Issue 23 21/11/11 fortnightly
Are you a Registered Nurse? Do you want a fast paced exciting career? Do you want to be part of a motivated professional team? Are you committed to self managed learning & professional development? Westmead Hospital, one of Australia’s largest major trauma and quaternary referral teaching hospitals is currently recruiting to this inaugural professional development program. If you are interested in developing your skills in High Dependency Nursing this could be the opportunity you have been looking for. To discuss the next step in your critical care career at Westmead hospital contact us: Dan.West@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au Luke.Sloane@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au The High Dependency Care: Specialty Year of Practice commences in 2012 www.ncah.com.au
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For more details visit our website at www.uhg.com.au and to Apply online visit www.healthscreening.com.au For general enquiries, please phone Jessica on (03) 9692 7049
Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 3
www.ncah.com.au Issue 23 21 November 2011 We hope you enjoy perusing the range of opportunities included in Issue 23, 2011. If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportunities, please contact the advertiser directly via the contact details provided. If you have any queries about our publication or if you would like to receive our publication, please email us at careers@ncah.com.au “FACT, NOT FICTION” The NCAH Magazine distribution is independently audited by the Circulations Audit Board. Total Audited Print and Digital Distribution: 24,823 The NCAH Magazine is the most widely distributed national nursing and allied health publication in Australia Next Publication: Nurse Leaders Feature Publication Date: Monday 5 December 2011 Colour Artwork Deadline: Monday 28 November 2011 Mono Artwork Deadline: Wednesday 30 November 2011 For all advertising and production enquiries please contact us on +61 (0) 3 9271 8700, email careers@ncah.com.au or visit www.ncah.com.au If you would like to change your mailing address, or be included on our distribution, please email careers@ncah.com.au
Published by Seabreeze Communications Pty Ltd Trading as NCAH. ABN 29 071 328 053. © 2010 Seabreeze Communications Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. Compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1974 of advertisements contained in this publication is the responsibility of those who submit the advertisement for publication.
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Advertiser List AHN Recruitment Alliance Health Australian Catholic University Australian College of Applied Psychology Australian Defence Force Australian Medical Services Australiasian Academy of Cosmetic Dermal Science CCM Recruitment CM Health Queensland CQ Nurse Drake Medox First Choice Care Goulburn Valley Health Koala Nursing Agency Medacs Australia NSW Health Oceania University of Medicine Oxford Aunts Care Parkinsons NSW PJ Locums Pulse Staffing Quick and Easy Finance Regional Nursing Solutions RMIT Sunrise Health Service The College of Nursing Unified Healthcare Group University of Tasmania University of Technology Sydney Wimmera Health Care Group
Nursing Agencies are not all the same Your First Choice is Your Best Choice!
Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 5
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OXFORD AUNTS CARE 3 Cornmarket St. Oxford OX1 3EX UK Phone: ++44 1865 791017 Fax: ++44 1865 242606
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THEATRE NURSES Swan Hill, Victoria Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) has two operating theatres, PACU with CSSD & Day Procedure. Surgical services provided at SHDH include general surgery, endoscopy, orthopaedic, gynaecology, ENT, ophthalmology and urology. They are currently seeking suitably qualified and experienced candidates for these important roles.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (Perioperative Services) Registered Nurse (Perioperative Services) Minimum requirements • Registered Nurse (AHPRA) • Recognised tertiary qualifications If you think you have the skills and experience to undertake this role then you are encouraged to review the material about the role and the salary package on the additional pages and to lodge an application online.
AGED CARE NURSES Aged care sector Several positions Melbourne and surrounding regions Our client, Cambridge Aged Care Group is dedicated to high quality care for our older persons. They currently operate five facilities and expect to expand further in coming months. They are seeking caring nursing professionals to join their team dedicated to creating a new paradigm in the aged care sector. They aim to provide high quality care and are therefore seeking to recruitment a number of dedicated nurses to achieve this goal. To be considered for these roles, candidates must demonstrate the following: • Hold current registration with AHPRA • Understanding of the needs of the aged and a passion for meeting those needs • Knowledge of the legislation governing nursing practice and Occupational Health and Safety legislation • Standards of care required by government authorities • Excellent written and comprehension skills • Computer skills of the ability to be taught and understand specific software programs Applicants should have an unrestricted right to work in Australia Further details about the role and to lodge an application visit our web site at www.ahnr.com.au.
If you are looking to make a fresh start to your career or would like to register your interest in future job opportunities go to
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W: www.ahnr.com.au E: ahnr@ahnr.com.au T: 1300 981 509 Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 7
Passionate about Nursing? Teacher required for Brisbane-based Nursing course • Endorsed Enrolled Nursing in an Aged Care Environment • Leadership and academic mentorship • Develop, design and implement training packages and course work CM Health is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified Nurses to teach Endorsed Enrolled Nursing. The purpose of this role is to deliver learning services through vocational educational programs, liase with providers, manage educational resources, show variety in teaching methodologies, evaluation, assessment and workplace delivery all within an exciting and changing work environment. Requirements: • Registered Nurse qualification • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment • Demonstrated ability to facilitate learning services Temporary, Full-Time, Contract - Brisbane-based
• Demonstrated industry knowledge • Excellent communication skills • Resource management skills • Driver’s licence
For a confidential discussion and role description, submit a resume and cover letter to Brett Vince at brett.vince@cmhealth.com.au
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A GREAT CAREER MOVE GV HEALTH – NURSE UNIT MANAGER – SURGICAL UNIT Goulburn Valley Health (GV Health) in central Victoria is just 2 hours drive north of Melbourne with proximity to alpine snowfields, rivers and lakes, wineries, the arts; we enjoy glorious weather, great lifestyle and the sports and attractions of a major regional city. Are you looking for an opportunity to broaden your horizons and get away from hectic city life? As a growing health service Goulburn Valley Health requires a dynamic and passionate Surgical Nurse Unit Manager for our 30 bed Surgical Unit. This is an exciting opportunity for a long term career with a health service which has an exciting growth agenda. Enquiries: Christine Ryan, Associate Director of Nursing on (03) 5832 2392. For further details or to obtain a copy of the position description please visit our website at www.gvhealth.org.au Applicants are required to register and apply online, and must address the key selection criteria as outlined on the GV Health website. Applications must be received by 30th November 2011
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1123-047 1/2PG FULL COLOUR CMYK (typeset) Parkinson’s Neurodegenerative Disorders Graduate Certificate Scholarships Parkinson’s NSW Inc. is offering registered nurses working in NSW an opportunity to gain a postgraduate qualification at the University of Notre Dame, Australia. Completion of the Graduate Certificate Neurodegenerative Disorders which specialises in Parkinson’s disease will assist registered nurses in their personal and professional development. This will enhance the care given to patients with Parkinson’s disease. Four scholarships up to $5,000 each are available. The Grants Guidelines and Application Format can be obtained from our website www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au or please contact: Miriam Dixon on (02) 8875 8900 or pnsw@parkinsonsnsw.org.au Closing date for applications is Friday 16th December 2011. Page 10 | www.ncah.com.au
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CALL NOW (02) 9212 1244 www.alliancehealth.com.au Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 11
Wage claim must include aged care nursing staff: ANF The Australian Nursing Federation is lobbying for aged care nursing workers to be included in the Federal Government’s $2 billion bid to deliver an historic pay rise to 150,000 of the nation’s lowest paid workers.
ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas applauded the government’s move but urged the PM not to forget aged care workers, who are paid between $168 and $300 on average less per week than nurses working in hospitals.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced plans to join the Australian Services Union in a joint submission to independent umpire Fair Work Australia, and providing $2 billion to fund its share of any wage increases awarded.
“We are pleased the Prime Minister is lending her support to the submission but we are concerned that nursing and care staff in the under-resourced aged care sector have been left out of this wage claim,” Ms Thomas said in a statement.
But the government has so far singled out the social and community services sector, including those who work with people with disabilities, in counselling families, running homeless shelters and those working with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.
“The wage disparity in aged care, where women make up 90 per cent of the workforce, has to be acknowledged and addressed as a matter of urgency by the Gillard Government.
Federal Government figures show that of the 150,000 workers in the sector, 120,000 are women, and the government states Fair Work Australia has already found their work has been undervalued because of gender considerations.
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“The government must be consistent here, if it is serious about assisting low paid workers, particularly women, then it has to include those working (in) the aged care sector.” The ANF has called on the government to inject $500 million to close the wages gap in aged care.
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New Zealand nurse to study lessons of disasters A New Zealand mental health nurse will research the health sector’s level of preparation for the psychosocial effects of major disasters.
“Staff were prepared for dealing with injuries but the biggest effect was the fact they had no casualties and had to deal with the grief and distress of the community,” she said.
Porirua independent consultant Frances Hughes, who is currently working for the Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation and WELTEC, has been awarded a Fulbright New Zealand Senior Scholar Award for 2012.
Ms Hughes and an Australian colleague ran a series of workshops in psychosocial emergency response in June, receiving overwhelming interest from nurses working in accident and emergency, mental health, general practitioner, neonatal and palliative care services.
Ms Hughes will spend five months based at Rutgers University College of Nursing in Picastaway, New Jersey, examining growing international evidence on the topic. Ms Hughes, who worked in the aftermath of the 2001 World Trade Centre terrorist attacks in New York, hopes to learn lessons from America’s response to the disaster and also major natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. Ms Hughes has also trained nurses in the wake of the 2005 Boxing Day tsunami and this year’s Canterbury earthquakes.
Ms Hughes said the ongoing psychosocial effect of the earthquakes highlighted a need for a level of preparedness and nationwide response that can be sustained over long periods. “For the most part, our readiness for disaster has relied on the disaster being a ‘one off’, time-limited event,” Ms Hughes said. “As health professionals, we are not well equipped to deal with an ongoing state of serious disruption to infrastructure, and to managing the problems that emerge months after the initial event.”
“The time is right for this work and for these lessons to be received in New Zealand,” Ms Hughes said. “Natural disasters will continue to occur and health professionals will always be at the forefront of the response. “The better prepared our health professionals are in this area, the greater their ability to respond and help our communities, and prevent harm to themselves and others.” Ms Hughes, one of six people to receive the 2012 scholar awards, first became interested in psychosocial emergency response when she arrived in New York just before the terrorist attacks to take up a Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy. Page 14 | www.ncah.com.au
Frances Hughes
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Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 15
Online CPD education in healthcare by Bridget Willett Is it easy to complete your CPD online? Now that things have settled down following the move to national registration, it is a good time to look at some of the online options for completing the continuing professional development (CPD) hours required for health professionals. Elearning is an easy, accessible way to complete CPD hours in your own time, without the challenge of attending lectures and juggling times. With shift work, this becomes even more convenient. However, the cost of completing online subjects varies greatly, depending on the provider, so it is a good idea to shop around, making sure that whatever program you complete can be claimed as CPD. Choosing the right units or programs can be a question of what you are planning in the future. If you are thinking of further study in a particular speciality, many training organisations offer single units for CPD that will give you recognition of prior learning towards additional qualifications.
developed for paediatric healthcare professionals and educators, and covers the basics of environmental health, as well as related paediatric medical practices and case studies. One program that was launched and went live earlier this year is the Mental Health Professional Online Development Program (MHPOD), an evidence-based online learning resource that is funded by all the states and territories, as well as the federal government. This national project is being rolled out across the country, beginning with Victorian mental health services. The material for this program has been written and produced in Australia by the Psychosocial Research Centre at the University of Melbourne and includes around seventy hours of tuition on forty five wideranging subjects that are strongly linked to the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce.
One example of this is in relation to nurses looking for preceptorship training. The Australian Institute of Flexible Learning has developed a new Workplace Supervisor Skill Set that consists of three electives delivered for a fee online and on the job to suit individual nurses, the workplace and the industry. This skill set is recognised nationally as the standard for supervising trainees, VET students and new staff members.
The way it works is that the online topics and units are provided to health services as part of their training plan and it is up to each individual service how they use them. While it was designed for mental health workers, it is hoped that consumer advocates, carer advocates, Aboriginal health workers and other allied health workers will also utilise it. If you are working in mental health and looking at CPD options, or would like to extend your qualifications in the area, talk to your employer about whether this program is available for you.
There are some very specific online training modules like the Paediatric Environmental Health Toolkit Training Module offered free of charge by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. This training was
The Victorian Department of Health has funded a program called CPDWorks that delivers free and open online learning for Victorian allied health professionals, particularly those based in rural locations. It provides a range of inter-
Page 16 | www.ncah.com.au
professional presentations, which have been developed in response to themes and issues raised by allied health professionals working in rural and remote areas. While the learning is not discipline-specific, and therefore, in some cases, may not be claimed as CPD, there are a variety of services provided, and training can be tailored for the needs of individual health services, if required. When keeping a record of the CPD you have completed, remember to include the dates, number of hours and a brief description of the study undertaken. The most important thing is that the study is relevant to your area of practice. Ask your employer if they can provide a template for you to use. After all, while it’s not your employer’s responsibility
to ensure that you fulfil the required CPD requirements for re-registration, it is in their best interests to make completion of CPD as easy as possible. The ANF has a CPD template on its website for you to download and fill out. It also provides online topics that can be purchased for different amounts – nominal for members and more for non-members. If the tutorial is worth five CPD points, that equates to five hours. Depending on your preferences and work situation, online CPD can be a good option for completing some, if not all, of your CPD requirements. Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 17
Paul takes leap from plumbing to nursing After working 18 years in retail plumbing supplies, Brisbane’s Paul Sharp has changed careers to become a nurse educator. The 44-year-old Endorsed Enrolled Nurse is now delivering nursing subjects for the Southbank Institute of Technology, where he studied for his Diploma of Nursing in 200809. Paul, originally from Manchester in the United Kingdom, decided to change career paths after a working holiday in the UK, where he picked up part-time work as a personal carer for a nursing agency, carrying out home care in night shifts. “I really, really enjoyed it,” he said. Paul returned to his work in Australia in bathroom design and sales, and five years later he decided to make the move into the nursing sector. “Perhaps it was the fact that I was approaching 40…I just needed a change,” he said. “I decided to take the leap and do some study. It was the best thing I ever did.”
Paul studied for 18 months at SBIT’s new Health and Science faculty to gain his qualification before moving into the aged care sector, where he conducted emergency response training for new staff and inductions. “It really started from there…that really gave me a taste for facilitating and being in the classroom environment.” With a Certificate 3 in Aged Care, Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment and Certificate 4 in Workplace Health and Safety, Paul is now helping to up-skill aged care workers. Paul hopes to one day embark on further studies to become a Registered Nurse but, for the moment, he can’t believe how much his life has changed and the world of opportunities that now await. “If someone had of said to me five years ago that I would now be delivering nursing subjects, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said.
Paul Sharp
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Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 19
Queensland physiotherapist lends a helping hand A Queensland physiotherapist has spent five months working as a volunteer, performing post-operative rehabilitation for orthopaedic as well as helping with burns and plastic surgery cases in one of the world’s poorest countries. Nick Veltjens, who works at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, volunteered with global charity Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where he provided professional care and helped establish clubfoot clinics around the country, in a bid to empower local clinicians.
see a parent start crying when they see their little boy putting on his first pair of shoes, or when one of the little kids runs up to give you a warm hug, it is hard not to want to return to Africa and do it all again. “One of the most rewarding experiences is to see parents smiling proudly at their child’s progress, knowing you had a small part to play in helping them have a vastly different and brighter future,” he said.
rewarding
Mercy Ships has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978, providing free health care and community development services to the poor.
“Seeing the whole journey of patients from admission to discharge is one of the great things,” he said.
Each year, the Africa Mercy provides more than 7000 free surgeries at its state-of-the-art hospital complete with six operating theatres, 78 hospital beds and a crew of 450 people.
“When you see young children taking their first steps on new straight legs, when you
For more information about Mercy Ships visit www.mercyships.org.au
Mr Veltjens experience.
said
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was
a
Nick Veltjens
Page 20 | www.ncah.com.au
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Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 21
Upcoming Special Features Nurse Leaders Issue 24
Publication Date: 5 December Deadline Date: 28 November This feature will include a range of career and education opportunities for senior nurses and allied health professionals. If you have any management positions for nurses or allied health professionals, or nurse leadership courses that you would like to promote, please contact us.
New Year, New Career Issue 25
Publication Date: 19 December Deadline Date: 12 December This is a great opportunity to promote opportunities for nurses and allied health professionals to consider as they contemplate the new year. Any colour advertisements booked in Issue 25 (final publication for the year) will also run in Issue 1 – 2012.
For bookings or enquiries, please contact the NCAH team on (03) 9271 8700 or email careers@ncah.com.au
Page 22 | www.ncah.com.au
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Expert urges dietitians to embrace technology Dietitians should embrace new technology and not fear it, according to one Australian expert in the field. Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian Dr Yasmine Probst, a National Health and Medical Research Council senior research fellow at the University of Wollongong’s Smart Foods Centre, said dietitians have traditionally been hesitant to take up new technology but she said it was important they remain up to date. Dr Probst said some practices still use paper-based records for all documentation while others are partly using technology for business administration or to assist in nutrition education. “There is the potential for dietitians to move towards completely automated or technologically-assisted practices,” she said.
“Many clients or patients are now gathering information about nutrition from the internet and this is a vital piece of technology that dietitians need to embrace and utilise to remain up to date with new research, news and trends that their clients or patients may be hearing about,” she said. “The use of smart phones and tablet technologies now means dietitians can make use of online booking systems and email communications rather than relying on traditional means of communication.” Dr Probst said when she first introduced the idea of using technology for dietary assessment during her PhD, she was met with “extensive negativity”. For the full article visit NCAH.com.au Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 25
What job do you want? Thinking about a new job opportunity? Perhaps a change of scenery or a step-up to a leadership role? Post your target job details and your resume on the NCAH.com.au website. You can enter your: • Target job title. • Your desired salary. • The locations in which you’re interested in working. • Your field of specialisation. • How soon you’re interested in taking on a new job. Recruiters will use the NCAH website to find & then contact you. Your first step is to visit NCAH.com.au and click the ‘Upload Your CV Now!’ button on the home page.
Page 26 | www.ncah.com.au
Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 27
Feeling crook? Pharmacy students study Aussie slang Chucked a sickie, got a gut-ache, bitten by mozzies, feeling under the weather and stung by a bluey. These Aussie colloquialisms are now being deciphered in an innovative university course for pharmacy students with international backgrounds. The University of Queensland’s School of Pharmacy launched the unique language program for first year pharmacy students in 2008 in a bid to help pharmacists better communicate with their patients. School of Pharmacy project team leader Jacqueline Bond said in a serious situation someone might seek advice from a pharmacist saying “he’s cactus, he’s carked it, call the ambo”. “They might hear that someone has been out raging all night, got rotten, been on the plonk, on the turps or on the grog, had a liquid lunch, and now feels rooted or stuffed. They might complain about not being able to ‘eat’ tea,” she said. “A patient might ask a pharmacist if something is ridgy-didge or fair dinkum, or say - are you having a lend?
“They might offer to give something a burl, say a child has been screaming like a stuck pig, or that someone has gone troppo. “Pharmacists deal with all sorts of questions…these sayings can completely bamboozle pharmacists from non-Australian backgrounds.” Ms Bond said understanding Australian slang could be a matter of life and death. “It’s vital that pharmacists have excellent communication skills when they enter the profession, to ensure that medicines are used safely and effectively,” she said. The course has been designed especially for pharmacists, discussing ways patients may communicate their symptoms, such as feeling “under the weather” or “crook”. Since the course was introduced, students have shown an improved performance in their oral and written exams and an increased confidence when going into their pharmacy placements.
University of Queensland pharmacy student Shirin Hui Tan with project team leader Jacqueline Bond
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E-Health (Health Informatics) Courses Department of Rural Health
These e-health courses are appropriate for both health professionals involved in adopting information management tools into their daily work flow and for those interested in moving into the emerging field of health informatics. H5E Graduate Certificate in E-Health (Health Informatics) This part-time course comprises four compulsory one semester units. H6E Graduate Diploma of E-Health (Health Informatics) This part-time course builds on the certificate, and consists of one additional compulsory unit and three extra electives. All units are one semester in length. H7E Master of E-Health (Health Informatics) The Masters by course work program can be completed part-time over three years. It comprises ten units and a small research project. Courses are external, self-paced learning packages that use electronic and/or print-based materials. They can be completed with a minimum of disruption to home and work life as there is no compulsory residential component. Fees: Commonwealth Supported Applications for 2012 are open.
www.ruralhealth.utas.edu.au/informatics
7656
For more information, contact: University of Tasmania Department of Rural Health Phone: (03) 6324 4000 E-mail: Sue.Whetton@utas.edu.au
Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 29
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OUR CMYK (typeset)
Clinical midwife consultant wins national award A Melbourne clinical midwife consultant has won a national leadership award for her work developing an innovative care program for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Vanessa Watkins, of Eastern Health, was awarded the Deakin University-Health Super 2011 Leadership in Nursing and Midwifery Award on October 26, receiving $20,000 to put towards nursing education and professional development. Ms Watkins has created a more collaborative health care framework and better options for women during pregnancy with the development of the Expected Pathways of Care for Pregnant Women program. Ms Watkins, who is originally from the United Kingdom and joined Eastern Health in 2003, realised a more collaborative approach from midwives and clinicians would improve the care of women during pregnancy and also reduce the incidence of post-partum complications. As a result, the evidence-based care Pathways program was designed for women expecting to have uncomplicated pregnancies, which was labelled the ‘green’ pathway. It includes clinical practice guidelines and quick-reference algorithms for changes that could increase a woman’s risk, such as gestational diabetes. In the event of any changes, women are referred to the appropriate clinician, who then writes a care plan so the woman can take a hand-held record into labour. Women with past complications, that may not affect current pregnancies, are placed into an ‘amber’ pathway while a ‘red’ pathway was designed for women with pre-existing conditions, such as hypertension, that may affect their pregnancy.
After two years of planning, a six-month pilot program was launched featuring education packages to support professional development, and resulting in increased safety for women. Pathways has reduced the risk of severe post-partum haemorrhaging by helping to better manage the earlier stages of labour. Already the program is paying dividends for women at Box Hill Hospital, where it has helped halve the rate of severe post-partum haemorrhaging. As a result, Pathways has become an ongoing part of professional practice at Eastern Health. “There is now an organisation-wide expectation that midwives will be able to work in their full scope of practice to provide high quality care for women with uncomplicated pregnancies,” she said. “Pathways has made significant inroads toward a functional and achievable model for collaboration in maternity care, based on mutual respect and understanding of the scope of professional practice for each group of clinicians.” Ms Watkins now plans to use her prize to fund her PhD study on the ongoing Pathways program, including a ‘realistic’ evaluation, and will visit hospitals at the centre of innovations in maternity care in the United Kingdom. “Professionally, I’ve never been happier,” she said. “A woman’s experience of giving birth stays with her for the rest of her life. It’s a privilege to share that transition to parenthood with women and their families.” Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 31
10 Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing Agency The sky’s the limit when it comes to career choices in nursing but when it comes to choosing a nursing agency to help you navigate that career path, it’s vital to choose the right one. NCAH spoke to those in the know - agencies and agency nurses – to get their top tips for making the right decision. 1. Seek recommendations from colleagues or friends. Talk to others around you about their experiences with different agencies and forge your own conclusions. 2. A simple yet thorough recruitment process. From the face-to-face interview to discussing your qualifications and experience, it is paramount the process includes thorough reference checking and appropriate drug testing. WorkPac HealthCare chief operations officer Peter Keith says photo ID and a free uniform should be included. “These things should be not-negotiable,” he says. 3. Convenience. Some agencies offer quick and convenient ways for nurses to flag their shift availability, anytime and from anywhere - either through smart phone technology or through around-theclock phone support. First Choice Care recruitment manager and specialist nurse Sara Horsey says their agency offers an iShift application, compatible for iPhones and Android phones. “They can update it at their leisure,” she says. “It’s an easy way of giving availability.” 4. Communication and support. Can you decline work requests without being concerned about risking future work opportunities with the agency? Do they listen to and accept your reason for saying no? Will your agency discuss regular work opportunities with you? And will they be there to help you if you are involved in a complaint or criticised? Page 32 | www.ncah.com.au
5. Ongoing education. Does the agency offer opportunities for ongoing education? Some nursing agencies offer free training and many agencies consider it an imperative part of their role to continually up-skill nurses in the latest technologies and clinical developments. Some agencies also offer online education that can be accessed any time of the day or night. 6. Security. It’s important to consider whether you are fully protected by your agency. Are you contracted as an employee or as an on-hired worker? The distinction is critical, according to Peter. “The difference here could see you being personally liable if your contract doesn’t specify that you are an employee,” he says. “As highlighted by the ANF recently, this type of clause can have dire consequences.” 7. Are they healthcare experts? Do they have the expertise to understand the healthcare landscape, from the complexity of the move to national registration, a single national award and increasing compliance with registration requirements? 8. Are you treated with respect? “It’s really about engagement and feeling valued,” says Sara. “When they have friendly staff in the office and they recognise you, that’s nice. You get that sense of ownership and that they have remembered who you are.” 9. Flexibility. Do they offer work to suit YOUR needs? 10.They take care of the little things. Do they offer a useful and truly rewarding loyalty program? Do they offer exceptional pay rates and pay you correctly when it suits you, either weekly or fortnightly? Do you simply sign on for work or have to submit a time sheet? Often, it’s the little things that count.
1123-050 1/2PG (typeset) Fair Work Australia Orders End to Industrial Action Fair Work Australia ordered that the ANF suspend their industrial action for 90 days while they try to resolve their dispute with the Victorian State Government on the grounds that the bans were jeopardising patient safety. Nurses have defended their action, stating beds have only been closed where there is no threat to patient safety or welfare. The bans had begun taking their toll on an already stretched hospital system, with more than 300 elective surgeries postponed and lengthy waits for beds in emergency departments. Nurses began closing one in three hospital beds on November 12 in their bid for an 18.5 per cent pay rise over three years and eight months. The Baillieu Government has offered a 2.5 per cent rise per year. The industrial action came after revelations the government planned to cut 1758 nurses and shave $105 million from its budget, with the end of fixed nurse-to-patient ratios, introducing shorter shifts and replacing some nurses with health assistants. The bans did not include neo-natal and paediatric patients, haemodialysis and haematology patients, maternity and oncology patients, palliative care patients, terminations of pregnancy, intensive care and coronary care units, and high dependency patients. The Royal Children’s Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre were also exempt from the action. For the full article visit NCAH.com.au
NURSE UNIT MANAGER Wimmera Health Care Group is one of Victoria’s leading regional hospitals and provides high quality, people focused care cross the Wimmera region. The combination of lifestyle choices, a broad range of recreation and leisure activities and picturesque rural reas makes Horsham a wonderful place to live, work and enjoy life! An opportunity exists for an experienced Div 1 Registered Nurse to join the Wimmera Health Care Group (WHCG) as a Nurse Unit Manager of the Oxley Acute Care Ward which incorporates 29 acute medical / surgical beds and 5 intensive car beds. Benefits include: • A comprehensive orientation program • Executive support • Availability of a range of salary packaging options • Assistance with relocation expenses and accommodation For more information contact Ms Janis Scarlett, Nursing Operations Manager on (03) 5381 9253 or visit www.whcg.org.au Email applications to Mr Don McRae, Director of Clinical Services: don.mcrae@whcg.org.au
BAILLIE STREET, HORSHAM 3400 PHONE (03) 5381 9111 www.whcg.org.au
Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23 | Page 33
Women and Infants (Maternity) Unit - Orange Health Service
Interesting facts: • Births have risen steadily since 2006, now approximately 900 per year • Midwifery continuity of carer program (Caseload) to be implemented in 2012 • 20 bed inpatient ward • 4 bed birthing suite (capacity for 5) • 4 cot Level 2 Special Care Nursery Associated Services and Model of Care include: • Antenatal outpatient clinics • Early Pregnancy Assessment Service • Day assessment beds • Out patient assessment service • 4 bed birthing suite (capacity for 5) • 4 cot Level 2 Special Care Nursery • Parenting classes • Community Midwifery Program (early discharge service) • Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section (VBAC) antenatal clinics • New separate antenatal education classes for women with identified psychosocial vulnerabilities • External Cephalic Version (ECV) clinics/planned provision For more information, visit www.orangehealthservice.com.au or contact Bradley Molenkamp on (02) 6369 3700
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Nursing Careers Allied Health - Issue 23
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