageing North Coast Region provides residential and community services across the far north and mid north coasts of NSW. Our Goonellabah complex offers high and low level care, as well as dementia specific services within three residential facilities. It is a lifestyle-orientated community with excellent services and amenities and is experiencing rapid growth.

We are looking for a permanent, self motivated Registered Nurse who is passionate about providing quality care to the elderly and enjoys working alongside others in a supportive environment. Our RNs provide current clinical practice and assessments throughout the facilities and community, demonstrate clinical leadership around the development of our resident care plans, and coach and support the care staff.

Selection Criteria: • Registered Nurse currently registered with the NSW Board • Previous residential aged care experience preferred but not essential

Challenge us to find you a better deal.

• Experience in staff management of care staff • Knowledge of the aged care standards and the role of the RN within a facility • Knowledge of OH&S and quality systems • Highly developed verbal and written communication skills • Basic computer skills are an advantage We offer comprehensive CPDP, and a Nursing Scholarship Program

Union Shopper is all about ensuring members reCeive great value for money on whatever you are looking to Buy.

to enhance career pathways. If you are ready for a challenging and rewarding position where you can really make a difference in aged care, please apply.

For further information please contact the Human Resources Administrator (02) 6624 6333 or email humanresources@caroona.org.au Applications must address the selection criteria and are to

At no cost to you, we help save time and money, without the hassles and headache.

Be part of the savings and make the most of this valuable money saving service.

be forwarded to the Human Resources Office, UnitingCare

Before you make another purchase,

Ageing North Coast Region, PO Box 4048, Goonellabah, NSW

remember Union Shopper and challenge

2480. Or email humanresources@caroona.org.au

us to find you a better deal.

Applications Close 5pm Wednesday 22nd June 2011 *Salary packaging *Innovative and supportive working environment *Training and development UnitingCare Ageing is an EEO Employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Appointment will be conditional upon a satisfactory functional pre-employment screening and Federal Criminal Records check.

www.unitingcareageing.org.au Big Savings for Union Members

44 THE LAMP june 2011

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a t

t h e

m o v i e s

Review by Liz MacKintosh, Nurse Unit Manager, Blacktown Community Health Centre

g A powerful story of a woman who reunited children forcibly separated from their families in the UK and deported to Australia.

Oranges and Sunshine

T

he promise of a treat of fresh fruit and warm sunny days, Oranges and Sunshine tells the true story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham in the UK, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals of recent times: the deportation of 130,000 children from the UK to Australia.

This is indeed a story that needs to be told. Margaret Humphreys, the archetypical social worker, is an amazing woman, a very strong woman, a woman of conviction and sincerity. This is a story of her journey to reunite thousands of families affected by the enforced deportation.

The movie takes you on a reflective journey into the lives of those who survived the deportation, as a result of the investigations by Margaret or Mrs Humphreys as she was almost always addressed. The flicking back and forward between England and Australia showed the stark contrasts of climate, homes, people, accents and events.

I loved the detailed yarns, stories, conversations with the survivors. Emily Watson, who played Margaret Humphreys, was so believable in her actions and intentions.

Who could not be enchanted with the suave good looks of Len played by David Wenham? It’s that silky deep voice that tugs at my heart strings every time! A terrific line in the movie from Len was, ‘I stopped crying at eight and I don’t know how to cry anymore.’ That line gives you a glimpse of who he is and the impact of the trauma he suffered.

Hugo Weaving was outstanding playing a character called Jack. Jack was a gentle soul desperate to have his story heard and acknowledged.

For me, the ending was most abrupt and unexpected, sadly leaving me unnerved and anxious watching the credits rolling by. My preference is to have something warm and fuzzy to go home with! But it’s not that sort of movie – it’s confronting and disturbing. It has the power and ability to stir your emotions but even more so if you are one of the children who were deported to Australia and never had the opportunity in your formative growing years to know your ‘real’ mother.

If I may make bold a suggestion: take a friend with you, it’ll be good to debrief post-movie. n

The Lamp has 15 double passes to giveaway to Oranges and Sunshine. To enter, email lamp@nswnurses. asn.au with your name, membership number, address and contact number. First entries win!

STAY • DINE MEET • EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE GETAWAY IN THE HEART OF SYDNEY

Wake up a world away, amongst the tranquil surroundings and wild beauty of Sydney Harbour National Park in Q Station’s premier accommodation.

Dine on the harbour’s edge at the Boilerhouse Restaurant.

Take a tour and learn more about the history of the former Quarantine Station, one of Sydney’s most unique experiences.

The ultimate getaway – only 30 minutes from Sydney CBD. 1 North Head Scenic Drive Manly NSW 2095 T 02 9466 1500 www.qstation.com.au

QS TAT I O N Sydney Harbour National Park - Manly

managed by Mirvac Hotels & Resorts

THE LAMP june 2011 45

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b o o k s

Book me Professional Issues in Nursing: Challenges and Opportunities (2nd ed.)

By Carol J. Huston, Wolters Kluwer / Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, RRP *$61.95 : ISBN 9781605473956 This interesting American text thoughtfully explores the professional issues that nurses face. The author covers a range of issues including managing a foreign nursing workforce, education, staffing ratios and much more. The book is evidence based and cites a range of studies that could be useful in the Australian context. Overall, this is a good resource but is so focused in the American experience that many sections of the book are not directly pertinent to the Australian setting. Online resources are included.

special interest title First, Do No Harm: Being a Resilient Doctor in the 21st Century

By Leanne Rowe and Michael Kidd, with forward by John Murtagh, McGraw-Hill Companies, RRP *$35.00 : ISBN 9780070276970 First, Do No Harm reframes the traditional doctors’ rule, demonstrating that it should apply not only to patients, but also to doctors themselves. With their extensive medical, professional and academic experience, Leanne Rowe and Michael Kidd have created a legacy to be shared with medical students, junior doctors and experienced medical practitioners across all medical specialties. Provided by publisher.

46 THE LAMP june 2011

Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

By Janet Barker, Sage Publications Ltd (available through Footprint Books), RRP *$46.95 : ISBN 9781847872791 Evidence-based Practice for Nurses is an engaging and easy-to-use book that will help the reader to enhance or change their professional practice.

It has been designed to map onto the pre-registration curriculum and will be invaluable reading for all nursing students, as well as practitioners.

Provided by publisher.

Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing: Theory and Application (7th ed.)

By Bessie L. Marquis and Carol J. Huston, Wolters Kluwer / Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, RRP *$64.95 : ISBN 9781608316854 Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing was influenced by national events in business and finance that led many to believe that a lack of leadership in management was widespread. It became apparent that if managers are to function effectively in the rapidly-changing healthcare industry, enhanced leadership and management skills are needed. Provided by publisher.

Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice (9th ed.)

By Sandra M. Nettina, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, RRP *$95.95 : ISBN 9780781798334 Expanded and completely updated for its ninth edition, this full-colour classic reference is the one source every nurse needs for essential information on patient care. In an easy-to-read outline format, this clinically-focused guide covers all disorders and patient problems in medical-surgical, maternal-neonatal, pediatric, and psychiatric nursing, and includes over 150 step-by-step procedures. Provided by publisher.

Do You Want Bullying With That?

By Sue Forster, available by contacting Sue Forster (BullyBook@gmail.com), RRP *$49.95 : ISBN 9780646547435 Do You Want Bullying With That? attempts to describe bullying and how to prevent it in the anecdotal style rather than in the style of an academic research project. Therefore, it should be very easy-to-read with many examples, clip art insertions, and explanations, to assist the reader to understand the phenomenon of bullying. Provided by publisher. *Price in Australian dollars at time of printing

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 Elsevier Australia: http://www. elsevierhealth.com.au c Wolters Kluwer|Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: http://www.wolterskluwer.com c Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: http:// www.lww.com c Footprint Books: www.footprint.com.au/ c McGraw-Hill Companies: www.mcgrawhill.com.au

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

ST VINCENT’S PRIVATE HOSPITAL Nurse Educator Surgical Services, Operating theatres, Day Surgery Unit, Interventional Lab

St Vincents Private Hospital is 250 bed acute care surgical hospital with a total of 13 operating theatres and 2 interventional labs. The hospital has recently applied for Magnet status that recognises staff empowerment, professional practice and creates an exciting, innovative place to work.

The Nurse Educator, who will mentor 5 Clinical Nurse Educators, is also responsible for developing, promoting and evaluating education programs, policy development and facilitating the New Graduate Program. There is also an exciting opportunity to lead the Surgical Services to the forefront of healthcare with practice development and research.

To be successful in this position it is expected that you will have and be able to demonstrate the following: • Nursing registration with AHPRA • 5 years clinical experience in the

peri-operative environment • A post graduate certificate in peri-operative nursing

• • • • •

Relevant Masters qualification

(or currently completing) Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills Demonstrated leadership skills Team work skills Knowledge of contemporary education

practice and research.

This Nurse Educator position will be remunerated at the Nurse Educator Year 4 rate. As St Vincent’s Private is a not for profit hospital, staff are also eligible to ‘Package’ up to $9095 per year making this portion of your income tax free, maximizing your take home pay.

ENQUIRIES TO: Rosemary Sadowskyj, Surgical Services Manager, phone 83827555 or email rsadlowkyj@stvincents.com.au Applications to Sarah Coleman, Workforce Planning and Development Manager www.careersatsvmhs.com.au Closing date: June 12th 2011

Health Industry Plan

our super... our future Low fees Personal service History of strong returns

HIP 29710 (d)

1300 654 099 hipsuper.com.au This information from Health Industry Plan is general only. It is not specific to your personal financial situation, objectives or needs. Get the facts from www.hipsuper.com.au or talk to a financial advisor before making any super decisions. The Trustee of HIP is Private Hospitals Superannuation Pty Ltd ABN 59 006 792 749, AFSL 247063.

Our Industry Super Fund!

THE LAMP june 2011 47

The Enrolled Nurse Professional Association

Call for Nominations for The Ron Flockton Memorial Award ENPA are offering full conference attendance (travel, accommodation and conference fees) and 12 months membership to ENPA in remembrance of Ron and his dedication and passion to Enrolled Nursing.

This award is for Enrolled Nurses currently employed in NSW who has demonstrated their commitment to nursing by: • Excelling within their scope of practise.

• Pursuing professional, career and edu­ cational interests for all Enrolled Nurses.

• Showing a passion and flair for nursing.

• Acting as an advocate for, and support­ ing, Enrolled Nurses in NSW Health.

Typed applications (min 250 words) addressing any of the above criteria and outlining the qualifications and employment history of the nominated Enrolled Nurse.

The application should be signed by the applicant (either an RN or EN) and another (either RN or EN) who supports the application, and forwarded to: The Secretary ENPA PO Box 775, Kingswood NSW 2747

Before 1 August 2011. **Please ensure that full contact details are included.

A first-class health service needs first-class professionals like you.

WA Health has a vast range of employment opportunities. We have 111 different places to work across WA and 2.3 million customers. To find your opportunity, visit www.health.wa.gov.au

48 THE LAMP june 2011

DOH 11941 DEC’10 THE LAMP

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THE LAMP june 2011 37

Solution page 50 THE LAMP june 2011 49

Diary Dates

DIARY DATES Conferences, seminars, meetings SYDNEY, HUNTER & ILLAWARRA A.C.A.T Nurses Meeting Date: 21 June, 1pm – 3pm Venue: Bankstown Hospital in 2A / 2B Contact: Wendy Oliver at 9722 7236 or wendy.oliver@sswahs.nsw.gov.au Royal Hospital Randwick Information Evening Date: 29 June, 4-6pm Venue: Level O – Staff Tearoom Contact: Annette.wright@sesiahs.health. nsw.gov.au Basic & Advanced Cardiac Life Support 2-day Course Date: 8 & 9 July Venue: Westmead Private Hospital, Westmead.

Contact: (03) 9390 8011 or info@critical care.edu.au or www.criticalcare.edu.au Care of the Deteriorating Patient 2-day seminar Date: 29 & 30 July Venue: Westmead Hospital, Westmead Contact: (03) 9390 8011 or info@critical care.edu.au or www.criticalcare.edu.au Women’s Health and Midwifery Conference Date: 6 August Venue: Auditorium, Woolworths Corporate Head Office.

1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista Contact: Ms Marian Piper, Nurse Unit Manager, Birth Unit, Norwest Private Hospital, marian.piper@healthscope.com.au Navigating Neuro Date: 27 August Venue: The Chifley, Wollongong Cost: $88 Contact: Megan Sims 4253 4400 or megan.sims@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au The ‘ALERT’ Course – Acute Life-threatening Emergencies, Recognition & Treatment, 2-day seminar Date: 9 & 10 September Venue: Westmead Hospital, Westmead.

Contact: (03) 9390 8011 or info@ criticalcare.edu.au or www.criticalcare. edu.au Enrolled Nurses Professional Association Annual Conference Date: 22 & 23 September Venue: Armidale, NSW Cost: $240 ENs wishing to present a paper please call 1300 554 249 50 THE LAMP june 2011

Perioperative Nurses Association Queensland Inc (PNAQ Inc) Annual Conference 2011 Date: 29 September – 1 October Venue : RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast Contact: Email: pnaqconference@arinex. com.au or www.pnaqconference.net.au REGIONAL 3 Bowl Triples Tournament Date: Friday 16 September, 9am Venue: St John’s Park Bowling Club (Fairfield Council Area) Contact: Paul.Sillato@swsahs.nsw.gov.au INTERSTATE & OVERSEAS The Frontiers of Pain Australian Pain Society 31st Annual Scientific Meeting Date: 12-16 June, Darwin Convention Centre, NT Contact: (02) 9954 4400, aps2011@dcconferences.com.au or www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2011 End of Life Care Masterclass Date: 17 June Venue: Manchester Conference Centre, UK Contact: www.mkupdate.co.uk, bookings@mkupdate.co.uk The Future Role of Support Workers and Assistant Practitioners 2nd National Conference Date: 30 June Venue: LONDON Contact: www.mkupdate.co.uk to see complete listing of events, dates and venues in the UK. Advanced Emergency Skills Masterclass Date: 21 June Venue: Manor Hospital, Walsall, UK Contact: bookings@mkupdate.co.uk, Ph: +44 17687 73030 Teaching and Training Skills Date: 28-29 Venue: TBC Contact: enquires@mkupdate.co.uk, www.mkupdate.co.uk Optimising the Management of Pain Date: 18-19 August Venue: Melbourne Contact: Change Champions & Associates, PO Box 668, The Junction, NSW 2291 tel: 02 9692 0533 or www.changechampions.com.au

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 50 O’Dea Ave, Waterloo NSW 2017 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.

12th International Mental Health Conference Date: 24-26 August Venue: Radisson Resort, Gold Coast Contact: http://www.anzmh.asn.au/ conference2011 for full details 7th European Congress on Violence in Clinical Psychiatry Date: 19-22 October Location: Clarion Congress Hotel, Prague Contact: info@oudconsultancy.nl 7th International Meeting On Intensive Cardio Care Date: 31 October – 1 November Location: Tel Aviv, Israel Abstract deadline: 300 word abstract by August 1, 2011 Contact: The Secretariat, 7th International Meeting On Intensive Cardiac Care, P.O. Box 574, Jerusalem 91004, Israel.

Ph: ++972-2-6520574, conventions@ isas.co.il or www.isas.co.il// cardiac-care2011 3rd Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium Date: 14-16 November Venue: Mercure Hotel, Ballarat, VIC Contact: Laura Hancock, Conference Secretariat ruralhealth@anzmh.asn.au The Future Role of Support Workers in Perioperative & Critical Care Date: 24 November Venue: Manchester, UK Contact: www.mkupdate.co.uk to see complete listing of events, dates and venues in the UK.

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.

Reunions Sydney Hospital Graduate Nurses Annual Reunion Lunch Date: 5 October (Wednesday) at 12 noon Venue: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney Contact: Jeanette Fox: 02 4751 4829

Reconnect with alumni, Sydney Nursing School The Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery is seeking to reconnect with their Nursing and Midwifery Alumni. Graduates of the Sydney Nursing School, including our foundation alumni who graduated from the Institute of Nursing Studies and the Sydney College of Advanced Education are invited to join this network of alumni and have access to professional networking events, social reunions, free magazines, new research and more.

Contact : Anna Schubert, 02 9036 9644, nell.king@sydney.edu.au or Sydney.edu. au/stayconnected

NSWNA Events Check venue location with Lyn Stevens on 02 8595 1234 or 1300 367 962.

For more information on NSWNA Education Courses contact Carolyn Kulling at the Association Ph: (02) 8595 1234 or free call 1300 367 962 or visit the Association’s website http://www.nswnurses.asn.au/ topics/2761.html

Crossword solution

Crossword error We know how much readers enjoy doing the crossword.

Unfortunately, last month there was a crossword error, which left many of you disappointed. The Lamp apologises for this error.

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Can you tick all the boxes?

Yes, my super fund: 4 Has the best fee deal for superannuation and retirement funds open to the public1 4 Won the Money magazine’s Best of the Best lowest cost super fund award four years in a row2 4 Is one of the ten largest funds in Australia3 4 Offers access to great value financial planning4 and pension products 4 Is a not for profit fund that does not pay commissions to advisers.

If you can’t tick ALL the boxes, then maybe you should talk to First State Super today.

To find out more about First State Super, visit www.firststatesuper.com.au or call us on 1300 650 873.

1 SelectingSuper, a company of Rainmaker Information Pty Limited ABN 86 095 610 996, describes the best overall fees payable for super funds open to the public where overall fees are calculated for a member earning around $50,000 pa who has had $50,000 in their super fund’s default investment option. Retirement fund fees describe the best overall fees payable, where overall fees are calculated for a member with an initial deposit of $100,000 and receives 12 monthly pension payments all invested in the fund’s default investment option. Research dated June 2009.

2 The funds in Money magazine’s Best of the Best Lowest-Cost Super Funds were chosen from SuperRatings’ platinum-, gold- and silver-rated balance funds and ranked on their annual costs associated with a $50,000 balance. First State Super was the winner in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

3 SelectingSuper’s ranking of the Biggest Funds. March 2011 First State Super was ranked 8th in the category ‘Super funds with the most members’ and 6th in the category ‘Super funds managing the most money’.

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TICKBOXES LAMP 0411

Consider the applicable First State Super ABN 53 226 460 365 Product Disclosure Statement before deciding whether becoming a member or continuing your membership is right for you. To obtain a copy visit the website or call us. Issued by FSS Trustee Corporation ABN 11 118 202 672, AFSL 293340. April 2011.