Embedding wellbeing practices for better patient care

In the wake of COVID-19, surge centres and Walk-in Centres across Canberra have had to deal with increased patient visits, longer hours, and staff shortages. For Alison Wong, Advanced Practice Nurse and Manager of a local Walk-In Centre, ensuring her staff are looking after their wellbeing has been a challenge.

Alison has been a Nurse for ten years. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, she was working in intensive care and oncology, moving into primary health care more recently in a community-facing role. Alison has seen a lot of the healthcare system, and in her time at the Walk-In Centre, almost every aspect of the pandemic.

“Walk-in Centres are unique because you never know who or what is going to walk through the door. The best part of our job is being able to provide health care for the community who are worried, scared, and don’t know what to do.”

With some clinics not being able to see patients faceto-face, Walk-in Centres have had to remain open for the community. Nurses have had to adapt to the increased hours and numbers of patients and put themselves at risk to improve the accessibility of healthcare for their patients. Alison said her staff have been incredible during this period. “They’re just extraordinary. They can adapt, and they will adapt to make sure that the community gets the health care they need.”

While Alison appreciates how the efforts of her staff have positively impacted the community, she noted that these changes have also taken a toll. Now in a management role, the past two years have affected her own views on wellbeing and its importance in the workplace, especially in health care.

Alison recognises that when you are in a position of care, you are so used to prioritising the health and wellbeing of your patients that your own health and wellbeing seems to always come second. “That’s the problem with Nurses and Midwives. We just don’t take time for ourselves.”

As a champion of wellbeing, Alison encourages her staff to look after themselves. However, she also knows there is a lot of guilt surrounding sick leave or leave to ensure mental wellbeing in the context of staff shortages. As a manager, Alison tries to take on that responsibility, but concerns for patients can lead to staff working through burnout.

Alison Wong at the 2021 Biennial Conference

“We’re dealing with a workforce that’s incredibly tired right now. There are a lot of issues with self-care and wellbeing. It’s incredibly hard to look after a patient when you are not in the right headspace.”

As the healthcare system continues to grapple with COVID-19, Alison has seen more staff shortages, more fatigue, and general exhaustion amongst her staff. While we commend Nurses, Midwives, Assistants in Nursing, and other health professionals who are working harder than ever to provide for the community, short-staffing issues and fatigue are becoming more common.

Alison remains hopeful that this will change, as there is a strong sense of camaraderie and desire to look out for one another amongst her colleagues, and across the healthcare sector in the ACT.

“In the Walk-in Centres, we are really good at looking after each other. As we are all senior clinicians who have been working in the healthcare system for years, we very much recognise burnout amongst ourselves and know when to stop before it gets to that point.” Aiming to change the stigma of overworking and not reaching out for help within the professions, Alison hopes to see better implementation of wellbeing practices as well as an increase in staff to assist in taking some of the pressure off. “We can do better when it comes to prioritising and encouraging Nurses, Midwives, and Assistants in Nursing to prioritise their wellbeing. A lot of us won’t put ourselves first. Especially when we are critically short staffed and we pick up extra shifts because we know it’s better for our colleagues and for our patients. Of course we are wellbeing champions but a lot more can be done in that space to protect our Nurses, Midwives, and Assistants in Nursing.”

Having joined the ANMF ACT before the pandemic began, working as a Workplace Delegate before taking on a manager role, Alison reflected on how positive ANMF ACT advocacy has been for her staff, and has assisted in efforts to champion wellbeing.

“The ANMF ACT has helped a lot of our staff who have gone through a couple of things. As a union member, I have seen how great ANMF ACT advocacy is for our professions.”

Alison hopes that moving forward, with the ongoing help of the ANMF ACT advocating for members, better standards and practices can be implemented to help protect healthcare workers and assist them in prioritising their wellbeing.