The Lamp February 2009 by NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

volume 66 no.1 February 2009

CELEBRATIONS AT Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

HEALTHE HEALTHSCOPE NEW PRIVATE HOSPITAL AGREEMENTS

Do you know a remarkable nurse?

Hoste

im Wa tkins

TICK

Recognise the outstanding efforts of a remarkable nurse by nominating them in one of three categories:

Nurse of the Year Innovation in Nursing Graduate Nurse of the Year

d by K

ON SAELTS E

Special guest p erforma .. nce by Bjo r

NOW

n Again

NOMI NATIO CLOSE NS 28 FEB RUAR 2009 Y

Winners announced at a gala dinner on Thursday 14 May 2009 at Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crown Entertainment Complex For more information, to nominate and purchase tickets visit: www.hestanursingawards.com HESTA Super Fund ABN 66 006 818 695 H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 64 971 749 321 | AFSL No 235249 .. Kim Watkins and Bjorn Again appear by arrangement with Saxton Management Group Pty Ltd

2 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Proudly presented by:

ABOUT THE LAMP

C O N T E N T S

Cover story

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

volume 66 no.1 February 2009

Celebrations at Healthe, Healthscope New private hospital agreements 14

CELEBRATIONS AT Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

HEALTHE

Cover Michelle Thomas, RN, and Wendy Rice, Branch Secretary, Prince of Wales Private Hospital.

HEALTHSCOPE NEW PRIVATE HOSPITAL AGREEMENTS

Photography by Sharon Hickey.

News in brief

Aged care

31 Nurses and community push for quality aged care 36 Bright future for aged care

8 8 9 9 9 9 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13

WA nurse practitioner clinics push for prescriptions Charges against CFMEU official dropped Award Modernisation threatens vulnerable workers Do you know an inspiring nurse? Sydney Hospital 30-year reunion Happiness – as contagious as the flu First Notre Dame nurses graduate Aged care nurses ‘emotionally exhausted’ Mercy Ship needs theatre nurses APHEDA relief for Gaza High praise for nurses in Gaza and Israel NZ tightens requirements for overseas nurses Sierra Leone Nurses’ Association goes global Zimbabwe nurses beaten Drastic rise in Pacific childbirth mortality Mumbai nurses praised for ‘presence of mind’ in terror attack The latest medical monitor – the mobile phone Nurses top of honesty and ethics list Stop using ’love’ and ’dearie’, UK nurses told

Agenda 20 Remedies for a health system in crisis 35 Green jobs bonanza

Industrial issues 24 NSWNA saves 130 jobs 27 Work bans get results at Batlow 28 McKesson pushes non-union agreement

Professional issues 32 2009 NSWNA education calendar

NSWNA matters 39 NSWNA film makers set to shine

Lifestyle 40 Movie reviews

Regular columns 5 6 34 42 45 47 49

Editorial by Brett Holmes Your letters to The Lamp Ask Judith Books Nursing online Our nursing crossword Diary dates

Competition 25 Win a 2-night escape along Wollongong’s Grand Pacific Drive

Special offers 40 Win 25 double passes to W. and 20 double passes each to Ghost Town and Revolutionary Road.

Contacts NSW NURSES’ ASSOCIATION For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office. SYDNEY OFFICE 43 Australia Street Camperdown NSW 2050 PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9550 3667 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au W www.nswnurses.asn.au HUNTER OFFICE 120 Tudor Street Hamilton NSW 2303 ILLAWARRA OFFICE L1, 63 Market Street Wollongong NSW 2500 NSWNA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Noel Hester T 8595 2153 NSWNA COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Russell Burns T 8595 1219 For all Lamp editorial enquiries, letters and diary dates: Editorial Enquiries T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnurses.asn.au M PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 THE LAMP PRODUCED BY Lodestar Communications T 9560 1223 PRESS RELEASES Send your press releases to: T 9550 3667 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 Mark Kearin, Blacktown/ Mt Druitt Hospital Roz Norman, Tamworth Base Hospital Stephen Metcalfe, Lismore Base Hospital Peg Hibbert, Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital Michelle Cashman, Long Jetty Continuing Care ADVERTISING Patricia Purcell T 8595 2139 or 0416 259 845 F 9550 3667 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 $70, Institutions $106, Overseas $116.

International Nurses’ Day 2009

Enter our Short Film Festival for a chance to

win $5,000! stival hort Film Fe of $2,000! S A N W S N prizes 009, the urses’ Day 2 e of the two runner up N l a n o ti a rn , n Inte or o story to tell a e To celebrate chance to win $5,000 v a h d n a creative offers you a re talented, lm now. a rs e b m e m fi r We know ou y and enter your short sington. la e d Theatre, Ken ’t n e o d ra a so d P ’s A 13 May at NID Showing on

ION: MORE INFORMAT ite for full details bs we r ou t ou k ec Ch Nurses’ Short Film about the NSWNA itions and for nd co s, ize pr Festival, ort workshops that information on sh tips to help you will give you some film. Entry Forms produce a quality from : d de loa wn can be do sn.au www.nswnurses.a ENTRY DEADLINE: 12 March 2009 y No later than Frida Y TO: POST YOUR ENTR ting & rke Ma , ge Rid e Lynn er, Recruitment Offic tion, cia NSW Nurses’ Asso DOWN, ER MP CA , 40 x Bo PO NSW 1450.

Your film can be up to 3 (including cred its) minutes in length and can cover anyt hing relating to nursing. All styles of films are accepted, inclu ding but not limited to documentaries, comedy, drama, animation, horror, musical, and anyth ing in between. There is no charge for you to enter however your film must: Be original. Have been produced with in the last 18 months. Have not been shown at any other festi val. Be no longer than 3 minutes. Have all the music contained in the film, copyright cleared. Be submitted in DVD form at. Be submitted with signed Deeds of Release for all those appearing in the film. It is our intention to run the Nurses’ Short Film Festival over the week of International Nurses’ Day (12 May) at the NIDA’s Parade Theatre on the 13th of May and then throughout the State where it will be tied in with NSW NA Regional Roadshow visits. This is a unique opportunity to tell your story that is in some way connected to nursing. Let’s have some fun with this, our first NSWNA Short Film Festival, it’s your choice whether you make peop le laugh or cry — or both!

4 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 AUTHORISED BY B HOLMES, NSWNA

E D I T O R I A L BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY

The bold and the cynical g Private hospital employers Healthe and Healthscope have signed up to good agreements with their employees but Ramsay continues to stall – a tactic that smacks of cynicism.

esides delivering good pay rises and a raft of improved conditions, the agreements with Healthe and Healthscope close the gap with public health system nurses. In recent years, private hospital pay rises have lagged a year behind the public health system. At Healthscope that lag has been cut to six months, at Healthe to nine months. These are significant gains (see page 14). In contrast, the country’s largest private hospital operator, Ramsay, has wasted months during bargaining talks with NSWNA officials tabling ridiculous offers the company knows are unacceptable to their employees and which are now grossly inferior to the sector standards set by their competitors. This is a cynical tactic that the Association has become familiar with over the years. The longer they stall, the more money Ramsay retains as profits at the expense of nurses’ wages. This is mean spirited behaviour from a company, which, according to its own annual report, had revenues of $2.7 billion and a net profit of $123 million last financial year. The Healthscope and Healthe agreements, besides the annual pay increase of 3.9% and 4.1% respectively, also deliver other tangible improvements with a Continuing Education Allowance and better paid maternity leave. Healthe has also included a stronger workloads clause, increased night duty penalty rates and increased EEN rates. All these improved conditions will see private hospital nurses employed by these two companies on more favourable terms relative to their colleagues in the public sector than they were previously.

We now expect Ramsay to change its attitude and come to the bargaining table with more respect for its employees. This would be a good starting point and should lead to a better offer that would recognise the stellar contribution of its nurses to its success as the biggest private hospital operator in the country.

Garling points the way

Healthe have agreed to an extra 3.8% for EENs and the Healthscope agreement allows a review of the EN classification by April 2009. These are gains yet to be achieved in the public health system.

Besides delivering good pay rises and a raft of improved conditions, the agreements with Healthe and Healthscope close the gap with public health system nurses. Healthscope and Healthe have approached the bargaining talks in a constructive manner and the result has been a win/win for the companies and their employees.

The release of the Garling Report is a watershed moment for the NSW public health system. Commissioner Garling is to be commended for authoring a report that provides an accessible and objective analysis of the problems and the challenges facing the system. He starts from the point that NSW has a world-class health system and that its integrity is maintained by a highlyskilled and dedicated workforce in the face of enormous pressures. But he then goes on to catalogue the numerous systemic weaknesses that have built up in the face of sudden increased demand and inadequate funds – particularly from the previous Federal Government, the rise in the cost of treatment and catastrophically inadequate workforce planning. Garling’s report, coupled with the increase in health funding by the Rudd Government and the move to ground our health system in a wellness model with more emphasis on preventative care and primary care, gives us hope that our hospitals can be pulled back from the brink. These new trends will take time to alleviate the pressure on our hospitals and in the meantime we will have to maintain our vigilance with management in the Area Health Services, who are preoccupied with their immediate budgetary crises. The State Government publicly promised that their budget cuts would not impact on frontline services and we intend to keep them and their AHS management to their word.n THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 5

LETTER of the month

L E T T E R S

Benjamin Imrie-Quintyn

Nursing student thinks about Nurses’ Rights at Work I am not a member of the Association. I have just completed my HSC and I wish to study nursing at university. I was wondering if your ‘Nurses’ Rights at Work’ merchandise is exclusively for members of the Association? Can I purchase some and show my support for what will be a major issue still when I graduate in three or four years’ time. These are long-term problems and the sooner one gets involved with them the higher chance of success. Benjamin Imrie-Quintyn, nursing student Editor’s note: The Association’s members were very active in the Your Rights at Work campaign and were concerned to maintain their hard-fought pay and conditions. The Your Rights at Work merchandise was certainly not restricted to members and we do have a small amount of stock if you would like to contact us for details. Good luck with your studies. We would also strongly encourage you to join the NSWNA as an Associate Member. Association membership is free for the first year and then $20 per year after that and offers you a wide range of benefits including The Lamp. Contact the association for further details. We have sent you a copy of this month’s Lamp, even though you are not yet a member.

Spot checks make nurses feel like the enemy Hear, hear to RN/Nurse Educators on the subject of Accreditation spot checks and making nurses feel like the enemy. Our facility has been turned upside down over the past couple of months in a Gestapo/Communist style approach of ‘Shape up or Ship out’ leading up to the Accreditor’s visit. Staff moral has plummeted with management’s mention of joining Centrelink lines if we answered Accreditor’s questions in anything but a correct and positive manner and with no complaints voiced to them that would cause them to shut down our good facility. We nurses provide daily care, both physically and emotionally, to help our ageing residents enjoy their day. On a dayto-day basis we take great pride in doing our job well. 6 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

AiNs have completed compulsory training in the Certificate 3 and, according to ‘contracts’, attend 10 in-services a year. So no aged care facility can ever be said to employ un-trained staff ever again. Surely the role of accreditors should be to monitor and uphold excellent standards of care in each facility. We all have a role to play in providing care to the best of our individual abilities. This demoralising scrutiny is extreme when threats of termination of our livelihoods are placed on our already laden shoulders. The mayhem prior to and during Accreditation visits and spot checks is taking the heart and soul out of our workplace. Name withheld

Judith Cornell

Requesting input to health heritage project The management of Health Heritage Collections throughout the healthcare facilities of NSW Health has been largely left to volunteers with very little infrastructure, support and funding. Many collections have been unfortunately lost or damaged and in some cases existing collections are under threat because of space constraints or the lack of volunteers. I have been commissioned by NSW Health to undertake a health heritage project that includes the updating of the existing Movable Heritage Policy as well as undertaking a mapping exercise to ascertain the location, number and scope of the existing collections, which will lead to a report and recommendations for the future management of the collections. A questionnaire has been devised to gather information and will be circulated via the Area Executive Officers early in 2009. I would appreciate hearing from any person involved with, or having knowledge of the location of, historical material to ensure that the distribution and return of questionnaires is as wide as possible and to ensure the development of future policy is as inclusive as possible. Further information may be sought by contacting me via email on jcornell@netspace.net.au or by phone on 0429 302 943. Judith Cornell, AM, NSWNA Life Member

Let’s get real about bottled water The well-documented environmental damage by bottled water containers is alarming, especially considering their increasing use in private and public hospitals. Many bottles pollute waterways and most end up as landfill where they can take up to 1000 years to degrade. Bottled water is no better than most tap water in Australia. It has no added fluoride, it costs as much as petrol and its extraction from springs is draining important aquifers and wetlands. Its production and distribution depletes non-renewable oil, gas and coal reserves as well as generating CO2. Our Nursing Code of Ethics value statement No.8 refers to valuing an ecologically-sustainable environment and that nurses notify colleagues of environmentally harmful practices. We must challenge short-term decisions made in health care institutions that only reflect bureaucratic cost cutting. It is unavoidable that hospitals generate enormous amounts of waste. However, disposable water bottles need not add to this. Future generations will no doubt wonder why we were so short sighted when the information was available to all. Christine Moore, RN, Toronto Private Hospital Editor’s note: The 2008 NSWNA Annual Conference passed a resolution calling upon NSW Health to develop and disclose a comprehensive environmental plan for all public hospitals including better design, lighting, air-conditioning, water harvesting, recycling and use of alternate energy sources. Christine Moore won the prize for this month’s letter of the month, a $50 David Jones voucher.

LETTER of the month The letter judged the best each month will be awarded a $50 DJ’s voucher, courtesy Medicraft, Australia’s largest manufacturer of hospital beds and furniture. For more information on Medicraft products, visit www.medicraft.com.au or call 9569 0255.

Got something to say?

HAVE YOU CHECKED

Send your letters to: Editorial Enquiries email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au fax 9550 3667 mail PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 • Please include a photograph along with your name, address, phone and membership number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Expressions of Interest for Health Complaints Commission panel The Health Care Complaints Commission is the body legislatively charged with the responsibility of investigating serious complaints concerning individual practitioners and health facilities in NSW. In determining the most appropriate action to take in complaints about health practitioners, the Commission often relies on the opinion of experts in the field. The Commission aims to maintain a panel of expert advisors who have a range of skills, qualifications and experience across the profession. The Commission would appreciate the assistance of the NSWNA in recruiting new experts to its panel. In the 2007-2008 financial year the Commission received 3128 complaints and assessed 2889 complaints, with 260 of these (9%) being referred for investigation. When the Commission refers a complaint for investigation, it will seek the more detailed advice of experts from

within the profession in order to determine if the conduct being investigated represents a departure from the standards reasonably expected of a health practitioner with similar training and qualifications. Only where the expert has advised there has been a significant departure from the standards reasonably expected does the Commission consider prosecution before a disciplinary body. The Commission provides detailed guidelines for experts on the preparation and writing of expert reports. Experts are required to write clear, Plain English reports that conform to the guidelines set by the Commission. The Commission pays medical experts for the provision of reports and advice and meets expenses incurred as a witness at disciplinary hearings. NSWNA members who are interested in joining the Health Complaints Commission panel, or would like more information, can contact Robert Beetson, Investigations Manager, on (02) 9219 7593 or send an email to rbeetson@hccc.nsw.gov.au. Kieran Pehm, Commissioner, NSW Health Complaints Commission

YOUR PAYSLIP? The NSWNA has been informed of numerous cases where nurses have not been paid the correct hours, loadings or penalty rates, especially over the Christmas/New Year period. Check your payslip to make sure you have been paid correctly. Your payslip will detail your hours worked, loadings, allowances and penalty rates. Contact the NSWNA on (02) 8598 1234 if you think you have been paid incorrectly.

Every letter published receives a 10-week 7-day trial subscription to the Herald! Subscribe to the Herald today to save 37% 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.

I n t e r n at i o n a l N u r s e s ’ D ay 2 0 0 9

Got a great idea? Then enter the NSWNA’s 2009 International Nurses’ Day $1000 Poster Competition! Each year the NSW Nurses’ Association distributes over 8,000 International Nurses’ Day posters to workplaces across NSW. These posters go across the state to public health facilities, private hospitals, aged care facilities, universities and TAFEs, in fact to all workplaces that employ nurses! Tell us what you would like to see portrayed on the 2009 poster. The winner’s poster design, slogan and concept will then be used as the basis for the 2009 NSW Nurses’ Associations International Nurses’ Day poster. Guidelines. Try to think of a short catchy slogan that best represents the work nurses

do. A slogan that will make nurses feel good about themselves and will also highlight to the public exactly what an valuable asset nurses are to the community. Also you don’t have to be a Rubens or a Rembrandt. All you need to do is sketch out your idea for a suitable poster image that will go with your slogan. We will do the rest by getting a professional graphic artist or photographer to work on your design idea for the ﬁnished poster. However if you are a Rubens or Rembrandt, and can provide a fabulous visual image suitable for reproduction, we will of course use that image.

For further informat form go to NSW Nur ion and entry se Website: www.nswnur s’ Association’s ses.asn Phone: Lynne Ridge .au, or on (02) 8595 1234 met ro or 1300 367 962, or Email: Lynne Ridge lridge@nswnurses.asnon .au

THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 7

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WA NURSE

PRACTITIONER

CLINICS PUSH FOR

PRESCRIPTIONS West Australian-based chain of private clinics has upped the ante in the nurse practitioner debate by applying for permission to run a pilot scheme in which prescriptions written by nurses would attract PBS subsidies.

’If they are pretending to be doctors, I invite nurse practitioners to go to medical school and to do the training required.’ AMA president Rosanna Capolingua

The Revive Clinic chain has also sought Federal Government permission for its consultations to be covered by Medicare. Revive director and owner Louise Stewart told The Australian doctors were overstretched in many places, and intended to set up clinics in towns like Port Hedland where four general practitioners were struggling to meet the needs of 17,000 residents – nearly three times the recommended ratio under professional guidelines. Australian Medical Association president Rosanna Capolingua responded by telling the national broadsheet, ‘if they are pretending to be doctors, I invite nurse practitioners to go to medical school and to do the training required’. 8 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Charges against CFMEU official dropped

Award Modernisation threatens vulnerable workers

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has withdrawn charges against CFMEU official Noel Washington for refusing to ‘dob in’ workers to Australia’s CFMEU official controversial building Noel Washington industry watchdog. Noel, the Senior Vice President of the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union) Victorian Division, was facing up to six months jail for refusing to give evidence to the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) about who he saw and what he heard at an off-site meeting of workers in 2007. In the face of growing national and international outrage, charges were dropped without explanation – just one day after the Rudd Government unveiled its legislation to abolish WorkChoices. Messages of solidarity had poured in from around the world – from the USA, Europe and even as far away as Senegal. ‘This decision is a clear message to the Government that the laws are in disarray and need to be abolished,’ said Dave Noonan, CFMEU Construction Division National Secretary. ‘The fact that over 100 workers have already been dragged before the ABCC and threatened with imprisonment should not be forgotten. These laws were created by a Government determined to destroy building workers’ rights, and it is time that they were removed.’ ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence welcomed the decision by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and described the case as a futile waste of taxpayers’ money and resources. ‘The decision by the DPP to drop the charges renders the ABCC and its discriminatory laws even more obsolete,’ he said. ‘The ABCC is an unaccountable organisation that discriminates against construction workers. It is now time for the rest of the unfair and discredited laws from the failed Howard-Costello experiment on industrial relations, including the ABCC, to be swept away.’

Vulnerable workers face cuts to their pay and conditions under the Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s proposed new modern awards released just prior to Christmas last year.

‘... the bottom line must be that workers are not worse off.This was the clear message sent by the Australian public at the last election when they so forcefully rejected WorkChoices.’ ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence

Many low-paid workers, including young people and workers reliant on the safety net of awards, will be worse off under the new awards, according to the ACTU. Some workers will find their rates of pay have been cut under new job classifications in the streamlined award system and workers in small businesses of less than 15 employees will have no entitlement to redundancy pay. ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said it is unacceptable that workers stand to lose their entitlement to redundancy as we head into a potentially major economic downturn. ‘WorkChoices took away workers’ right to redundancy pay and these proposed new modern awards only partially give back that right,’ he said. ‘Unions have previously welcomed the award modernisation process because a modern award system is a major component of the employment safety net and a key part of sweeping away the legacy of WorkChoices. ‘However, the bottom line must be that workers are not worse off. This was the clear message sent by the Australian public at the last election when they so forcefully rejected WorkChoices. ‘These awards are not due to take effect until January 2010. The Commission should use this period to consult further and make improvements,’ said Jeff Lawrence.

DO YOU KNOW AN INSPIRING

NURSE? g Nominate an inspirational nurse for HESTA’s Nurse of the Year Award f you know an exceptional nurse, midwife, Personal Care Assistant or AiN who deserves recognition for their contribution to our profession then nominate them for a HESTA Australian Nursing Award. The three national awards include Nurse of the Year, Innovation in Nursing and the Graduate Nurse of the Year.

Patients, carers, nursing colleagues and nurses themselves can nominate an inspirational nurse who deserves recognition. Patients, carers, nursing colleagues and nurses themselves can nominate an inspirational nurse who has demonstrated specific qualities in one of the three categories. Nurse of the Year wins a $5,000 travel voucher plus a $5,000 education grant; Innovation in Nursing receives a $10,000 development grant and the Graduate Nurse of the Year gets a $2,500 travel voucher plus $2,500 education grant. Nominations close Friday, 28 February 2009. Finalists in the three award categories will attend a gala dinner at Melbourne’s Crown Entertainment Complex hosted by Channel 10’s Kim Watkins on Thursday, 14 May 2009, where the winners will be announced. For more information, go to: www.hestanursingawards.com

Sydney Hospital 30-year reunion

Happiness – as contagious as the flu

Australia’s oldest hospital, the Sydney Hospital, is holding a 30-year reunion at 6pm on 7 February 2009 at the Sydney Rowers Club in Abbotsford. Organiser Merryn Hopkins said staff and supporters of the famous hospital on Macquarie Street are invited to come along to the informal evening to catch up with old colleagues and share their memories of the Sydney institution that was downgraded in 1982. ‘It’s a low-key event for former staff and supporters to talk about old times over dinner and drinks,’ she said. ‘So far we have had calls from about 26 interested people. The curator of the Sydney Hospital Museum, which has been earmarked for possible closure, also offered to open the Museum prior to the reunion if enough people were interested. For more information, contact Merryn Hopkins on 0437 979 868.

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal shows that happiness spreads as readily through social networks as viruses. The same research team from the Harvard Medical School that previously demonstrated how obesity and smoking spread in networks, has shown that the more happy people you know, the more likely you are yourself to be happy. The researchers found that happy people passed on their cheer to people they didn’t even know — and this transferred happiness lasted for up to a year. They also estimate that happy friends boost your own happiness chances by 9% each. Having grumpy friends decreases it by about 7%. ‘I think that happiness is more likely to spread because here’s an emotion that’s about social cohesion,’ said James Fowler, a political scientist who led the study. ‘Visible and contagious happiness might have helped our ancestors maintain social cohesion.’

First Notre Dame nurses graduate The University of Notre Dame’s new Sydney School of Nursing produced its first graduate class last December. The NSWNA was on hand to congratulate all 30 nurses and present them with graduate packs including stethoscopes. THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 9

o t y a d li o h y a d 8 Win a fabulous

a i n a m s a T g n i Breath-tak Ultra chic historic ser wines a t viced a d

Ultr win to in g apartme nts These luxu showcasing Tasma i

Switch to direct debit for a chance to win a fabulous, six-day World Expeditions walking holiday exploring Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain, Strahan and Lake St Clair. The prize includes two nights’ accommodation in Launceston at TWO FOUR TWO Hotel and return airfares (ex Sydney) for two.

Here’s how you can win • cancel your payroll deductions and start paying your fees through direct debit and you will go in the lucky draw and/or • convince your colleagues to convert from payroll deductions to direct debit and you, and each of your colleagues who

Guided by experienced and friendly World Expeditions guides over the six-day trek, you’ll experience the beauty and peace of Cradle Mountain, discover a history of mining and railways, visit a 100-metre waterfall and spend a night in a charming ﬁshing village. At the end of each day of exciting trekking, you’ll settle down in comfortable cabins in Tasmania’s magniﬁcent wilderness. For more details visit www.worldexpeditions.com and search ‘Cradle Mountain & The West Walks’. 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 FEBRUARY 2009

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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.

switch to direct debit, will go in the lucky draw and/or • sign up a new member using the direct debit method of paying their fees and you, and the new member, will go in the lucky draw.

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AGED CARE

NURSES ‘EMOTIONALLY

EXHAUSTED’ he vast majority of aged care nurses are ‘emotionally exhausted’ and almost a third are considering quitting the profession, according to a new study by Melbourne University in conjunction with the ANF Victoria. The study of 1000 registered nurses presented to the ANF’s Aged Care Nurses’ Conference in Melbourne last November, found aged care nurses are suffering from excessive workloads, cost-cutting, hostile environments and competing demands in the workplace. The report also found nursing homes needed to drastically improve training and human resource management.

‘They can’t give the care they want because they are spread too thin.’ Assoc. Prof. Leisa Sargent told the Herald Sun that the biggest cause of stress was the fact nurses could not provide adequate care to residents due to cost cutting by their employers. ‘They can’t give the care they want because they are spread too thin and they also perceive that management doesn’t care about the residents,’ she said. ‘[Management] are reducing the quality of the food, portion sizes, turning off the air conditioning, turning down (or off) the heating to save money. ‘Those that are most skilled and can move are moving out of aged care into acute care or other forms of nursing where they feel they can make a meaningful contribution.’ The researchers have received funding from the Australian Research Council to continue their investigation.

Australian nurse Debbi Wilson at work on the Africa Mercy last year.

Mercy Ship needs theatre nurses International aid group Mercy Ships has sent out an urgent call for volunteer operating theatre nurses for their 2009 assignment to Benin in West Africa. The CEO of Mercy Ships Australia Gary Regazzoli said the service depends on the humanitarianism of the 450 international volunteers who pay their own way to Benin, plus crew fees while onboard to help offset the ship’s running costs, ensuring free medical and community development services can be provided to people in the world’s poorest nations. ‘There is a special need for operating theatre nurses willing to spend a few weeks or longer during the Benin assignment from February to November. Each year more and more Australians are serving with us in West Africa where the Africa Mercy concentrates efforts to bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor. We would love to hear from anyone interested in serving as a volunteer in any of a wide range of skills,’ he said. The Africa Mercy is the world’s largest private hospital ship with six operating theatres, a 78-bed hospital and state-of-the art medical equipment. For more information, visit www.mercyships. org.au; email msaust@mercyships.org; or phone 07 5437 2992.

APHEDA relief for Gaza The ACTU’s aid agency, Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, has launched an appeal for the people of Gaza. APHEDA

has a long history working in food security and medical rehabilitation in Gaza with secular partners who are not politically aligned. To contribute to the Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA Appeal, please ring 1800 888 674 or visit the website at www.apheda.org.au

High praise for nurses in Gaza and Israel Nurses working round the clock in Gaza and Israel have been praised by Britain’s Royal College of Nursing (RCN) for dealing with casualties from both sides. In a letter to the nurses of Gaza and of Israel, Dr Peter Carter, RCN General Secretary, said nurses in the region had maintained the highest standards of professionalism by putting patient care first, regardless of patients’ nationality or religion. Reports from the World Health Organisation said Gaza’s hospitals were working beyond capacity with shortages of intensive care beds, operating theatres and medical supplies. ‘In the midst of the bombings, rocket attacks and the fighting, nurses in Israel and Gaza are working round-theclock shifts to treat the wounded and tend the dying. By doing so, you have shown yourselves to be a credit to your communities and to your profession. Regardless of which side of the border you stand, you have also demonstrated that founding principle and core value of nursing – “first do no harm”,’ the letter said. THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 11

N E W S I INN BBRRI IEEFF

NZ TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS

FOR OVERSEAS

NURSES rained Filipino nurses are crying foul over the tightening of rules governing registration of overseas-trained nurses by New Zealand’s Nursing Council. The new rules require all overseas-qualified nurses – including those from the UK and other Englishspeaking countries – to face a tough English language assessment and to complete nursing courses of no less than four years’ duration. According to The New Zealand Herald, Filipino nurses believe the new requirements are prejudicial and unfair and are restricting them to unskilled jobs on the minimum wage when hospitals are facing acute nursing shortages. The new language rules require scores of 7.0 in each band of the International English Language Testing System test – a score higher than the current New Zealand university entry requirement of 6.0. The New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation said the rule will exacerbate nursing shortages and could also put public health and safety at risk. NZNO industrial services manager Cee Payne told the New Zealand newsmedia that the country was heavily dependent on overseastrained nurses. ‘About a third of our nursing workforce is overseas-trained, one of the highest proportions in the OECD, and currently most come from the UK,’ she said. Ms Payne said that asking English nurses to pay another $NZ400 to sit several examinations could be the tipping point for them, forcing them to decide to go to Australia or the United States rather than New Zealand. ‘We believe that nursing communication skills are best assessed in the workplace,’ Ms Payne said.

Zainabu Sesay-Harrell Dao (right), with the newly-formed New York chapter of the SLNA, hopes Sierra Leone nurses in Australia can start a chapter here.

12 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Sierra Leone Nurses’ Association goes global

Zainabu at mrsdao2004@yahoo.com; Abdul Koroma, founder of the Californian Chapter, at abdulsorie@aol.com; or visit www.sierraleonenursesassociation.com

In support of Sierra Leone president Ernest Koroma’s diaspora initiative, the Sierra Leone Nurses’ Association (SLNA) is opening chapters around the world in an attempt to improve the appalling conditions in their war-ravaged homeland. Ex-patriot Sierra Leone nurse Zainabu Sesay-Harrell Dao has just formed the second US chapter of the SLNA in the New York Tristate region following the formation of chapters in California and the UK. Speaking to The Lamp, Zainabu encouraged any Sierra Leone nurses working in Australia to get involved, saying support was crucial at this critical time in Sierra Leone’s history. ‘Sierra Leone is currently ranked 177 out of 177 on the UN human development index,’ she told The Lamp. ‘We need to unify our people on a level where tribalism, issues with age difference or political affiliation don’t dictate how our country is run. This is why I feel organisations like the SLNA can bring together all Sierra Leoneans, because we all share something in common, we can help people heal,’ she said. The SLNA aims to directly improve the quality of health care in Sierra Leone and reduce the spread of preventable diseases by providing health education, sustainable programs and medical supplies for Sierra Leonean rural health care centres. They also work to recycle surplus medical equipment from the West to Sierra Leone. Any Sierra Leonean nurses interested in starting an Australian chapter should contact

Zimbabwe nurses beaten Dozens of Zimbabwe nurses and doctors were injured and 15 arrested as heavily armed riot police wielding batons broke up a peaceful protest of about 100 health workers outside the country’s health ministry offices in November. The rally was called to protest the atrocious working conditions and demand resources to combat the spread of the cholera epidemic The Guardian reported. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions vowed to press ahead with protests despite a heavy police presence. The union said at least one union leader had been arrested by secret police from the Central Intelligence Organisation. According to Reuters, thousands of skilled health workers continue to flee Zimbabwe in search of better-paid jobs in South Africa, Britain and Australia, plunging the country further into crisis. Meanwhile, Britain’s Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has written to the President of the Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association, Doreen Choruma, offering support and solidarity to nurses. In the letter, RCN Chief Executive Dr Peter Carter said, ‘In the midst of all this, Zimbabwe’s nurses have maintained both their dignity and their professionalism. In fact, your members have done what nurses the world over are renowned for doing – they have put the needs of their patients first.’

DRASTIC RISE IN PACIFIC CHILDBIRTH

MORTALITY he number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth in Pacific communities has jumped dramatically in the past year, according to reports from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Figures from UNFPA’s annual State of the World’s Population report show that maternal mortality had soared 69% in the Solomon Islands and 56% in Papua New Guinea in the past year alone, despite Australia’s ‘substantial’ aid commitment – prompting the Federal Government to commit to prioritising maternal health in the region. The report shows that one in 33 Laotian women, one in 35 East Timorese, one in 55 Papua New Guinean, one in 97 Indonesian and one in 100 Solomon Islands women will die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications, compared with one in 13,300 in Australia and one in 5900 in New Zealand. The findings have coincided with a UNICEF report that also shows no Pacific Island nation was likely to achieve the UN millennium development goal on cutting child mortality by two thirds by 2015. The UNICEF report cited a lack of political will in the region, particularly low health spending and the continuing drain of skilled medical workers to other countries. Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, who was at the UNFPA report’s Canberra launch last November, told Radio Australia the death rate was ‘massively too high’. Mr McMullin said the government was looking to play a bigger role in the training of birth attendants, not just doctors and nurses, but local midwives to assist women in childbirth. UNFPA’s Vietnam representative Ian Howie stressed the need for cultural sensitivity, describing how some women won’t show their bodies to outsiders and often choose a traditional homebirth, or ‘literally walk alone into the forest to give birth rather than go to a health clinic’.

Mumbai nurses praised for ‘presence of mind’ in terror attack Nurses at the Cama Hospital in Mumbai have been commended for saving the lives of more than 40 newborn babies and their mothers trapped on the fifth floor of the besieged hospital during recent terrorist attacks. According to Indian media reports, as terrorists entered the hospital indiscriminately shooting staff and patients, nurses barricaded the mothers and babies in a small cubical and advised them to keep their babies quiet by breastfeeding so as to not give away their position to gunmen. A relative outside the cubical was shot and killed. India’s Newsline reported that patients at the hospital are now unwilling to be admitted to the fifth floor where much of the carnage took place.

The latest medical monitor – the mobile phone Mobile phones – long regarded as potential health hazards – are now being used to monitor the condition of thousands of Britons with chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma. The Times reports that eight UK health services have adopted software that can be downloaded on to standard mobile handsets after trials showed that it can significantly reduce the complications associated with chronic disorders and prevent hospital admissions. The software enables patients to record details about their condition and treatment, so that they can better control their situation between consultations. The data collected is also sent automatically to a central monitoring service, which alerts nurses to potentially hazardous changes in a patient’s condition, and those at risk can then be seen immediately by a specialist. Trials of the software, designed by a company called t+ Medical, have been shown to reduce average blood sugar levels among both type 1 and type 2 diabetics by

between 0.6 and 0.7%. This represents a fivefold reduction in the risk of complications such as blindness or limb amputations. Another version of the program can monitor the side effects of chemotherapy so oncologists can adjust doses if they are too severe. Other systems are available for asthma, high blood pressure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nurses top of honesty and ethics list Nurses have again topped the annual US Gallup’s Honest and Ethics survey of US professions. According to Gallop, 84% of respondents rated nurses with high to very high ethics, while lobbyists and telemarketers shared the wooden spoon with a lowly 5% – over 60% of respondents said they had low or very low ethics. Bankers took the nosedive of the year with a staggering drop from 35% to 23% following the banking industry’s prominence in the US economic crisis. Gallop’s News Service said nurses have achieved the Honesty and Ethics top ranking every year except one since being added to the list in 1999. It missed out to firefighters just after September 11.

Stop using ’love’ and ’dearie’, UK nurses told The UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council is set to ban the use of potentially patronising terms like ‘love’ and ‘dearie’. According to the BBC, the report, Guidance for the Care of Older People, has caused outrage among conservatives with the shadow health minister calling the recommendations ‘ridiculous’. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) boss Dr Peter Carter supported the guidelines saying, ‘For a long time we’ve [said] that nurses should ask patients how they would like to be addressed.’ The guidelines are part of the RCN’s Dignity Campaign, which has lured Sir Michael Parkinson out of retirement for one last show due to screen later this year. ‘Hopefully, I can use my role as Dignity Ambassador to make a real difference and ensure the issue of dignity moves to the heart of all health and care services,’ Parkinson said in a statement. THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 13

Wendy Rice, Branch Secretary (back right), with POW Private Hospital Branch members.

C O V E R S T O R Y

Celebrations at Healthe, Healthscope g New agreements at Healthe and Healthscope deliver more pay, better conditions, and recognise additional tertiary qualifications.

embers at Healthe and Healthscope private hospitals have overwhelmingly voted to endorse new agreements with their employers that lock in significant payrises and improvements in conditions, closing the gap in parity in pay and conditions with public hospital nurses. New agreements were won after determined campaigning by the NSWNA and members at Healthe and Healthscope private hospitals. Healthe and Healthscope came to the bargaining table with the NSWNA and

WHAT IS

YOUR NEW PAY? EN Thereafter

NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda

negotiated fair agreements that responded to nurses’ concerns, said NSWNA Assistant

The following table shows the new weekly pay rates for Healthe and Healthscope nurses, compared to public health system nurses.

HEALTHSCOPE HEALTHE From 1/1/09 CARE $875

NSW PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

From 1/4/09

From 1/7/08

$876

$875

EN medication $893* endorsed Thereafter

$928

$893

RN/RM Yr 1

$912

$913

$912

RN/RM Yr 5

$1,117

$1,118

$1,117

RN/RM Yr 8

$1,281

$1,282

$1,281

CNE

$1,333

$1,334

$1387 (Yr 1)

CNS Grade 1

$1,333

$1,334

$1,333

NUM Level 2

$1,683

$1683

Rates are rounded to nearest dollar. Pay rates and allowances for all classifications can be downloaded at www.nswnurses.asn.au *Healthscope will begin a joint review with the NSWNA of EN pay rates in early 2009, as a result of the NSWNA’s claim. (Healthe Care has already agreed to some higher rates). To have your say in this review, call Alicia McCosker or James Figallo at the NSWNA office. 14 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

General Secretary Judith Kiejda. ‘These agreements show that Healthe and Healthscope value and respect their nursing workforce.’ The new Healthe Agreement delivers a 12.5% payrise over three years – or 4.16% per annum, and the Healthscope agreement delivers 7.8% over two years – or 3.9% per annum. Importantly, the new Healthscope agreement significantly closes the gap in pay parity with public health sector nurses. Private hospital nurse pay rate increases were generally one year behind increases in the public health sector. The Healthscope agreement halves the time lag in pay parity to six months. The Healthe agreement cuts the time lag in pay parity to nine months.

Closer to parity at Healthscope ‘The Healthscope agreement cuts back by six months the time lag in pay parity with the public health system. Pay parity with the public health system is a big issue for members,’ said Wendy Rice, Branch Secretary at Prince of Wales Private Hospital.

‘In preparing to bargain for new workplace agreements in private hospitals, the NSWNA conducted research to find out members’ priorities and concerns. Members reported that closing the gap in achieving parity in pay and conditions was a top concern. This has been the cornerstone of the NSWNA campaign,’ said Judith. The new Healthe and Healthscope agreements also provide improved conditions such as a Continuing Education Allowance for additional relevant tertiary qualifications. Judith said winning a Continuing Education Allowance is another important gain towards achieving parity with public health sector nurses. ‘Nurses who undertake additional qualifications

deserve to be recognised for their skills and qualifications and the effort that goes into undertaking extra study.’ Nurses at Healthe won 10 weeks’ paid maternity leave and nurses at Healthscope won six weeks’ maternity leave paid upon birth and three weeks paid following the mother’s return to work. Other improvements to conditions at Healthe include a stronger workloads clause, which means a more timely process for dealing with workloads problems; increased in-charge-of-shift payments; increased night duty penalty rates; on call rates of $2.12/hour (minimum 10-hour payment); increased EEN rates; and ENs who qualify as RNs will start at the RN Year 2 pay rate.

‘During negotiations for a new workplace agreement, Healthscope listened to members and responded to their concerns,’ said Wendy, who is a midwife and NUM of the Special Care Nursery. Members at Prince of Wales Private Hospital got organised to campaign for a new agreement and set up a new NSWNA Branch. ‘We held branch meetings every two months and members were encouraged to get involved and have a say about what they wanted.’

Healthscope has agreed to a review of the EN classifications by April 2009. ‘This positive reward for ENs is in marked contrast to the public health system’s refusal to agree to the majority of NSWNA’s claims to recognise ENs in the 2008 pay negotiations,’ said Judith.n THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 15

DRAWN 30 JUNE 2009

m e w m e n b a p u n g i S the chance to win a beautiful Broeomre holiday for

With more members we have a louder voice and a stronger union. The more members at your workplace, the stronger your voice and bargaining position with your employer. With more members we will achieve better pay and conditions for you! Not only will you be making your union stronger by signing up a new member, you and a friend could be jetting off from Sydney to Cable Beach, Broome. That’s seven nights of tropical bliss – just for signing up a new member!

16 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

www.australiasnorthwest.com

The prize includes return flights from Sydney to Broome, seven nights in a two-bedroom apartment at Broome’s newest Resort, The Pearle of Cable Beach, a Gourmet Sunset Sail or Champagne Breakfast Sail for two from INTOMBI Broome’s Pearling Lugger Experience, car hire from Broome Broome Car Rentals plus a Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour and a Pearl Luggers Tour.

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

www.thepearle.com.au

C O V E R S T O R Y

Happy members at Healthe

re members happy with their new agreement at Healthe’s North Gosford Hospital? ‘Absolutely,’ says Branch President and member of the NSWNA’s Private Hospital Log of Claims Committee, Deb Lang. ‘We’ve been offered a very fair agreement. After some negotiating, we got a 4.1% per annum pay rise, which is great. People are very pleased with the extra 3.8% pay for EENs and increased night duty penalty rates. The Continuing Education Allowance is also important. We are very pleased to have a workloads clause included in our EBA and look forward to being able to use it to improve patient care and nursing workload issues. We will value input from members of the NSWNA who have experienced workloads training in the public sector. The NSWNA has already approached us with assistance and education to get it implemented,’ said Deb, who is Discharge Planner and DVA Liaison at North Gosford Hospital. ‘Members are really pleased with the whole bargaining process with Healthe. Healthe has done the right thing by nurses. Although we might not always agree on everything, Healthe has endeavoured to show us they respect and value nurses. ‘Both Healthe and the NSWNA consulted with members and responded to our concerns. Nurses feel they were active participants in the whole process. The branch held monthly meetings where members got an update on negotiations, and then gave feedback to Healthe and the NSWNA on what they felt. Nurses were proactive in pushing for what they wanted. ‘Bargaining for a new agreement has really shown nurses the value of belonging to the Union, and the role of the NSWNA. The NSWNA bargaining team was fantastic,’ said Deb.n

Branch President and member of the NSWNA’s Private Hospital Log of Claims Committee, Deb Lang.

Healthe addressed our issues Healthe listened to nurses and addressed our issues, said RN and Branch Secretary at Dubbo Private Hospital, Sheridan Lowe. ‘The bargaining process was quite a positive experience. ‘There was good communication from the Union and Healthe, and RN and Branch Secretary at Dubbo Private Hospital, Sheridan Lowe

nurses were invited to provide feedback and input.’ Sheridan was enjoying holidays when The Lamp caught up with her. ‘I feel like we’ve treated well so I’m happier going back to work after the holidays. Usually you dread it. And the extra pay is really welcome.’ THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 17

C O V E R S T O R Y

Not happy Ramsay g Australia’s largest private hospital employer, Ramsay, has yet to complete a fair agreement with the NSWNA.

ealthe and Healthscope have negotiated strong agreements that lock in payrises and improvements in conditions for their nurses. Healthe and Healthscope are to be congratulated, said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda. In contrast, Australia’s largest private hospital employer, Ramsay, has failed to negotiate a fair agreement with the NSWNA. Ramsay offered nurses an inferior pay offer to Healthe and Healthscope and rejected nearly all of the Association’s other claims. ‘They have unilaterally paid

nurses a 3% payrise and are holding off on the other issues,’ said Judith. ‘The NSWNA has gone to extensive effort to negotiate a fair agreement with Ramsay. Ramsay has repeatedly put ridiculous offers on the table – offers that are outrageously unacceptable to the NSWNA and members. ‘This is a very transparent tactic by Ramsay to save money by stalling,’ said Judith. ‘As a result, nurses working for Ramsay have been left behind in pay and conditions. Ramsay members are telling the Union they see this as a mark that their employer does not respect or recognise the hard work they do.’n

The following table compares pay and conditions under the new Healthe and Healthscope agreements, against the Ramsay offer at the time of printing.

NEW AGREEMENTS AT HEALTHE, HEALTHSCOPE VS RAMSAY OFFER

OUR CLAIM New Continuing Education Allowance for achieving postregistration qualifications. Increase on call allowance.

HEALTHE CARE HEALTHSCOPE RAMSAY OFFER NEW AGREEMENT NEW AGREEMENT $23 to $57 pw

$32 to $59 pw

$15 pw

On call 10 hrs min. – $21.20 On RDO – $38.16

On call – $20 min.; On RDO – $39.51

On call 24 hrs – $25.20 On RDO – $50

$22.28

$22.26

$21.42

17.5% from 2010; 20% from 2011

(open to further discussion)

Increase in charge of shift allowance. Increase night shift penalty rate to 25%.

Better study & professional development leave provisions.

4 4 4 4

Improved paid parental leave. Better recognition of skills used by ENs Extra 3.8% to recognise experienced nurses.

Hourly pay rate Endorsed EN Thereafter.

18 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

4 4

6 No response Under consideration

Review by April 2009

(for EENs)

Review for ENs by April 2009

10 hour minimum break between shifts. Hourly pay rate RN/RM Yr 8.

Support a diploma EN entry point

6 6

’09:

’10:

’09:

’10:

’09:

’10:

$33.74

$35.09

$33.71

$35.02

$33.41

’09:

’10:

’09:

’10:

’09:

’10:

$24.41

$25.39

$23.49

$24.41

$23.29

CHRONOLOGY OF NEGOTIATIONS

Ramsay nurses are worried and disappointed Wendy Jones, Branch Secretary at Port Macquarie Private Hospital.

Since July 2008, the NSWNA has been trying to negotiate a fair workplace agreement with Ramsay – but Ramsay has not come to the party. Here’s what has happened so far: c 24 July 2008 – First meeting between Ramsay and NSWNA where it was agreed we would negotiate a new wages and conditions agreement. c 3 September 2008 – First scheduled meeting where we set an aim of reaching agreement in early November 2008. c Four scheduled meetings postponed or cancelled by Ramsay.

Members at Port Macquarie Private Hospital are very agitated, worried and disappointed that Ramsay has refused to negotiate a fair agreement, said Wendy Jones, Branch Secretary at Port Macquarie Private Hospital. ‘Nurses at Ramsay Private Hospitals are being left behind in pay and conditions, compared to nurses at other private hospitals. Members have strongly expressed their

concerns and Ramsay has been unresponsive and non communicative,’ said Wendy. ‘People are starting to talk about leaving. Why would you stay when nurses at the public hospital across town are being paid more and their conditions are better? Ramsay had better come to the bargaining table with a fair offer or they are going to lose staff.’

Ramsay offer takes us backwards Debbie McDonald, RN and Branch Secretary at Berkeley Vale Private Hospital.

c 21 November 2008 – The NSWNA asks Ramsay for a written offer that can be given to nurses for their consideration. c 3 December 2008 – Ramsay advises the Association it is unlikely we will reach an agreement for the time being.

MORE PRIVATE HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN NEWS Campaigns for new agreements are also happening at: c St Vincent’s Darlinghurst and Mater Crows Nest c St Vincent’s Lismore c Hawkesbury District Health Service and St Vincent’s Bathurst Metropolitan Rehab c St Lukes

Ramsay nurses are not happy with their employer, said Debbie McDonald, RN and Branch Secretary at Berkeley Vale Private Hospital. ‘Ramsay has not put an acceptable offer on the table and we still don’t have a new workplace agreement. ‘We are now behind Healthe and Healthscope nurses, who have new

agreements. What Ramsay has offered is far below what has been offered by Healthe and Healthscope. We deserve to be recognised,’ said Debbie. ‘Members want to close the gap in parity with public health sector nurses. The current Ramsay offer falls short by a long way.’

c Calvery Riverina c Sydney Adventist Hospital. If you don’t have a current agreement guaranteeing your pay rises and conditions improvements, get together with your colleagues and talk to NSWNA about how to get started on a list of claims. THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 19

A G E N D A

g After a 10-month investigation into the NSW Public point. In its first year of office the Rudd Government has is on the NSW State Government to implement Garling’s

emedies for a he After a 10-month investigation, Commissioner Peter Garling SC has delivered a report that identifies the problems and challenges confronting the NSW public health system.

At the same time the Rudd Government has significantly increased its share of federal health funding that had shrunk dramatically under the Howard Government.

Garling reports back on public health ‘If I were to sum up my conclusions about the performance of our public hospitals, I would describe our hospitals as good by world standards but often unable to deal with [a] sudden increase in patients, the rising cost of treatment and the pressures on a skilled workforce spread too thinly and too poorly supported.’ Commissioner Peter Garling

20 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

fter a 10-month investigation into Acute Care Services in NSW, Public Hospitals Commissioner Peter Garling has handed down a report that warns of a system at breaking point. During the course of his inquiry Commissioner Garling visited 61 public hospitals, heard evidence from more than 600 people and received over 1200 written submissions including one from the NSWNA. The full report is 1100 pages long and includes 139 recommendations. The report has been positively embraced by a broad spectrum of stakeholders in public health as a cogent analysis of the problems facing the system. In December 2008 NSW Minister for Health John Della Bosca convened a forum comprising community representatives, health system managers, clinicians and industrial organisations, which endorsed 90% of the report’s recommendations. The NSWNA was represented at the forum by General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘Commissioner Garling clearly acknowledges the key role of nurses in the system and how hard they work,’ he said. ‘Many of his thoughts on the role for nurses within the system are consistent with positions that have been taken by the NSWNA: that experienced nurses are

crucial in the workforce and need to be recognised and adequately remunerated; that Nurse Practitioners are capable of taking on some of the roles of doctors; and that nurses’ skills could be more effectively used than they are currently. ‘We believe that if this report’s recommendations are implemented nurses can be optimistic about having a better and more sustainable workplace’

Why there is a crisis In his report Commissioner Garling was at pains to point out that NSW has an excellent health system that is world class but that there has been a sudden and dramatic increase in the number of people using it. ‘In my opinion the looming crisis for public hospitals has happened so quickly that it is not surprising that the organisation has been slow to implement radical reform,’ he said. The upsurge in numbers lining up in our hospitals is particularly dramatic among the old. In 2006-2007 one third of all public hospital patients were aged over 65 years although that group made up only 13% of the population. Now, those aged over 65 make up 45%, nearly one half of all hospital patients. The report says young people are also turning up at hospitals in greater numbers especially in Emergency Departments. A significant number may have mental

Health System, Commissioner Peter Garling warns of a system at breaking already introduced some measures to relieve the burden. Now the onus recommendations and allocate resources where they are needed.

alth system in crisis Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has shifted policy settings to a wellness model with an emphasis on preventative health and primary care. And as part of its economic stimulus package, the Federal Government has

health problems along with drug and alcohol dependence.

Four pillars of reform Garling has recommended four pillars of reform required by NSW Health to adapt to the serious challenges confronting it: c A Clinical Innovation and Enhancement Agency; c A Clinical Excellence Commission; c An Institute of Clinical Education and Training to keep learning and skills updated in an era of unprecedented change in healthcare; c Establishment of a Bureau of Health Information to ‘access, interpret and report on all data relating to the safety and quality of patient care and facilitate its interpretation and reissue to the unit level on a regular basis’. Commissioner Garling emphasised that this bureau should stand independent of NSW Health. These ‘pillars’ would be underpinned by the introduction of an up-to-date information technology program, which would allow an audit of the performance of all hospitals in the compilation of patient clinical records and lead to a state roll out of an electronic health record. ‘All of the leading world health

established a health infrastructure fund to finance the development of the health system at the macro level. In the medium to long term these changes should reduce the burden on our public hospitals.

experts I spoke to told me that understanding, analysing and publishing sensible health information is the basis for knowing where health care in hospitals is at, where it has to go, and when it has arrived,’ Brett said.

A more effective role for nurses Garling highlighted a serious challenge: 22% of the entire nursing profession in NSW qualifies for retirement in 2011 – only three years away. He also points out that nurses in public hospitals are frequently junior nurses with insufficient senior nurses to supervise them. Garling emphasised the importance of redesigning the role of the Nursing Unit Manager so a NUM can take leadership in the delivery of quality patient care. Garling set a target: 70% of a NUM’s time is applied to clinical duties and no more than 30% of time is spent on administration, management and transactional duties. Garling recommended the creation of a Clinical Support Officer, to cover the roles previously performed by communications clerks, ward clerks and wardsmen, so NUMs are freed up for clinical work. Other important recommendations relevant to nurses were:

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE GARLING REPORT NSW Health has created a website that allows interested community members and the health workforce to provide comments on each of Garling’s recommendations. The site can be found at http://healthactionplan.nsw.gov.au; or from a link at the NSW Health site http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/ You can read the report and its recommendations on this site. There is also a facility to make your comments directly on the website.

The onus now falls on the NSW State Government to implement the Garling Report’s recommendations and allocate resources where they are needed to get our public hospitals functional again.

the creation of a new clinical classification for RNs with more than 10 years experience, including an appropriate pay increase; more funding for nurse practitioner positions across NSW, particularly in rural and remote areas where it is hard to employ doctors; a redesign of the workloads tool to take into account skill mix and years of experience.

It’s about patients The Garling Report doesn’t mince its words about the culture of the health system and clearly warns that the system is at a crossroads. ‘We have entered into a period of crisis for a public hospital system which has always been free and accessible for all,’ it says. ‘A new culture needs to take root which sees the patient’s needs as the central paramount concern of the system and not the convenience of the clinicians and administrators.’ The NSW Premier Nathan Rees has promised a response to Garling’s report by March. ‘This is a major report recommending far reaching changes in the way we deliver health care in the face of demographic change and rising costs,’ he said. ‘The report provides us with an action plan to deliver improvements in the delivery of acute care across the state. ‘I want to thank the nurses, doctors and all the families who gave evidence, which I know was a difficult experience for some. I give them my personal assurance that we will follow through on this report with action.’n THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 21

A G E N D A

Health the winner in Rudd’s ‘new cooperative federalism’

he Rudd Government has agreed to pump an extra $4.8 billion into the country’s health system with NSW taking the largest slice. The extra money announced at Commonwealth–State funding talks, takes total Federal funding for health and hospitals to $63.6 billion over the next five years. In addition, the annual increase in funding has been boosted from 5.7% to 7.3%. The extra funding does something to redress the imbalance in responsibilities for health funding between the State and Federal governments that arose under the Howard Government. The original health funding agreements had a 50/50 split in funding between the states and Canberra for

public hospitals. By the end of the Howard Government, Canberra’s contribution had dropped to 40% with the State Government forced to take up the slack. The health increase is part of a bigger stimulus package for the economy and was welcomed by NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘The global financial crisis has created a situation where the immediate priority for governments is to spend money. This need for a large-scale stimulus is recognised by a wide range of economists,’ he said. ‘There is no better way for the Government to spend large amounts of money than fixing our public health system. Jobs created in the sector would provide a substantial boost to the economy.’n

Health stakeholders fast track key recommendations

n initial consultation forum of over 120 participants including community representatives, managers, clinicians and professional and industrial organisations, including the NSWNA, took place on 15 December 2008 to discuss the Garling Report.

Over 90% of the recommendations received support from the participants. Some of the recommendations endorsed by the forum for immediate attention include: c ensuring multi-disciplinary communication through daily ward rounds in hospitals; c planning patient transfer from hospital to home or other care

LACK OF CLINICAL PLACES LIMITS UNI UPTAKE A report by the National Health Workforce taskforce has revealed that only 200 of the 500 extra university places for nurses created by the Rudd Government last year have been filled. The major stumbling block has been the lack of funding and capacity for clinical training. The NSWNA warned at the time that the shortage of clinical placements would be a barrier. 22 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

The problem of clinical places has been tackled by the Federal Government in its $1.1 billion health workforce package. There is a $500 million component to increase the number of clinical places across the health workforce and in public hospitals. The package will also fund the training of 18,000 nurse supervisors.

RUDD’S

INCREASED COMMITMENT

TO HEALTH c An extra $4.8 billion for health. c Federal funding to states for health and hospitals increases to $63.6 billion over the next five years. c Health care funding to states to rise by 7.3% per year. c $1.1 billion to train more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. c $750 million to improve service in public hospital emergency departments. c An extra $800 million for Indigenous health. c An extra $450 million for preventative health. c NSW was the big winner receiving one third of the entire national stimulus package.

through early planning and better quality advice; c redesigning the role of Nursing/ Midwifery Unit Managers to free up time for patient care; c improving hand hygiene across the healthcare team; c making sure overseas doctors and nurses have good induction to the workplace. Other key areas of agreement include: c creation of a position titled Clinical Support Officer to encompass roles previously performed by communication clerks, ward clerks and wardsmen; c the establishment of a non-urgent transport systems for those patients requiring assistance to home or nonurgent transfer between facilities; c establishment of a Health Information Bureau.n

Hannah Dahlen, Associate Professor of Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, spoke to the Garling inquiry. ‘Garling ”got” the issues about midwifery. He ”got” the issues about continuity of care, caseloads, about private practice midwives access to hospitals and about insurance. ‘He’s made recommendations that are very workable. Whether the Area Health Services and NSW Health implement them is another thing. ‘Garling’s report comes at a pertinent time in history with the midwifery review about to come out as well. The time is right to expand the midwives’ role.’

What nurses and midwives say about the Garling Report Carolyn Hook, NUM, Prince of Wales Hospital, said the Garling Report is a good report that focuses on the problems faced by people at the coalface. ‘NUMs definitely need administrative support. It has been dwindling rapidly. An 80:20 ratio between clinical work and administrative work would be better but the 70:30 ratio that Garling recommends would be much better than now. NUMs are not replaced on the ward if we are down so it will help other staff on the ward if we are available to do clinical work.’

Lorna Scott, Nurse Practitioner, said some of the recommendations are great but it will be tricky to put it into practice. ‘I’m a little bit pessimistic when you see some of the cutbacks going on. Garling could have done more and looked at a revamp of the Area Health Services. His comments about Nurse Practitioners are excellent if they are implemented.’

THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 23

I N D U S T R I A L

I S S U E S

NSWNA saves 130 jobs g NSWNA intervention stops GWAHS’ plans to cut nursing jobs.

espite widespread nurse shortages, overwhelming workloads and a promise by NSW Premier Nathan Rees that frontline jobs were to be protected from budget cuts, the Greater Western AHS (GWAHS) tried to chop almost 130 nursing jobs before being brought to its senses by NSWNA intervention. In early January the GWAHS announced it would slash 129 nursing positions in order to save $60 million in budget savings. Twenty-seven positions were to go at Dubbo Base Hospital, 34 at Bathurst and 37 positions at Orange. The Dubbo operating theatres were to lose more than seven registered nurse

positions and the intensive care unit more than two. At Bathurst, the maternity unit was to lose four midwife positions, the emergency department three registered nurses and the medical wards nearly 10 positions. Nurses say they were dumbfounded as all these hospitals have been at groaning point for months due to staff shortages. ‘I work in the maternity unit at Dubbo Base Hospital. We’ve been trying for the past few months to increase the staffing here. We have a lot of junior staff and we need more senior midwives,’ said Kylie Jefferies. Therese Nelligan, EN, said it was the same at Bathurst Hospital. ‘We’ve always been short-staffed. I

NSWNA Acting Assistant General Secretary Susan Pearce (right) and NSWNA Organiser Linda Griffiths (second right) meets with nursing staff at Dubbo Base Hospital. 24 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

did over $20,000 in overtime last year – it was a necessity because they didn’t have the staff,’ she said. Kylie said morale had been low and took a further battering when the cuts were announced. ‘The whole of staff at the hospital weren’t happy. They were quite devastated when they were told we were going to lose staff. The AHS was trying to save money by cutting at the coalface,’ she said. Therese said, ‘morale is that low at Bathurst it’s not funny.’ ‘When they announced the job cuts morale got even worse. No one knew who would go or what sort of jobs. It created a real sense of insecurity.’

C O M P E T I T I O N

WIN A 2-NIGHT ESCAPE ALONG

After large NSWNA branch meetings at Dubbo, Bathurst and Orange, NSWNA Acting Assistant General Secretary Susan Pearce presented management with data that contradicted their rationale for the cuts and led to an immediate backdown by the AHS. ‘The Association brought out the truth. Management admitted for the first time the hospitals were understaffed. The union took the stats to management and they couldn’t deny it,’ said Therese Nelligan. Susan Pearce said the meeting with management was perplexing. ‘One day they are telling their staff they are cutting 130 jobs. The next day they tell us not only they are not cutting nursing staff but more are needed. ‘We are happy they listened to what we had to say and they have moved away from the original proposal to cut jobs. But they still have a budget deficit that requires them to make savings so we remain cautious. ‘The bottom line is the State Government promised that frontline jobs would not be affected by budget cuts and we will be holding the Area Health Services to that commitment,’ said Susan.n

Wollongong’s

Grand Pacific Drive ‘Grand Pacific Drive – Sydney to Wollongong and beyond’ is NSW newest scenic coastal drive. Grand Pacific Drive encompasses 140km of some of NSW’s most spectacular scenery and coastline. From the Royal National Park (world’s second oldest) to Wollongong, the route takes you through coastal rainforests, spectacular driving scenery, quaint villages and into the bustling coastal city of Wollongong, which has a vast array of activities for any visitor. Wollongong is just 1 hour from Sydney and from here experience the ‘beyond’ into Shellharbour, Kiama, Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven even Canberra! For more information, maps and itineraries visit www.grandpacificdrive.com.au The Lamp is offering members the chance the win a two-night escape for two along Wollongong’s spectacular Grand Pacific Drive. This month’s Lamp competition prize includes overnight accommodation at Medina Executive in a one-bedroom apartment with late checkout of 12 noon plus a complimentary bottle of red wine and parking. Travelling further along the Grand Pacific Drive you’ll come to the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk. This month’s prize also includes a family pass (2 adults and 2 children) to the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk. You’ll spend the second evening in a superior room at the new Sebel Harbourside in Kiama. Plus you’ll enjoy a delicious twocourse dinner for two. To be in the draw write your name, address and membership number on the back of an envelope and mail to: Wollongong Competition PO Box 40, Camperdown NSW 1450 Competition closes 28 February 2009

THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 25

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26 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

No.1

I N D U S T R I A L

I S S U E S

Work bans get results at Batlow g Work bans by nurses at Batlow’s new Multi Purpose Service force management to address dangerous building defects.

ork bans by nurses at Batlow’s new Multi Purpose Service (MPS) in the state’s south have spurred the GSAHS to address nurses’ concerns about worsening building defects, which are putting staff and patients at risk. The multi-purpose facility, commissioned in August last year, has been plagued with problems including serious roof and ceiling leaks resulting in collapsed ceiling panels, exposed wiring, slippery floors and dangerous working conditions. After many futile attempts to get the problems addressed and rectified, nurses initiated bans on non-emergency admissions, at an extraordinary branch meeting on 31 December, resulting in several notices being issued by Work Cover to the GSAHS. This in turn led to immediate action by the AHS and the builder. The GSAHS’ acting Asset Manager Mal Allen told the ABC at the time that he could appreciate nurses’ frustration. ‘We’ve got a number of defects but obviously these are high on the priority list now because of what happened recently,’ he said, referring to the NSWNA action and WorkCover notices. After an on-site meeting between the NSWNA, the GSAHS and the builder on 6 January, the area health service assured

An NSWNA inspection of Batlow MPS revealed leaky roofs and exposed wiring.

nurses that repairs and rectifications would be initiated. A walk-around at that meeting also revealed more problems including security and OHS shortcomings. WorkCover issued notices to the GSAHS over several OHS issues identified by nurses including concerns over manual handling, electrical tagging and gas bottles. Following a flurry of activity, a WorkCover inspection the next day convinced nurses that the problems were either being actioned or plans were in place to do so, prompting them to lift the bans. Branch President Melissa Cooper described the outcome as a great result for

Members from the newly-formed NSWNA Batlow Branch celebrate their success: (from left) Deidre Whiting EN, Rita Thornton AiN, Rohini Narayan Swamy EEN and Branch Vice President, Melissa Cooper RN, Branch President Pamela Roche RN and Kerrie Harris AiN.

patients, residents, staff, and the whole Batlow community. ‘Before Christmas, it was just going from bad to worse. Things were falling apart and we’d tried every avenue to have these problems rectified but to no avail,’ she said. ‘It was beyond a joke. We had water running onto electrical equipment and computers, rooms shut off and wires hanging down from the ceiling. At this facility we not only provide emergency and acute care but also aged care, meaning we have permanent residents here who call this their home. ‘When management told us we’d have to wait till after the holidays for anything to be done, well, that was the final straw. ‘Nurses are relieved to finally see repairs underway and we hope the community can now have the facility it deserves. They have worked tirelessly for over 10 years to achieve this beautiful facility and they deserve to have it functioning properly so we can provide the care for them they deserve.’ The successful campaign was especially satisfying to Batlow members, who had just formed their NSWNA branch in late November. ‘Most of us at the facility were already NSWNA members so organising the branch was fairly straightforward. The NSWNA has been incredibly supportive and helpful right through this and we’re pretty proud of what we’ve achieved.’n THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 27

I N D U S T R I A L

I S S U E S

McKesson pushes non-union agreement g Isolated in ‘virtual workplaces’, McKesson nurses almost pulled off an impossible organising feat, narrowly losing the vote on a non-union agreement.

cKesson did everything it could to keep nurses isolated in their ‘virtual workplaces’ and blocked information about an impending vote for a new workplace agreement.

Despite sneaky tactics from the company, beleaguered NSWNA members at McKesson put up a strong fight against a non-union agreement. The vote for the non-union agreement went ahead last month before the NSWNA branch at McKesson had even been established, and without

any meetings between staff. McKesson allowed staff no confidential access to the NSWNA or the ANF, forcing nurses to base their vote on a disjointed flow of conflicting information and hearsay. McKesson nurses have been left with a non-union agreement that offers no real improvement to pay or conditions, allows for no guaranteed annual wage increases and does nothing to protect nurses from penalties if their home equipment breaks down. Despite losing the vote, NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes described it as a good ‘round one’ result given the extraordinary and extenuating circumstances. ‘To lose the vote by such a close margin is an incredible outcome and a real credit to the nurses involved when you consider the obstacles they faced,’ he said. Outside management, no one is exactly sure how many nurses are employed by McKesson or where they work from and, according to reports from some nurses, communication between staff has been discouraged and impeded by management. Nurses also reported receiving verbal advice from management along the lines of ‘there’s nothing wrong with [the nonunion agreement]’ and ‘you’re reading too much into it’. But there is plenty ‘wrong’ with McKesson’s fine print including the glaring omission of any pay rates. One email to staff even stated, ‘had the ANF negotiated this agreement they would have approved it’.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE McKESSON CALL CENTRES The National Health Call Centre Network was established in 2006 following a COAG (Council of Australian Governments) agreement to implement a nationwide triage call centre, designed to relieve pressure on the nation’s struggling emergency departments. McKesson Asia Pacific, an offshoot of McKesson Corp – the 18th richest corporation in the US, won the estimated $220 million contract to run the National Health Call Centre Network in July last year. The National Health Call Centre Network is a national body operating call centres in each state. In NSW it operates as Healthdirect.

The ANF (Victoria) has written to the Workplace Authority questioning this and other possible deficiencies in the voting process while also challenging the agreement’s ability to meet required standards under current awards. There are also serious concerns about the lack of transparency and possible number crunching by management throughout the on-again–off-again voting process. McKesson has made no secret of the fact they are adamantly opposed to UCAs and have belligerently refused to negotiate with the ANF since the beginning. Another concern is that McKesson management ran the vote and carried out the count. Documents mention an ‘independent scrutineer’ but neither details nor credentials were ever provided. Nurses have been attempting to organise by phone and email and hope to establish NSWNA’s first ‘cyber-branch’ at the call centre later this month. ‘Organising the McKesson ‘workplace’ represents a whole new set of problems and possibilities for the NSWNA and the ANF,’ said Brett. ‘We need to make sure employers in these new ‘virtual workplaces’ don’t take advantage of vulnerable working mothers who are struggling to balance work and family. ‘There is no doubt working from home is an attractive option for working parents but phone triage nurses shoulder huge responsibilities. Adequate representation and workplace protection is essential for these nurses in such isolated working conditions. ‘There are already reports of high staff turnover and retention problems at McKesson call centres. If they want to secure their place in the Australian clinical landscape and become an employer of choice they will need to lift their game and listen to the needs of nurses. ‘The NSWNA and the ANF are working closely with triage nurses to determine what those needs are and to develop policies and practices to deal with them.’ All nurses working at McKesson should contact the NSWNA or the ANF to update their details so they can be kept informed and access support.n

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A G E D C A R E

Nurses and community push for quality aged care g Members of the Quality Aged Care Action Group (QACAG) take their community push for aged care reform to Canberra.

lue Mountains members of the Quality Aged Care Action Group (QACAG) have been invited by the Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot to take a submission from their recent forum to Canberra. The group gathered in the Blue Mountains last November to continue its community push for aged care reform. Co-organiser and retired RN Annette Peters had travelled to Canberra last year as part of the Blue Mountains Aged Care Action Group – a non-affiliated group formed by concerned nurses who have since joined QACAG – at the request of Ms Elliot, following representations by local Federal MP Bob Debus.

‘We’re seeing a backlash from angry residents and their families who didn’t realise what they were walking into – they were expecting a service run like the public health system.’ Annette Peters, retired RN

The November forum attracted an impressive turnout of politicians, professionals, advocates, residents, families of residents and even a facility proprietor. ‘The key problem is that aged care has shifted from a service model to a corporate model and now operates as a kind of secret sector. No one knows where the money goes and residents are suffering,’ said Annette. ‘We’re seeing a backlash from angry residents and their families who didn’t realise what they were walking into

Blue Mountains QACAG forum participants (left to right): NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes, Lucille McKenna DoN, Shirley Ross-Shuley co-organiser, Hon. Bob Debus MP, Michelle Wakefield AiN, Elizabeth Giddey RN, Colleen Watson RN, Wendy Parkinson RN, Susan Flynn RN, and Annette Peters retired RN and co-organiser.

– they were expecting a service run like the public health system. ‘When I spoke to the Minister last year she was very receptive and I thought she had a very good understanding of the sector – though even she said there were complex funding issues that needed to be dealt with. I think she appreciated the direct communication from nurses on the ground. ‘She requested this submission, I think, to help balance the disproportionate amount of intense lobbying from industry.’ At the forum Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, and local State MP, Phil Koperberg, spoke passionately about the critical need for aged care reform with an increasingly ageing population and were joined at the lectern by NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes, Director of Nursing at St Mary’s Villa Lucille McKenna and physiotherapist Di Tasker. The core components of the submission

include industry regulation and accountability; accreditation of clinical staff, including assistants; accreditation of facilities; clinical staff skill-mixes; greater support from allied health workers; education for kitchen, laundry and cleaning staff; and industry career incentives.n

GET INVOLVED IN QACAG QACAG takes great pride in announcing the formation of its third chapter on the Central Coast last December. QACAG now has groups in Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Central Coast and is looking at launching another in Tamworth. People wanting to get involved, especially retired nurses, should contact Stella Topaz at the NSW Nurses’ Association on 8595 1234. THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 31

PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

2009 NSWNA Ed Basic Foot Care for AINs – 1 Day

Leadership Skills for the Aged Care Team – 4 Days

Drug and Alcohol Nurses Forum – 1 Day

Target group: AINs n Monday 11 May 2009 Wagga RSL Club, Wagga Wagga n Wednesday 9 September 2009 Quality Inn, Grafton Members: $85 Non Members: $150

Target Group: all Aged Care Nurses n Wednesday 22 April 2009 n Monday 25 May 2009 n Wednesday 24 June 2009 n Wednesday 22 July 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $320 Non Members: $480

Target group: all nurses n Friday 23 October 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $30 Non Members: $50

Basic Foot Care for RNs and ENs – 2 Days

Legal and Professional Issues for Nurses – ½ Day

Target group: RNs and ENs n Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 April 2009 Wagga RSL Club, Wagga Wagga n Monday 4 & Tuesday 5 May 2009 Ex-Services Memorial Club, Armidale n Thursday 25 & Friday 26 June 2009 Dubbo RSL Club, Dubbo n Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 August 2009 Coraki Conference Centre, Coraki n Thursday 15 & Friday 16 October 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $203 Non Members: $350

Target group: RNs and ENs n Friday 3 April 2009 Wagga RSL Club, Wagga Wagga n Friday 1 May 2009 Ballina RSL Club, Ballina n Friday 19 June 2009 Panthers Club, Newcastle n Thursday 2 July 2009 Wests’ Diggers, Tamworth n Monday 17 August 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney n Friday 2 October 2009 Dubbo RSL Club, Dubbo n Friday 30 October 2009 Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay n Friday 6 November 2009 Best Western Wesley Lodge, Westmead Members: $39 Non Members: $85

Aged Care Nurses Forum – 1 Day Target group: all nurses n Friday 26 June 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $30 Non Members: $50

32 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Mental Health Nurses Forum – 1 Day Target group: all nurses n Friday 21 August 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $30 Non Members: $50

Enrolled Nurses Forum – 1 Day Target group: all nurses n Friday 15 May 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $30 Non Members: $50

Practical Leadership Skills for Nurse Unit Managers – 3 Days Target group: all NUM, CNS, CNC, Educators n Tuesday 21 April 2009 n Tuesday 26 May 2009 n Tuesday 23 June 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $250 Non Members: $400

Computer Essentials for Nurses – 1 Day Target group: all nurses n Monday 27 April 2009 n Monday 1 June 2009 n Tuesday 4 August 2009 n Tuesday 27 October 2009 Concord Hospital, Concord Members: $85 Non Members: $170

ducation Calendar Policy and Guideline Writing 1 – 1 Day

Appropriate Workplace Behaviour – 1 Day

Target group: all nurses n Friday 1 May 2009 n Friday 11 September 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $85 Non Members: $170

Target group: all nurses n Monday 23 March 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney n Monday 19 October 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $85 Non Members: $170

Managing Appropriate Workplace Behaviour – 1 Day Target group: all nurse managers n Monday 18 May 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $85 Non Members: $170

Policy and Guideline Writing 2 – 1 Day Target group: all nurses n Friday 22 May 2009 Rydges Hotel, Camperdown, Sydney Members: $85 Non Members: $170

For additional courses or enquiries contact NSWNA Metro: 8595-1234 or Rural: 1300 367 962

Tax Invoice & Course Registration Form 2009

ABN : 63 398 164 405

To register complete this form and enclose cheque, money order or credit card details and return to: NSW Nurses’ Association, PO Box 40, Camperdown NSW 1450 or fax 9550-3667. Name________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Membership No Place of Employment_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Non Member Position: DON

NUM

AIN

OTHER___________________________________________________________

Address (Work or Home)_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Post Code_______________________ Phone (work)______________________________________________ (home)_______________________________________________ (mobile)_______________________________________________ SEMINAR NAME

SEMINAR DATES

$ (INCLUDES GST)

TOTAL AMOUNT $ Amount $________________________________

Cheque/Money Order

Bankcard

Mastercard

Visa

Expiry date_____________ /______________ THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 33 Signature_________________________________________________________________________ Name of card owner if not your own__________________________________________________

Q & A

ASK

JUDITH

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS AT WORK, NSWNA ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY JUDITH KIEJDA HAS THE ANSWERS.

Time in lieu or paid overtime?

Requested to work overtime

I work in a public hospital as an RN and want some guidelines about taking time in lieu (TIL) or overtime and if TIL is taken at the manager’s discretion or mine?

I am employed permanent part-time in a public hospital and work four days per fortnight. My NUM routinely rosters me for additional shifts and tells me I have to work them as the roster has been published. Can I be forced to work these extra shifts?

Under the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award, the following applies as per Clause 25, Overtime: Time in lieu (TIL) versus payment of overtime Clause 25 (iv) (c) ‘Nurses cannot be compelled to take time off in lieu of overtime’. So the choice between TIL or payment for the overtime worked is the nurse’s choice. The taking of TIL Clause 25 (iv) (a) ‘Time off in lieu must be taken within three months of it being accrued at ordinary rates.’ 25 (iv) (b) ‘Where it is not possible for a nurse to take the time off in lieu within the three month period, it is to be paid out at the appropriate overtime rate based on the rates of pay applying at the time the payment is made.’ 25 (iv) (d) ‘Time off in lieu of overtime should be considered as an option in those circumstances where the employer is able to provide adequate replacement staff to ensure that the level of quality of service that would otherwise have been provided had overtime been worked, is in fact provided.’ The decision to take overtime payment or accrue TIL rests solely with the employee. However, the accessing of the TIL is negotiated between the employee and the employer.

Your obligation to your employer is to work your contracted hours, ie. four days per fortnight. Unfortunately, your employer can also request you to work a ‘reasonable’ amount of overtime. There are provisions that can be found at subclause (i) of Clause 25, Overtime, of the Award that prescribe what can be classified as ‘unreasonable’.

No relief for meal breaks I am an RN working in a private hospital and often do not get my meal breaks because there is no one to relieve me. I have contacted the NUM but no one can be spared. Can I claim an on call meal allowance? Also, on many occasions, I am unable to leave the ward at my finishing time and am leaving 10 to 15 minutes late each day. This may seem insignificant but it adds up. 10 minutes a day is 50 minutes a week and over a year this is about 40 hours. Can I claim this time as overtime?

If there is no one to provide meal relief you should be able to claim an on call meal allowance as outlined in clause 12 (c) of

the Notional Agreement preserving the Private Hospital Industry Nurses’ (State) Award. It is important to advise the NUM that you need meal relief and if this is not available you will be claiming an on call meal allowance. Nurses employed on a permanent basis under the Notional Agreement preserving the Private Hospital Industry Nurses’ (State) Award can claim authorised overtime as per clause 18 (a) for all time worked by employees other than Directors of Nursing in excess of the rostered daily ordinary hours of work. Be sure to obtain authorisation from the NUM when you are required to stay back and include these times on your timesheet.

When should I be paid uniform allowance? I work in a hospital where we purchase our uniforms and are paid an allowance. The pay office ceases the allowance if we are on leave, or even when we attend an inservice while on duty (in the last hour of work for instance). Is this correct?

No, this is not correct. Your uniform allowance should be paid even when you are not on duty but on paid leave. If you are attending an inservice, whether at the completion of your shift or for a full day, the allowance should continue to be paid. If this has not been the case you may be entitled to backpay. Contact your pay office in the first instance and if unresolved call the Association on 1300 367 962.n

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A G E N D A

Green jobs bonanza g A million green jobs could be generated in Australia with an ambitious environmental policy, according to a new report released by the ACTU and the Australian Conservation Foundation.

he two organisations jointly commissioned the research to explode the myth that strong action on climate change will destroy industries and jobs. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the current global financial crisis has not diminished the importance of the climate change challenge and, in fact, is an opportunity for Australia to consolidate its foothold in green industries. ‘This is no time for a go-slow approach. The report shows Australia must act swiftly to make the most of its natural advantages or our economy will be left behind,’ she said. ACF Executive Director Don Henry said Australia is well placed to lead an economic renewal based around clean industries and green jobs.

‘It’s up to government to lead the way with a strong 2020 target to cut greenhouse emissions and ambitious environmental policies to drive investment in green industries like solar and wind energy and green infrastructure, such as new railways,’ he said. Based on an analysis of 30 green industries globally, the report said Australia should focus on six sectors: renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable water industries, biomaterials, green buildings and waste recycling. Sharan Burrow said government policy settings and private investment are needed immediately to reach a target of nearly a million green jobs by 2030. ‘By establishing a strong domestic market in these sectors, Australia will also develop the skills and expertise necessary to compete in the international green energy market, which is currently worth $US1.4 trillion dollars.’n The report can be downloaded from the ACTU website www.actu.asn.au.

GLOBAL GREEN MARKETS

THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE

c Global green markets are projected to double from $US1.4 trillion a year to $US2.7 trillion by 2020.

c Australian’s green economy is currently estimated at $15.5 billion, employing 112,000 people.

c Sustainable energy accounted for 23% of new power capacity globally in 2007. c The renewable energy sector employs about 2.3 million people globally.

c Australia is best positioned to succeed in the six key markets: renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable water systems, biomaterials, green buildings, waste and recycling. c Australia’s renewable energy industry provides about 15,000 jobs and has annual sales of almost $2 billion. It could employ up to 500,000 people by 2030.

MORE GREEN THINKING NEEDED IN HEALTH

Liz McCall

Liz McCall, a Nursing Unit Manager at Byron Bay Hospital, said there are plenty of opportunities to raise our game environmentally in the health system.

‘We have recycling containers for paper but we can’t put the paper towels in because they have polypropylenes in them. They don’t decompose so you can’t recycle them. The amount of plastics we are using is frightening. ‘We have multi-purpose instrument packs made from low-grade stainless steel. You can’t sterilise them so the manufacturer can’t guarantee their safety. So you use them only once then chuck them. ‘It’s bizarre,’ said Liz. ‘When we are building new hospitals we need to think about pro-active environmental design. ‘It’s a good opportunity to use solar energy and have skylights to reduce the amount of electric lighting but they usually don’t do it because of the costs. We need to be more forward thinking,’ she said. THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 35

A G E D C A R E

Bright future for aged care g Nurses and students attending the recent NSWNA aged care forum were shown a range of new models of care and emerging career opportunities.

ith a rapidly ageing population, and a health care sector undergoing significant reform, aged care nurses faces many challenges and changes in the years ahead. NSWNA’s Aged Care Nurses Forum, held recently in Sydney, sought to address some of these issues directly. Boasting a range of speakers working on the cutting-edge of aged care, the forum attracted a large group of nurses passionate about the future of aged care 36 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

in Australia and keen to proactively embrace the challenges ahead. One speaker, Debbie Deasey, is breaking new ground as a Transitional Aged Care Nurse Practitioner at Port Macquarie Base Hospital – the first such position in the NSW public health system. ‘When I started in aged care I thought “hey, something’s not 100% right here” and I’ve been harassing the doctors and the system ever since,’ she laughed. Debbie, a passionate advocate for advanced nursing practice, began her career as a ‘hospital domestic’ before going on to become an EN then an RN.

‘I didn’t think I’d succeed at study so I thought I’d just keep going until I failed – which never happened, thanks to the amazing support I’ve received from the health service and doctors,’ she said. ‘In fact, most local GPs have welcomed this collaboration.’ Debbie has since attained her Masters in Gerontology and is currently completing her Masters of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner. In a fascinating and highly engaging presentation, Debbie explained how the North Coast Area Health Service had identified a high incidence of ongoing aged presentations to the ED in Port Macquarie and sought a nurse practitioner to ease the burden. Working in close collaboration with doctors and the NCAHS, Debbie is developing a functional model to treat chronic and acute, low-complexity

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ASIA PACIFIC INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE

RADIATION SAFETY IN HOSPITALS FOR NURSING PROFESSIONALS 7 – 8 May 2009 Room G05 Dalton Building School of Chemistry The University of New South Wales, NSW 2052 This course is designed to extend the professional training of nurses to include procedures where radiation is involved. It will provide an understanding of the special hazards associated with the presence of radiation and the specialised procedures that are normally adopted in the hospital situation. The lectures, combined with a visit to a major hospital, will provide participants with the knowledge necessary to minimise exposure to radiation from external sources, and will also deal with the precautions necessary to prevent accidental intake of radioactive material.

Nursing students interested in advanced practice in aged care talk to Transitional Nurse Practitioner Debbie Deasey (seated). (Clockwise from left) Ronald Shekede, Shristi Tuladhar, Junghwa Hur, Jessica Wang, Wei Lu, Solomon Kebede and Martin Thuku and Lauren Tancred.

medical conditions within residential aged care facilities, rather than transferring patients to EDs as is the current practice. In what has been described as a win-win-win situation for patients, nurses and the health service, the NCAHS estimates that Debbie has saved Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s ED $1.5m this year alone, while providing much faster and more personalised care to patients – further reducing ED representations and other hospital and ambulance costs. Debbie was particularly impressed with the number of young student nurses attending the aged care forum. ‘It is great to see them here. I think nurses are becoming much more aware of the improved pathways to advanced practice.’ Shristi Tuladhar is one of the new generation of nurses keen to pursue advanced practice and is about to complete her nursing degree at the Australian Catholic University at North Sydney. Shristi was inspired to practice in aged care after the death of her grandfather several years ago. ‘This has been my goal for four years, now I’m looking forward to getting some clinical practice so I can undertake my Masters in Nursing,’ she said.n

Topics covered include: Properties of radionuclides and ionising radiations Units of radiation Biological effects of ionising radiation Detection and measurement of radiation Environmental radiation Applications of radiation in medicine Protection against external sources Protection against internal contamination by radioactive materials Storage and handling of radioactive sources Personal monitoring Safe ward procedures including nursing care, discharge of patients, emergency procedures. Regulations and codes of safe practice Effects of radiation on pregnant patients The role of the Radiation Safety Ofﬁcer FEE $550 (including GST) FURTHER INFORMATION Anne Jordan School of Chemistry, The University of NSW Phone: (02) 9385 4666 Fax: (02) 9385 4690 E-mail: a.jordan@unsw.edu.au www.chem.unsw.edu.au/schoolinfo/apins.html

REGISTRATION FORM The University of NSW ABN 57 195 873 179 Surname First Name

Title

Address for course information

Postcode Telephone: E-mail: Employer Course Fee: $550 (GST included) Forward this form and your cheque payable to University of NSW for $550 (GST included) by Friday, 17 April 2009 to: Anne Jordan, APINS, School of Chemistry, The University of NSW, Sydney THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 37 NSW 2052. Phone: 02 9385 4666 Fax: 02 9385 4690.

38 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

N S W N A M A T T E R S

ine h s o t t e s s r e k a m NSWNA film g The NSWNA is set to discover the next shining star in movieland at its inaugural International Nurses’ Day Short Film Festival. Julie Millard, RN, is one of our budding filmmakers lining up for the $5000 first prize!

ledgling filmmaker and mental health nurse Julie Millard, RN, sees no conflict combining her two great passions. Julie is hard at work writing, filming and producing her entry for the NSWNA’s inaugural International Nurses’ Day Short Film Festival. ‘Mental health nursing is my passion and my profession but I’ve always wanted to make documentaries. Filmmaking gives me the opportunity to work on breaking down discrimination barriers and reach more people,’ she told The Lamp. ‘It’s all about telling stories, personal stories ... representing the lived experience of people who live with a mental illness. Naturally, my nursing informs my filmmaking. I think it’s a perfect partnership.’ Julie encourages any nurses

considering entering to just get out there and go for it. ‘I say follow your creativity and trust your instincts – they won’t let you down,’ said Julie. NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda hopes the competition will tap into nurses’ unique view of society. ‘As nurses we have always shared those hilarious, sad, awful, embarrassing, tragic, triumphant and cheeky moments with each other, our friends and our families. We think it is time some of those important stories were shared with the world,’ said Judith. The inaugural NSWNA Short Film Festival will be held on 13 May 2009, during the week of International Nurses’ Day, at NIDA’s Parade Theatre, Kensington. After the Sydney screening, the festival will be taken on the road in

conjunction with NSWNA Regional Roadshow visits. You can be as creative as you want. Your film can be a drama, comedy, documentary, animation, horror, musical or even a post-modern pastiche, so long as it is original, has nursing as its central theme, and is no longer than three minutes in length. Your film must also have been produced within the last 18 months, not been shown at any other festival and had all music copyright-cleared. First prize is $5000 and there will be two runner-up prizes of $2000 each. All entry information is available on the website at www.nswnurses.asn. au. The deadline is Friday, 19 March 2009. Entries should be posted to Lynne Ridge, Marketing & Recruitment Officer, NSW Nurses’ Association, PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450.n THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 39

L I F E S T Y L E

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Kathy Bates plays a neighbour with formidable stoutness of dress and character and one of the film’s highlights for me was the considerable irony demonstrated by her mentally ill son in confronting April and Frank with unpalatable and unwanted home truths – a rather shocking and revealing admission in that era when social niceties remained the order of the day and ‘truth’ deferred to social conventions. Determined to remain above the attitudes of the day and to still see themselves as ‘special’, April in particular is shaken to the core by it and her ultimate response will probably jolt some viewers. The film resonates easily with today’s society. Irrespective of time or geography, the fragility of seemingly sound relationships are tested to the core when societal pressures challenge one’s values and belief structures. It is also relevant when considering how marginalised the mentally-ill remain in contemporary times and how myths and misunderstandings still permeate through all levels of our society. Superb acting from an impressive cast. A must-see film for nurses wishing

GIVEAWAYS FOR NSWNA MEMBERS W. Whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush (Josh Brolin) is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. In an unprecedented undertaking, acclaimed director Oliver Stone is bringing the life of America's 43rd President to the big screen as only he can. W. takes viewers through Bush’s eventful life – his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush's decision to invade Iraq. W. opens on 26 February.

ased on Richard Yates’ 1961 novel, this emotionallyintense and moving film captures the social mores of middle American suburbia quite brilliantly. It portrays Kate Winslet as April Wheeler, a middle class housewife of husband, Frank, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Both see themselves apart from the gross inertia that surrounds them in the suburbs and remain determined not to be restricted by the social confines of their era. The build up of tension with Frank in a job going nowhere and April, suffocating in her role as suburban housewife in a cramped, hot, sweaty 1950s house leaves you silently restless in your seat. Little wonder the era ushered in the very panacea for suburban housewives of the time, who were desperate to make a ‘Valium’ effort when day after dreary day they were consigned to stultifying narrow roles in life. April is no exception and Winslet’s Golden Globe win is testimony to her finely crafted portrayal of an intelligent, artistic woman with hugely stifled creative and emotional outlets.

g Brilliant performances by Golden Globe winner Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as a 1950s couple suffocating in middle American suburbia left this reviewer squirming in her seat.

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not only to see well-crafted story-telling but also to understand the parallels with contemporary society.n Opens 22 January

Ghost Town

Starring: Ricky Gervais (The Office), Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine), Tea Leoni, Kristen Wigg (Saturday Night Live). In the romantic comedy Ghost Town, Bertram Pincus (Gervais) is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particularly Frank Herlihy (Kinnear) who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen (Leoni). That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with spirited results. ONLY AT THE MOVIES FROM 12 FEBRUARY • www.ghosttown.com.au

The Lamp 25 double 40 THE LAMPhas FEBRUARY 2009 passes to W. and 20 double passes each to Ghost Town and Revolutionary Road. To enter, email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au with your name, membership number, address and contact number. First entries win!

Defiance g A true story of three Jewish brothers who defy war, the nazis and the Jewish Holocaust and fight back, saving fellow Jews and making raids against the German forces. Defiance is an inspiring, compelling movie about survival, says Murray James.

nspired by a true World War II story, Defiance tells of the three Bielski brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell), Eastern European Jews who escape death from the Nazis in 1941. With the escalating genocide, the brothers escape by taking refuge in the surrounding forest. Brutalised by war and the resulting deaths in their family, they fight back to rescue fellow Jews and, with the help of Russian partisans, make raids against the local German forces. As the courageous, resilient Tuvia, Craig moves away from his recent typecast 007 role. Convincing as the community’s reluctant leader, he learns from a violent episode when avenging their families’ deaths that ‘the best way to get revenge is to live!’ However, his more truculent rival brother Zus (Schreiber) disagrees with him and seeks more active service with the Russian partisans until their anti-Semitism alienates him. Their younger brother Asiel (Bell) supports Tuvia and finds himself growing to maturity while surviving the harsh life of their forest community. With its Jewish Holocaust theme and James Newton Howard’s haunting violin music, Defiance could be viewed as a kind of Schindler’s List takes to the forest. The cinematography of Eduardo Serra is rich and atmospheric, as befits a big budget ($50 million) movie. From its disturbing opening historical footage showing the Nazi genocide and the dark side of humanity, this film also illustrates the courageous redeeming side of us all, which I think resonates with our experience as nurses in our various work areas. I would have preferred more character exploration from the impressive cast and fewer war action scenes from the relentless enemy but this is a small point. Defiance is primarily an inspiring, compelling movie about survival and in this it succeeds.n Defiance opens on 19 February.

Nursing opportunities in the UK • Boost your nursing experience • Work at the ‘Gateway to Europe’ • Take your career to new places Working in the UK is a fantastic way of broadening your horizons and enhancing your career potential with international experience. Hays Healthcare, the UK’s largest specialist recruitment agency are looking for qualified nurses to relocate to London and surrounding areas. We have temporary and longer-term vacancies and offer an excellent benefits package including; • £500 relocation bonus* • £150 referral bonus when you refer your friends/ colleagues* • Competitive rates of pay • Ongoing secured agency work • 24 days paid holiday (pro-rata) • Advice on obtaining Visas • Help setting up a UK bank account We know that moving across the globe can sometimes seem daunting and often it’s difficult to know where to begin. Let our experienced consultants guide you step by step through a personalised service that caters to your specific needs. Please contact Caroline Morfoot-Pettit T 02 8226 9770 E caroline.morfoot-pettit@hays.com.au

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Review by Murray James, RN, St John of God Private Hospital

Specialist Recruitment hays.com.au

THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 41

B O O K S

Book me John Murtagh’s Practice Tips (5th edition) By John Murtagh, McGrawHill Australia, RRP $72 : ISBN 9780070158986 John Murtagh’s Practice Tips continues to be an invaluable reference for GPs, family physicians and medical practitioners, offering practical advice and handy tips on patient treatment. A comprehensive range of medical conditions is presented as well as more than 30 new procedures and tips. Using simple, non-technical language, it is also easily accessible to all medical practitioners, nurses and medical students.

Sociology in Nursing and Healthcare By Hannah Cooke and Susan Philpin, Bailliere Tindall (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP $50 : ISBN 9780443101557 Sociology in Nursing and Healthcare has been designed specifically to discuss those aspects of sociology that are most relevant to nursing and the health care context in which it takes place. Divided into three sections linking to key issues of relevance to nursing, it provides an accessible introduction to major sociological themes and ideas. Part 1 covers sociology, nursing and everyday life. Part 2 describes the Healthcare System. Part 3 covers the Experience of Illness. All students taking nursing and health sciences courses, and social sciences modules, will find this book a readable and relevant introduction to sociology and health care.

Quick Look Nursing: Oxygenation (2nd edition) By Lisa Kennedy Sheldon, Jones and Bartlett (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP $54 : ISBN 9780763744755 Quick Look Nursing: Oxygenation provides an in-depth discussion of clinically-related topics in an integrated manner specific to nursing students and health professionals. Topics covered throughout this text include anatomy, physiology, assessment and management of the respiratory system and cardiovascular system, common interventions to improve oxygenation, and the role of the hematological system in oxygen transport.

Spirituality in Nursing: Standing on Holy Ground (3nd edition) By Mary Elizabeth O’Brien, Jones and Bartlett (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP $79 : ISBN 9780763746483 Spirituality in Nursing; Standing on Holy Ground explores the relationship between spirituality and the practice of nursing from a number of perspectives, including nursing assessment of patients’ spiritual needs, the nurse’s role in the provision of spiritual care, the spiritual nature of the nurse-patient relationship, the spiritual history of the nursing profession, and the contemporary interest in spirituality within the nursing profession. It is important to acknowledge that the author’s Christian

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 42 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Reviews by NSWNA librarian, Jeannette Bromfield.

PUBLISHER’S WEBSITES c McGraw-Hill: www.mcgraw-hill.com.au c Elsevier Australia: www.elsevier.com.au c Jones and Bartlett: www.jbpub.com c Scribe Publications: www.scribepublications.com.au

SPECIAL INTEREST TITLE

Human Rights Overboard: Seeking Asylum in Australia By Linda Briskman, Susie Latham and Chris Goddard with forward by Julian Burnside, Scribe Publications, RRP $35 : ISBN 9781921372407 In 2005, in the wake of the Cornelia Rau scandal, a citizen’s inquiry was established to bear witness to events in Australian immigration-detention facilities. The People’s Inquiry into Detention (as it came to be called) heard heartbreaking evidence about asylum-seekers’ journeys to Australia, their detention process, life in detention, and life after detention. Human Rights Overboard is a haunting journey guided by voices from every side of the fence: former immigration detainees, refugee advocates, lawyers, doctors, psychiatrists, and former detention and immigration staff. Together, their stories bear testimony to a humanitarian disaster that Australia caused, and that must be remembered so that it never happens again. philosophy of life inspired, guided, and supported the writing of this text.

Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing (8th edition) By Marilyn J. Hockenberry and David Wilson, Elsevier Mosby, RRP $130 : ISBN 9780323053532 Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing is known for its accuracy, current research, and highly readable writing style. It provides a foundation in child development and health promotion, and covers specific health problems – organised by age groups and body systems, so you can individualise care at the appropriate level for each child. A streamlined approach, superior illustrations, and a full-colour design make it easy to find and understand key nursing information.n

THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 43

Agitated, Disruptive–Even Assaultive Patients? We can help! Are you concerned about the risk of violence in your hospital or care institution? Are you prepared? Since 1980, the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) has been teaching health care professionals proven methods for managing difficult or assaultive behaviour. To date, over 5.4 million individuals—including thousands of nurses and other health care professionals—have participated in the highly successful CPI Nonviolent Crisis InterventionSM training course. This course not only teaches staff how to respond effectively to the warning signs that someone is about to lose control, but also addresses how staff can deal with their own stress and anxiety when confronted with these difficult situations. For further details on the CPI Nonviolent Crisis InterventionSM training course, call us toll-free at 1800 55 3247, visit www.crisisprevention.com, or email us at info@crisisprevention.com.

Join us at an upcoming training course: 16–19 February 2009 Sydney, NSW

23–26 February 2009 Adelaide, SA International Headquarters: 3315-H North 124th Street, Brookfield, WI 53005 USA Toll-free: 1800 55 3247 (Please ring before 9:00 a.m. Tues.–Sat.) Fax: 0015 1 262 783 5906 Email: info@crisisprevention.com • www.crisisprevention.com

2–5 March 2009 Brisbane, QLD Priority Code: LA900

The College of Nursing creating nursing’s future FEBRUARY 2009

MARCH 2009

Clinical assessment of older persons RN 2–3 February 2009 (Port Macquarie)

ECG Interpretation: Introduction EN & RN 2 March 2009

Special care nurseries EN & RN 12–13 March 2009 (Coffs Harbour)

Physical assessment workshop EN & RN 10–11 February 2009

Clinical decision making EN & RN 3 March 2009

The College of Nursing

Triage RN 11–12 February 2009

The College of Nursing has an exciting range of short courses prepared for 2009.

CNE development RN 12–13 February 2009

Diagnostic tests and X-Ray interpretation RN 3 March 2009

Confusion in acute care: Differential diagnosis of dementia, depression and delirium EN & RN 17–18 March 2009

Take a look at what’s happening in February and March. All courses attract CPD hours and are held on campus at Burwood NSW unless otherwise stipulated. Fees for courses vary depending on length of course. Members of the College receive a discount on fees and a further discount for early-bird registration applies. For more information, or to obtain your copy of the 2009 Handbook, call 02 9745 7500 or email: sas@nursing.edu.au 44 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Aged care and rehabilitation RN; NSW Health funded 16–18 February 2009 (Taree) Gynaecology oncology nursing – Advanced concepts EN & RN 16 February 2009 Acute surgical nursing EN & RN 17–18 February 2009 Rostering principles RN 18 February 2009 Palliative/end of life care EN & RN 23–24 February 2009 (Wagga Wagga) Community and outreach care: Contemporary issues EN & RN 26 February 2009 Aboriginal health: Contemporary issues EN & RN 27 February 2009 (Tamworth)

continuing professional development

Communication skills and workplace challenges EN & RN 4–5 March 2009 Nursing & midwifery unit management: A survival toolkit RN 5–6 March, 26–27 March & 16–17 April 2009 Bariatric nursing and surgery EN & RN 6 March 2009 Clinical skills development for the acute care setting EN & RN 9–13 March 2009 Documentation for quality improvement EN & RN 11 March 2009 Paediatric nursing: An introduction EN & RN 11–13 March 2009

Current issues in chemotherapy RN 17 March 2009 Clinical risk management RN 18 March 2009 Perioperative nursing: Introduction RN 23–25 March 2009 Stroke: Acute management strategies EN & RN 24–25 March 2009 Perioperative nursing: Anaesthetics and Recovery Room RN 26–27 March 2009 Perioperative nursing: Scrub and scout RN 26–27 March 2009 Pharmacology in aged care RN 26–27 March 2009 Drug and alcohol issues EN & RN 30 March 2009 (Lismore)

Chronic and complex care EN & RN 12–13 March 2009 (Dubbo) Neuroleadership for senior managers RN 12–13 March & 5 June 2009

www.nursing.edu.au

N U R S I N G

O N L I N E

Reflections on nursing

he Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing continues to provide a valuable forum for original nursing research and scholarship. The latest edition of AJAN is available online at www.ajan.com.au. Highlights include:

Reflections on nursing: how changes to the Australian research system will work to nurses’ advantage Extract from a guest editorial by Mary Courtney, RN, BAdmin (Acc), MHP, PhD, FRCNA, AFCHSE, Assistant Dean (Research) Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Mary Courtney Queensland, Australia. The change in the Australian Government’s strategic direction clearly highlights the future opportunity for nursing research to be positioned at the forefront of health science research endeavours. The move away from commercialisation as a primary outcome to the exclusion of public good outcomes offers nursing research the chance to expand the already substantial impact it has made on the health of the public. Nursing research is well positioned to be at the forefront of addressing the national health priorities of health promotion and disease prevention and improving the quality of life through selfmanagement, symptom management and care provision as well as leading research in addressing end-of-life issues. As we look ahead and governments eventually come to understand the significant social benefits and public good outcomes achieved by nursing research, it is my dream that nursing research will receive the funding it deserves in order to address some of the most important health care issues confronting our society. c www.ajan.com.au/Vol26/26-2_

Guest_Editorial.pdf

The duration of clinical placements: a key influence on nursing students’ experience of belongingness Tracy Levett-Jones, Judith Lathlean, Isabel Higgins, Margaret McMillan This paper reports selected findings from a study that investigated nursing students’

From left: Tracy Levett-Jones, Margaret McMillan and Judith Lathlean.

experience of belongingness. The manner in which this experience is influenced by the duration of students’ clinical placements is the focus of the discussion. The setting for the study was two Australian universities and one university in the United Kingdom offering undergraduate nursing programs. Third year undergraduate students (n=362) were recruited into the study. The main outcome measure was the nurses’ experience of belongingness and the influence of the duration of clinical placement on the experience of belongingness. The study found that students’ self-concept, degree of self-efficacy, confidence, resilience, willingness to question or conform to poor practice, career decisions, capacity and motivation to learn were all impacted by the extent to which they experienced belongingness. The study concluded that a consolidated period of practice for students to ‘settle in’ and establish collegial relationships is an important influence on their experience of belonging and a necessary precursor to their active and participative learning. c www.ajan.com.au/Vol26/26-2_

Levett_Jones.pdf

Mature learners becoming registered nurses: a grounded theory model Vicki Drury, Karen Francis, Ysanne Chapman This study describes how mature aged people reconstruct themselves as nursing students. The study was undertaken at the rural campuses of two major Australian universities. The universities were in two different states of Australia. Data

From left: Vicki Drury, Karen Francis and Ysanne Chapman.

was gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups over an 18-month period between January 2006 and June 2007, with 14 mature-aged undergraduate nursing students. These students were in the second or third year of three-year baccalaureate degrees that led to registration as registered nurses. The paper argues that mature aged undergraduate students have different needs to younger students including academic and pastoral support, on-campus subsidised childcare and creative timetabling. c www.ajan.com.au/Vol26/26-2_

Drury.pdf

Palliative care in a multicultural society: a challenge for Western ethics Keri Chater, Chun-Ting Tsai This paper examines the notion of truth telling and its place in palliative care nursing with a particular focus on nursing people from minority cultures. The subjects are patients receiving palliative nursing care particularly those from minority cultures. The paper argues that Australia is a multicultural society yet its dominant ethical paradigm is firmly placed in the Western philosophical tradition. The fundamental concept that Western ethics is based on is that of autonomy, which implies that the individual is a free agent able to make their own decisions including accepting or rejecting medical treatments. This paper argues the Western ethical concepts of autonomy and truth telling in the practice domain of palliative care nursing may not be appropriate for different cultural groups. The paper concludes with an option for nurses working in multicultural societies, which accommodates differing cultural perspectives while not compromising the ethical principle of truth telling.n c www.ajan.com.au/Vol26/26-2_

Chater.pdf THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 45

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CRoSSWoRD Test your knowledge in this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nursing crossword.

6 7

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1. 4. 7. 8. 9. 10. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Build up of fluid (6) Womb (6) Consumed (3) Neonate (7) Vacant, unfilled (5) Velocity (5) Drug dispensing professional (10) Where the auricles are (4) Emergency ward, abbrev (1.1.) Cut, injury (8) Next to, by (2)

21. Go faster (10) 22. One who suffers from sleep apnoea (6) 24. Nursing home occupant, dweller (8) 26. Examines (8) 27. Wheat protein that causes problems in celiac disease (6) s 1. 2. 3.

DOWN Thinning of the bones (12) Difficulty speaking as the result of a brain lesion (9) A lot (4)

4. 5. 6. 11. 12. 13. 14. 20. 23. 25.

Connections between mother and foetus (9,5) Manages, operates (4) Secure (4) Forced, compelled (9) Sanitisation, making germ-free (12) Relating to childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health (10) Bleaching, purifying (11) Treatment (7) Zero, zilch (4) Way out (4)

Solution page 49 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 47

Time for a change?

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The Forensic Hospital is a 135-bed, high security mental health facility. We provide the ideal working environment for delivering innovative patient care whilst ensuring the safety of staff, patients and the community. Located in Malabar in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the hospital is a low rise, spacious campus with state-of-the-art facilities for male, female and adolescent patients. We currently have vacancies for Nursing and Medical staff. Our training is second-to-none and Justice Health provides ongoing opportunities for advancement and research in this specialised ﬁeld. If you are ready to make a change for the better, talk to Justice Health! Visit our website for more information www.jobsatjusticehealth.com.au Or phone our Careers line on 1300 734 842. Justice Health is a totally smoke-free environment.

Great legal advice for Nurses Maurice Blackburn are proud to be the lawyers for the New South Wales Nurses’ Association.

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Call the Association information line on 1300 367 962 Maurice Blackburn has ofﬁces in: Sydney T (02) 9261 1488

Newcastle T (02) 4953 9500

New ofﬁces in: Parramatta T (02) 9806 7222

Canberra T (02) 6214 3200

Visiting Ofﬁces Camperdown T (02) 9261 1488

Wollongong T (02) 9261 1488

Appointments for regional members can also be arranged.

www.mauriceblackburn.com.au

48 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

Diary Dates

DIARY DATES Conferences, seminars, meetings SYDNEY, HUNTER & ILLAWARRA AusTrauma 2009 13–14 February, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour Contact: www.austraumaconference.org Healthcare World 2009 17–19 February, Swissotel, Market St Contact: 9021 8808 or go to www.terrapinn.com/2009/healthw ACAT Nurses Special Interest Group 17 February, 1–3pm, Bankstown Hospital Ward 2A/2B Conference Room Contact: 9722 7300 or email wendy.oliver@sswahs.nsw.gov.au 3rd International Cerebal Palsy Conf. 18–21 February, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour Contact: www.cp2009.com.au 4th Annual Infectious Disease Ctrl. Conf. ‘Prevention, Detection & Containment Strategies to Respond to the Threat of Disease & Pandemic Outbreaks’ 23–25 Feb, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour Contact: www.iir.com.au/infectiousdisease The Mental Health Services (MHS) Summer Forum 2009 – Leadership for Mental Health Services of The Future 26–27 February, Citigate Hotel Sydney Contact: www.themhs.org Australasian Cardiovascular Nursing College 09 Annual Scientific Meeting 27–28 Feb, Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach Cost: $320-350. Contact: www.acnc.net.au Westmead Endoscopy Symposium 4 – 6 March. Contact: Leanne Mulheran, (07) 5548 6199, rsvp@e-Kiddna.com.au Enrolled Nurse Professional Day 21 March, Tamworth. Contact: 1300 554 249 or email garozn@ optusnet.com.au NSW Chapter Society for Vascular Nursing – Educational Evening 24 March, 6pm, Concord Hosp. Conf. Rm 1 Cost: free for members/$10 non-members Contact: Sue Monaro, 9767 5000 pg. 60255, monaros@email.cs.nsw.gov.au 6th Neuroscience and Trauma Professional Development Day 27 March, Educ. Block, Westmead Hosp. Contact: Katherine Schaffarczyk, 9845 7590, Katherine_Schaffarczyk@ wsahs.nsw.gov.au Workplace Research Centre – ‘Climate Change at Work’ 1 April, Sydney Hilton Contact: 9351 5626, www.wrc.org.au

The Australian Pain Society 29th Annual Scientific Meeting 5–8 April, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour Contact: 9954 4400, www.apsoc.org.au Pain Interest Group – Nursing Issues Workshop 5 April, 12noon–5pm, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour Contact: 9954 4400, www.apsoc.org.au 2nd Annual Chronic Disease Management Australia Conference 6–8 April, Amora Jamison Sydney Contact: www.terrapinn.com/2009/cdman Heartbeat 2009 – ‘Essentials of Care, Governance and Technology’ 29–30 May, Novotel Brighton Beach Contact: Jessica Scicluna, 9211 6299, jessica@avantievents.com.au Website: www.heartbeat.org.au ‘Urology Uncovered’ 30 May, St. Vincents Private Hospital Darlinghurst. Contact: Virginia, Ip 9515 3652, Virginia.ip@email.cs.nsw.gov.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, mail 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 PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 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. Due to high demands on 10th National Rural Hlth Alliance Conf. 17–20 May, Cairns Convention Centre Contact: http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au, (02) 6285 4660

NSWNA events NSWNA Committee of Delegates (CODs) Meeting Dates For 2009 17 March, 19 May, 15 Sept, 17 Nov.

NSWNA activist forums

INTERSTATE AND OVERSEAS

Hunter Activists Forum 4 February & 8 April, 6pm, Wests Mayfield, Industrial Drive, Mayfield

Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Private Practice Special Interest Group – Conference 2009 6–7 March, Marque Hotel Canberra Contact: 1300 667 079, admin@acmhn.org

New England Activist Forum 18 February, 6pm, Quality Hotel Powerhouse, 31 Marsh Street, Armidale 22 April, 6pm, West Tamworth Leagues Club, Phillip Street, West Tamworth

Aust. & NZ Urological Nurses Society (ANZUNS) Annual National Conf. 8–12 March, Broadbeach Convention Centre, Gold Coast Qld. Contact: (02) 9213 4048, www.anzuns.org

Contact: NSWNA, 8595 1234

Australian Association of Stomal Therapy Nurses Inc. 37th Conference 11–13 March, Perth WA. Cost: $550 (full) / $250 (day only). Contact: Robyn Simcock rmsimcock@bigpond.com Growing Together – Australian Association of Maternal, Child and Family Health Nurses Conference 2–4 April, Adelaide Convention Centre Contact: Jenny Boden, (03) 5977 0244 Australian Practice Nurses Assoc. – National Conference 2009 30 April – 2 May, Grand Hyatt Melbourne. Contact: (03) 5977 0244, info@corporatecommunique.com.au Teamwork for Better Health Conf. 09 8 – 9 May, Hilton on the Park, Melbourne Contact: (03) 9417 0888, rwav2009@ meetingplanners.com.au Heart Foundation Conference 2009 ‘Hearts in Focus: Celebration, Collaboration and Challenges’ 14–16 May, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Qld. Contact: www. heartfoundation.org.au/conference

Reunions Sydney Hosp. Group 79/1 – 30yrs reunion 7 February, 7pm, Sydney Rowing Club, 613 Great Northern Rd, Abbotsford Contact: Merryn Hopkins 0437 979 868 50 Year Graduate Reunion RPAH 1955 BTS Intake 25 February, 12noon–2.30pm, Bowlers Club, 95-99 York Street Sydney. Contact: Helen 9671-3141 RPAH – PTS Jan, Feb, Apr 1959 Reunion & 50 Year Luncheon 7 March, RPAH Camperdown (RMO Lounge) Contact: Janette Williams, 9797 9304, mepeewee@bigpond.net.au 40th NEC Lunch Reunion, Class of Jan ‘69 8 March Contact: Carolyn Hook 0419 980 952 St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney – March 1969 PTS 40 Year Reunion 20 – 22 March. Contact: Helen (Wilson) Kersten, 4232 1767/ 0417 651 881 or Jenny (Quilty) McNamara, 9344 5957/0412 508 332

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. Diary Dates are also on the web – www.nswnurses.asn.au 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.

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. RPAH April ’79 Group Reunion April 09, Sydney CBD. Contact: jane. howland@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au RPAH reunions July 1962–1966 group Seeking interest. Contact: Rosemary Cuneo, 9953 5257, rjohno@bigpond.net.au RPA Hospital 1979 June PCB 20 June. Contact: Debra Furniss, debra. furniss@email.cs.nsw.gov.au or glenda. hodgess@email.cs.nsw.gov.au St Vincent’s Hosp. 40-Years Reunion PTS June 1969 Group. June, Sydney Contact: Carol Reidy (Taylor), 9489 3960, reidycarolyn@yahoo.com.au/ Chris Doig (O’Connell), 6920 7431, doigy@activ8.net

Other notices University of New England Armidale – Peace Studies Short Course 9–12 February. Cost: $590 Contact: 6773 2154, confco@une.edu.au, www.une.edu.au/study/peace-studies Nurses interested in marching in the 2009 Mardi Gras 7 March. Contact: Phillipe Millard, 8595 1234, pmillard@nswnurses.asn.au 2nd International Ayurveda & Yoga Conf. 3–5 April, City Recital Hall, Angel Place. Web: www.ayaustralia.org Nurses Christian Fellowship • Prof. Breakfast, 14 Feb, 9am, Gardens’r Us, Kingsford. Contact: Jane, 9449 4868 • Picnic lunch, 14 March, 12noon, Echo Point Picnic Grounds, Roseville.BYO everything. Contact: Jane, 9449 4868 • Spiritual Care Course, 2 April, 8.30am–1.30pm, Lober House Mowell Village, Castle Hill. Followed by lunch at Wills Cafe. Contact Diana 9476 4440

Crossword solution

St Vincent’s ’79 Group Reunion April or May 2009, Sydney CBD Contact: Ann Williams (now Jackson), ajackson@chcs.com.au THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 49

A Unions initiative Chifley Financial Services offers: N N N N

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McCarthy Green Scholarship for Nursing in Reproductive & Sexual Health in Aborignial Communities 15th Annual Heartbeat Cardiovascular Conference â&#x20AC;&#x153;Essentials of Care, Governance & Technologyâ&#x20AC;? 29-30 May 2009, Novotel Brighton Beach Sydney, Australia Join us for an informative and fun 2-day programme with expert speakers, latest research, lively debate and networking. The conference will be of interest to all cardiac nursing and allied health practitioners.

For more information: Ms Jessica Scicluna s www.heartbeat.org.au Tel: + 61 2 9211 6299 s jessica@avantievents.com.au

Applications close This scholarship provides funding for a nurse/ 31 March 2009 midwife to complete the Family Planning NSW CertiďŹ cate in Sexual and Reproductive Health Visit (Nursing). Funding up to $6,000 will be awarded for www.fpnsw.org.au or call tuition, travel and away-from-home living expenses.

Applicants must be a registered nurse/midwife with at least two years post-basic experience and be currently working in an Aboriginal community in NSW, Australian citizen or permanent resident, and able to commence study in 2009.

1 300 658 886 for more information & an application.

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Gold Coast 21st March â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09

Complementary Medicine & Orthodox Psychology Rapid emotional release & processing of stress & trauma Brief Trauma Counselling, Stress Management & Emwave â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Biofeedbackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Training, De Soir Thought Stopping Technique Bach Flowers, Pressure Point Therapy

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50 THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009

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A D VE R T IS E M E N T

University of Sydney’s Best Kept Secret The Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Sydney is alive and well. To quote Mark Twain “Reports of (our) death have been greatly exaggerated”.

hear constantly from nurses and others that they understood that the Faculty had closed or that it no longer had a pre-registration programme so I thought it appropriate to lay some of these rumours to rest. Indeed several years ago a decision was taken to cease offering a Bachelor of Nursing at Sydney University and this programme is in the final stages of its phasing out. Less well known is the terrific programme which has, since 2006, replaced it, a programme much more aligned with the direction the University has taken in many professionally oriented programmes. The Faculty has introduced a pre-registration Master of Nursing. There are two modes of entry to this programme: one a graduate entry and the other through a combined degree. The first, the graduate entry, enables someone holding a degree to undertake the professional Master of Nursing and graduate in two years with an eligibility to apply for registration with the NSW NMB. The second mode of entry is to undertake a “combined degree”. Here the student enrolls in a Bachelor of Arts, Science, Health Science or Applied Science(Exercise and Sports Science) combined with the professional preparation Master of Nursing. In 4 years, students graduate with a bachelor degree in the chosen area and a Master

of Nursing and eligibility to apply to the NMB for registration. In this combined degree the student does the full ﬁrst year of their bachelor degree, then second and third years they do half bachelor degree and half nursing subjects, including clinical practice, and in 4th year do only Master of Nursing subjects with sustained clinical practice opportunities. This is a fantastic means of combining the much sought after undergraduate experience at Sydney Uni, a Sydney University masters degree and a professional education producing a “ticket” to professional practice. I joined the Faculty in January 2008 as Dean and we have been busy reviewing the post graduate oﬀerings and reconstructing our Master of Nursing (Advanced Study) for already registered nurses and midwives. Our areas of focus are: cancer nursing, emergency/ ICU nursing, mental health, primary health care, and health policy and regulation. I sincerely hope that within the next year we

www.nursing.usyd.edu.au

Prof Jill White will be able to reengage more actively with Midwifery education and research. The University of Sydney is a research intensive university, positioned second only to ANU in international rankings and the leading institution in Australia with a nursing programme. Nursing and Midwifery have a legitimate place in this environment and our strength in this area is growing signiﬁcantly. Our future here is no longer a matter for speculation. We are here to stay, to grow and to prosper for the sake of the persons who need our care and our research. Our links with the Faculties of Medicine, Health Sciences, Pharmacy and Dentistry are key to our contribution to health services and practice development, as are our attachments to the clinical schools in many signiﬁcant health care settings. During this year we will be reaching out to all who have studied here at Mallet Street, at Cumberland College and all other predecessor institutions to welcome you as alumni and to strengthen our colleagial relationships. I hope you will join us in some manner whether an exstudent, prospective student or simply an interested member of the professions.

THE LAMP FEBRUARY 2009 51

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