Question 1

Briefly describe your current work situation, and factors impacting on the working lives of nurses.

My name is Faye Tomlin and I am a registered nurse in Queensland currently working in a regional hospital in the city of Rockhampton.  I have a B:Nursing UCQ and a GD: Paediatric Nursing  ACU.  Currently, I am employed as a Level 2 Registered Nurse in a busy, dynamic 16 bed acute paediatric/adolescent unit which services children / young people and their families from birth to the age of 17 years.  

For me as a professional registered nurse who is committed to nursing and providing the best care possible to the community of Rockhampton and surrounding areas, the most significant factor impacting on my work life is the lack of recognition and support for what I do as a registered nurse in the health care environment. 

As nurses, we are a professional group of health care providers who have the privilege of sharing intimate moments with people and families.  People allow us to touch their bodies and trust us with their inner most thoughts and beliefs.  Nurses understand a person’s spirit, acknowledge their suffering and allow people to talk to heal themselves. 

The following story clearly reflects my role as a registered nurse and how the current work practices impact on my ability to perform in my professional role.  

This was a typical Friday afternoon and my shift began at 2:30pm.  Upon arriving to work there is myself and one other registered nurse on the unit for the next 8 hours with 10 patients.  Our hospital uses a management tool call TREND that predicts the required nursing hours per patient.  I have 4 patients to provide care to and a workload that amounts to 9h30m in my 8h shift.  I express my concern to my nursing supervisor who is unable to provide any further nursing staff.  

I commence my shift on a busy, understaffed ward.  The phone rings constantly, the buzzers ring constantly, patients need to be transferred to theatre or brought to the ward from A&E.  I must consult with other health professionals to ensure patient care issues are being addressed and so much more.  This is a typical day, I struggle to keep on top of the workload, I am feeling stressed and asking myself  ‘WHY do I do this??’.

On this day a child by the name of Robbie 14yrs (not true patients name) had been admitted with his family.  He is currently undergoing chemotherapy and the transfusion of blood products to ensure he is comfortable at the end stage of his life, which is nearing.  It’s 8pm at night and I haven’t had a meal break and the nurse call buzzer goes off for Bed 14.  He isn’t my allocated patient but I was the closest so I answered the call.  Robbie’s mum needed assistance as her son had been incontinent of urine and faeces.  Together we change the sheets and clean Robbie.  As I talk to his mother I see tears welling in her eyes, her pain, her anger, her sadness - her suffering.  At that moment I extend my hand and touch her on the forearm - I say to this mother - “You must be suffering”.  She whispers “Yes, I am”.  I say “ I’m sorry”.  She sobs loudly and violently.  As I comfort her, I encourage her to tell me about her wonderful son, her wonderful husband, children and family and inturn what this experience means for her.  Acknowledging the suffering of this mother and allowing her to talk and heal is what I do as a professional registered nurse that is unique to nursing and fundamental to our practice as nurses.  

How do you ever TREND what it is a nurse does !!  

To answer my early question as to why do I do this? - It’s simple, I believe in what I do as a nurse.

Question 2

What strategies do you think would assist in the recruitment and retention of nurses?

Thank-you for this opportunity to speak in a forum that will ensure a strong future for nursing.  

Firstly, let’s commit to promoting Nursing as a positive career choice for young people.  Graduates are our future and we need to attract the very best.  To ensure a secure future, nurses must continue to be educated within a university setting and supported to undertake ongoing education and perform research.  Upon graduation, leadership development and roles for nursing leadership will also ensure nurses remain in a profession that has opportunity for career development.  

Nurses are leaving the profession as a result of the inequalities that exist within health care.  Nurses need to be supported to take back the power.  Nurses need to know that what they value and say is making a difference.   Nurses have the education; knowledge and intimate understanding of the people within our communities to ensure professional standards and quality patient care are maintained.  If we are committed to these outcomes, then we must provide the necessary nursing staff resources needed to meet our current service demands.

A registered nurse should not have to leave ward based clinical nursing to fell like they are developing their careers.  All levels of nursing need to be involved in decision making.  Support for professional development with ’non-patient contact hours’  each week is they only way to ensure nurses can continue to develop as a profession without the stress of  being expected to work with the public and perform other professional duties at the same time, on the same day.  

We will succeed if we are not set up for failure!!