Jacquie works as an educator at a NSW Hospital and chatted to us about mature workers, technology and stereotyping issues she has noticed in the public and private sector.

What is the general feeling toward older mature nurses/midwives in your workplace?

“The general feeling is usually neutral in most wards but some staff accept that the older midwife or nurse tends to move a little slower, however their knowledge base is usually very deep.

The area we tend to fall down on is IT skills, we tend to be a little slower in accessing results and unless taught these skills and allowed to practice we do not retain them as well as other old nursing/midwifery skills.

However in face to face communication and verbalisation with the patient, the older midwife and nurse far out exceed their younger counterparts. This is how they were trained. They can still do the physical work while engaging with the patient and extracting information and detail with the greatest of easy.

I am aware of instances where the older nurse or midwife has felt victimised by their ‘younger NUM’. On investigating the allegation and looking at facts, the problem seems to be that the older nurse is not confident with using computers and has difficulty accessing results off the system. Many IT programs are not user friendly.

Education in private sectors is extremely limited. The discriminatory behaviour is less overt, often a group of older mature workers are left manning the floor while the younger generation attend training and education programs offered by the companies that run the private sector.

However, some of this older generation do not see the need in attending training or education…there is a “that’s the way I was taught so that is the way I will do it” mindset. This work group do not see or respect the advances of midwifery or nursing training, research or evidence-based training or care.

CPD system now in existence has been the best practice introduced to the registration system.”

Do you think older/mature workers are under pressure to prove that they still ‘measure up’?

“This really depends on the hospital and the facility you work at. However trying to keep up with mandatory training is very difficult, plus do all the work in the ward. Sometimes you feel so overwhelmed and unsupported.

As an aside, the older nurse and midwife today seem to be doing more night duty/ late shifts /and weekends so that the younger nurse midwife can have time off for pregnancy, breast feeding , child-minding, and school holidays. I acknowledge that yes this is progressive and better for young mums in the child rearing years, and yes I was a trail blasé for this change. But when do we get the easier shifts? When do we get to spend quality time with our families?”

Do older/mature workers have a larger workload?

“It’s depends on the circumstance and patient acuity. In my case, I am an extremely experienced midwife and childbirth educator. It is not uncommon for me in the private sector to be running an education session and doing some patient care on the ward. We do tend to get the heavier/ more complex patient load usually the same number of patients allocated.

We are also left to teaching the students, the new grad on rotation, or even the new residents, new registrars on the how the ward or unit works. The practical day to day routine or stuff we do and oversee as well as look after our patients. Most of us when the NUM, MUM, or Team leader steps off the ward we run the ward and still do our patient care. Yes we do have a larger workload than our peers.”

What would help these older/mature workers feel more valued?

“Gaining a CNS2 status for years and experience noted especially if extra training and education was continued throughout your nursing/midwifery career. All extra qualifications over and above our hospital training have some recognition. Fairer allocation of shifts & holidays (especially festive period) the younger nurses and midwives who are young mums working some evenings, nights and weekends not just day shifts.

Have some sought of recognition of years of registration &/or years of working in our chosen profession. Perhaps the NSWNA could have a story or film event telling of the development of the modern Australian Nurse/ Midwife throughout Australian nursing history.”

What special skills would help older/mature workers feel more confident?

“All available IT skills, all training needed to become aux with knowledge and expertise required to work in the modern nurse/midwife area, power point presentation; and perhaps we can give patient communication (person to person) interaction sessions.”

Does stereotyping happen in your hospital? Or are older workers well respected for their wealth of knowledge?

We’d be very interested to know your comments. Leave them below or email us at admin@nurseuncut.com.au

Image credit: NSWNA

Former White House health policy adviser Zeke Emanuel has hit on a staggering comparison to illustrate the inefficiencies of the predominantly privatised American healthcare system compared with the publicly funded European health care systems.

‘The United States spends on health care alone what the 65 million people of France spend on everything: education, defence, the environment, scientific research, vacations, food, housing, cars, clothes and health care.

In other words, our health care spending is the fifth largest economy in the world.’ (France has the fifth largest economy in the world, with a gross domestic product of nearly $2.6 trillion. In 2010, the United States spent $2.6 trillion on health care.)

For more than 30 years, US health care costs have been growing 2 per cent faster than the country’s overall economy.

Emanuel says that if this rate of growth is maintained, health care will be roughly one-third of the entire economy by 2035 – one of every three dollars will go to health care – and nearly half by 2080.

‘The United States spends about a quarter more than countries with some of the best health care systems in the world, like Germany and France.’

Does this comparison surprise you? Why do you think this is?

Image credit: NSWNA

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Our Nurse Uncut Christmas Contest winner Florey is loving the iPad she won!

Florey completed her Bachelor of Nursing in the Philippines, graduated in 1995, and has been nursing ever since. She worked in the Middle East for three years before coming to Australia in 2004 and completing her conversion course at the College of Nursing. She is currently working at Blacktown Hospital-Acute Medical 2.

Florey heard about Nurse Uncut from The LAMP and started browsing the site. She thought there was no harm in entering the contest, though she didn’t expect to win when she saw there were already around 140 entries.

“I checked my email and was so surprised to see I had won! I was completely overwhelmed.

“I explained to Nurse Uncut admin that I was leaving for a holiday soon and was thrilled when a NSWNA staff member, who lives near our place, came that very same day to deliver my iPad!

“I am enjoying using it, especially listening to music, checking my emails, browsing the internet, and using Facebook, and my daughter loves playing games on it and taking and uploading photos. It’s fantastic!

“My colleagues and friends were asking how I won it so I have since encouraged them all to visit Nurse Uncut and join in!”

Florey says what she likes about Nurse Uncut is the updates on what is happening in the nursing industry. She likes expressing her thoughts and opinions and reading what other people have to say. She thinks the jobs page is also very beneficial for those wanting to find a job in NSW.

“Thank you very much and more power to Nurse Uncut!”

We’ll be running another contest on Nurse Uncut in coming weeks so be sure to watch out for it!

Image credit: kaboodle.com

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Nurses and assistants in nursing working in aged care and public health in the Federal electorate of New England have joined together to seek Tony Windsor’s support.

By supporting aged care in Budget 2012, Tony Windsor can make a real difference to thousands of older Australians living in New England.

‘Please support us Mr Windsor’ ‘Please help us achieve aged care reform and an increase to aged care funding. This will deliver benefits to so many local people you represent, older Australians, their families and dedicated Nurses and AiNs throughout your electorate.’ – Irene Neyle, Enrolled Nurse, Werris Creek.

Aged Care is in crisis and quality of care for vulnerable older Australians must be a priority. By signing the petition, we are asking local MP, Tony Windsor to:

1. Make Budget 2012 the aged care budget;
2. Ensure quality of care by guaranteeing a minimum number of nurses to residents on every shift;
3. Ensure that Budget 2012 commits the funds to close the wages gap and guarantee nurses remain in aged care.

Community Meeting

Nurses in Tamworth will be holding a community meeting on Wednesday March 7th at 7.00pm in the Tamworth Community Centre to talk about the aged care crisis, and hand over the petition to Tony Windsor MP. Speakers include

• Tony Windsor, MP Member for New England,
• Yvonne Chaperon, Assistant Federal Secretary ANF,
• Jan Howard, Registered Nurse, aged care,
• Ros Norman, Enrolled Nurse, public hospital, and
• Maryann Krug, wife of a nursing home resident.

Nurse Jan Howard (pictured) who is speaking at the meeting will talk about the day to day reality of working in aged care.

Want to help?

1. Download a leaflet
2. Put up a poster
3. Come to the community meeting
4. Sign the petition to Tony Windsor MP and ask your friends and families to sign it.
5. Send a message to Tony Windsor MP that you support more aged care funding.

Image credit: ANF

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The Australian Nursing Federation’s national Because We Care campaign for more resources in the aged-care sector is gathering momentum in Tamworth.

The first few hundred signatures to be presented to independent member for New England Tony Windsor were gathered at Northgate Shopping Centre on Tuesday the 24th of January, the first day of the petition locally.

NSW Nurses’ Association Tamworth representative Roz Norman said nurses, assistants-in-nursing and residents living in aged-care facilities joined together during the Country Music Festival to attract more public support.

“Aged care can’t wait,” Mrs Norman said.

“Our petition is calling on Mr Windsor, as our local federal MP, to stand up for aged-care funding in the 2012 budget.”

Australian Nursing Federation secretary Lee Thomas said the aged-care sector urgently needed more than 20,000 extra nursing staff to meet the demand of the nation’s ageing population.

“But the massive shortage of aged-care nurses is no surprise, considering nurses in aged care are paid significantly less than nurses working in public hospitals making between $168 and $300 on average less per week,” Ms Thomas said.

The information stall will remain at Northgate this week before it will be placed outside Woolworths in Shoppingworld in coming weeks. The petition will be presented to Mr Windsor at the Tamworth Community Centre on Wednesday, March 7.

Have any aged care campaign events have been held in your region?

Image credit: NSWNA

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Nurses in NSW have fought hard for desperately needed nurse-to-patient ratios, which have now been delivered via set nursing hours per patient day. New funding is available for 1,400 more nurses and midwives to join NSW public health over the next two years.

It means there will be better working conditions and more nurses and midwives in our hospitals – a key ingredient to better patient care.

It’s a great time to go into nursing in NSW, or to come back to it. There are hundreds of new positions available right now.

NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda said, ‘We campaigned hard to win these provisions as part of the Award. It’s time for nurses and patients to start reaping the benefits we have won.’

To find out about jobs which are being offered in the first ward conversions, go to http://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au/

Once there, enter “Nursing” for categories and the appropriate LHD for entities, then hit the Search button.

And of course you can just visit the Nurse Uncut job page (here) to find nursing positions in NSW!

It’s a great time to go back to nursing!

Image credit: NSWNA

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This survey research is being carried out by the NSW Nurses’ Association in conjunction with Public Services International (PSI), the global federation of public service unions.

The research is part of a global project on the international migration of health and social care workers. In Australia we want to collate evidence from health and social care workers about migration experiences. We are carrying out this research because we want to improve the experience of nurses that migrate.

We are also concerned to make sure that migration takes place through ethical recruitment procedures, which ensures that migrants are properly informed about the job they are being recruited into.

We encourage you to look over the questions below and leave your responses in the comments section below. You can complete the questions anonymously.

What is your view of the value of overseas nurses in Australia today?

How do you believe overseas nurses contribute to quality patient/resident/client care?

What do you believe are the challenges facing overseas nurses while working in Australia?

How would you suggest these could be addressed?

Do you think that overseas nurses experience equal opportunities and conditions of employment as other Australian people? Please elaborate on this with regard to pay, working conditions, opportunities for career development etc.

If you would like to fill out a full survey (there is a survey available for migrant nurses and one for nurses who have been educated in Australia) please email lkremmer@nswnurses.asn.au

Image credit: PSI

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Employers must pull out all stops to protect Australian jobs and not take a gunshot approach to addressing global economic challenges, say unions.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Ged Kearney said it was becoming too easy for employers to cut jobs in response in response to overseas uncertainty in the economy.

Ms Kearney said today’s announcement that Toyota would cut 350 local jobs was another blow to both the manufacturing sector and to the Australian economy.

“We know this year will be challenging on many fronts because of the instability in the economy throughout Europe and other parts of the globe,” she said.

“Australia is better placed than almost any other developed nation to ride out the challenges from overseas, thanks to the Labor Government’s strong economic management during the Global Financial Crisis three years ago.

“But if employers start slashing jobs at the first sign of difficulty then Australia cannot get through the current challenges unscathed. A strong economy is dependent on jobs growth which will sustain demand.”

Jobs losses hurt families and individuals, they do long-term damage to communities and they blunt the economy.

The reverberations will be felt for a long time to come so employers must think carefully about the long-term consequences of their actions. It is only January and already this year we have heard of around 1000 job losses in the banking sector and ongoing turmoil within manufacturing.

“It is time for cool heads and a considered approach so that Australia can ride out this year’s economic storms in the same good shape in which we survived the Global Financial Crisis.”

What are your thoughts on the job cuts?

Do you know people affected by these job losses?

Is this an answer to global economic challenges?

Source and image credit: ACTU

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The continuing global shortage of more than 4 million health care workers is symptomatic of the crisis in health care as essential public health services are reduced, with both health care workers and users suffering its severe consequences.

A direct consequence of this crisis is the exodus of workers from health sector employment, which eventually leads to migration, with workers seeking better pay and working conditions in other countries.

The NSW Nurses’ Association in conjunction with Public Services International (PSI) are undertaking a comprehensive participatory research and mapping of migration in the health and social care sectors. The results will form part of a Global Report on Migration which will be presented at the 2012 PSI Congress.

Did you migrate to Australia to work as a nurse or midwife?

Why?

Was it to take advantage of better pay and working conditions in a different country?

Please leave your comments in the section below! 

Or, if you have 30 minutes to contribute to this very important research, we would love to hear from you. Please email lkremmer@nswnurses.asn.au for more information.

Image credit: PSI

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Aged care nurse Terri Burrell, who is in charge of 59 patients, is paid $12,000 less per year than a nurse with a similar job in a public hospital.

Ms Burrell, 49, is an experienced Registered Nurse who runs night and evening shifts at an aged care facility in Sydney’s inner west.

Late at night she must cope with just three other staff and no doctors. In the event of an emergency, Ms Burrell must decide if a doctor needs to be called or a resident needs to go to hospital.

She must also supervise the care of residents suffering from dementia and a range of physical ailments. “I don’t have a doctor there on the premises like we do in a hospital,” she said.

While hospitals and child care centres have staff-patient ratios, Ms Burrell said Australian nursing homes did not. This meant a night shift at her facility saw two nurses and two assistants overseeing 59 residents!

Compounding the problem, residents are now sicker and frailer when the reach nursing homes due to people living longer and staying at home longer with home help.

“They’re coming in so much worse off than they did before,” Ms Burrell said. “People are living longer. There’s nothing wrong with that … but when we get them their level of care is very high.”

This is the reality for Australia’s aged care nurses, who work just as hard and have just as much responsibility but are paid much less than their hospital counterparts.

The situation is putting pressure on an already stretched aged care system. A Federal Government spokesperson told Health Reporter the aged care system needed reform, but nurses like Terri Burrell say action is long overdue.

The Australian Nursing Federation recently welcomed the Federal Government’s $18.7 million plan to expand the role of Nurse Practitioners, who are qualified to treat clients in an advanced clinical role, in residential and community based care.

But the ANF’s Because We Care campaign also wants a better wage deal for all aged care workers.

Aged care nurses earn $168-$300 on average a week less than those in public hospitals – at a time Australia urgently needs 20,000 more aged care nurses.

An ANF online survey late last year found 78 per cent of aged care nurses and assistants, 90 per cent of whom are women, would leave if the wage gap wasn’t closed. Only 10 per cent wouldn’t leave.

ANF Federal Secretary Lee Thomas said the message was loud and clear. “The vast majority of low paid nursing and care staff working in aged care are very worried about the wages gap across the sector and are now prepared to leave their job because of it,” he said.

Will you leave aged care if the wages gap isn’t closed?

Source: ANF and Health Reporter

Image credit: NSWNA

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