The Lamp October 2011 by NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association

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volume 68 no.9 October 2011

Defending public services

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2 THE LAMP October 2011

About The Lamp

c o n t e n t s

Cover story

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

volume 68 no.9 October 2011

Defending public services 12 Cover

Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

Defending public services, nurses Lana Zanco from Liverpool Hospital and Brigitte Malle from Nepean Hospital. Photography by Sharon Hickey.

DEFENDING PUBLIC SERVICES

News in brief 8 First nurse-led clinic hailed a success 8 Sydney Hospital celebrates 200 years of nursing 9 NSWNA member wins Pride of Australia Medal 9 Unions form alliance to support marriage equality 9 States must commit to equal pay, says ACTU 11 Survey on healthcare professionals’ social media use 11 ANF stands up for nurses in West Papua 11 RCNA offers nursing information website 11 Global midwives’ petition presented to world leaders

NSWNA education program 11 What’s on

Industrial issues 16 24 28 29 31

Orange nurses take a stand Statewide rallies protest IR laws Scalabrini nurses celebrate new agreement Security win for Blacktown ED nurses Members’ input needed for night duty survey

Agenda 21 O’Farrell axes 5,000 public sector jobs 22 Strong case for Fair Work Act

Because we care 26 Community consultations with Minister for Ageing

Professional issues 32 New English Language Skills registration standard

Building stronger communities 33 Sydney Alliance: The way to have your say

Nurses in action 39 Helping breakthroughs in skin cancer

Fighting fit nurses 40 Sharp shooter

NSWNA matters 43 NSWNA Branch News

Obituary 46 Ellen Mary Higham: Outstanding nurse educator

Regular columns 5 Editorial by Brett Holmes 6 Your letters to The Lamp 34 Ask Judith 35 Nurses online 36 Nursing research online 44 At the movies 47 Books 49 Our nursing crossword 50 Diary dates

Competition 37 Win an educational book package

Special offers 45 Win 25 double passes to Drive and 20 double passes to The Whistleblower.

Contacts NSW Nurses’ Association For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office. Sydney Office 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au W www.nswnurses.asn.au Hunter Office 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle Ease NSW 2300 Illawarra Office L1, 63 Market Street Wollongong NSW 2500 NSWNA communications manager Noel Hester T 8595 2153 NSWNA communications assistant Janaki Chellam-Rajendra T 8595 1258 For all Lamp editorial enquiries, letters and diary dates: Editorial Enquiries T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnurses.asn.au M 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 The lamp produced by Sirius Communications T 9560 1223 W www.siriuscommunications.com.au Press Releases Send your press releases to: F 9662 1414 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 Roz Norman, Tamworth Base Hospital Elsie May Henson, Barraba Multi Purpose Service Peg Hibbert, Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital Michelle Cashman, Long Jetty Continuing Care Richard Noort, Justice Health Advertising Patricia Purcell T 8595 2139 or 0416 259 845 F 9662 1414 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 $73, Institutions $120, Overseas $130.

CONVERT TO DIRECT DEBIT AND WIN a $2,000 Union Shopper gift certificate Start paying your NSWNA fees by Direct Debit for the chance to win a $2,000 gift certificate to spend on electrical products of your choice or to put towards a motor vehicle through Union Shopper. What an opportunity! Perhaps it’s that automated coffee machine that you have been wanting for ages, or a new large-screen TV? What about a new mixer or ice cream machine for those budding master chefs in the household? With $2,000 to spend, you could treat every member of the family to something special. Or perhaps you want to put the $2,000 towards a new or used motor vehicle? Union Shopper’s Motor Market consultants use their extensive network of reputable car dealers to ensure members obtain the most competitive price available on their new vehicle and aim for 100% satisfaction with every sale. Visit www.unionshopper.com.au for more information about all the products and services that Union Shopper offers.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN WIN

Cancel your payroll deductions and start paying your fees through direct debit and you will go into the lucky draw and/or

Convince your colleagues to convert from payroll deductions to direct debit, and you and each of your colleagues who switch to direct debit will go into 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 into the lucky draw.

The State Government could at any time stop payroll deductions as part of new industrial relations laws. As a matter of urgency please convert to the Direct Debit or Credit method of paying your fees. Direct debit is not only the easiest and most convenient way to pay your membership, but switching over could win you a $2,000 gift certificate! Don’t risk your membership lapsing from changing workplaces or from changes in industrial relations laws. With direct debit you are always protected on the job.

Membership Application forms or Direct Debit forms can be downloaded from our website www.nswnurses.asn.au. Alternatively, call us on 8595 1234 (metro area) or 41300 367October 962l (non-metro area) for more information. THE LAMP 2011

PRIZE DRAWN 31 DEC 2011

e d i t o r i a l BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY

Standing up for safety and quality of services g Nurses are standing up for safe patient care and better services – in our hospitals and in a wider realm in unison with other public sector workers.

ast month saw some significant actions that showed nurses and other public sector workers are determined to stand up and defend their professions and the people who depend on them in the face of the State Govern ment’s attack on our rights and public services. Up to 40,000 people turned up in The Domain to send a clear message to Premier O’Farrell that job cuts and a wage freeze in the public sector will not be met lying down. This was more than double the amount that turned up for a rally in June. It shows that anger is rising and momentum is building against the Government’s unnecessary and counterproductive measures. People are not swallowing the Government’s misleading arguments about a ‘budget black hole’. They are not gullible. Public sector workers – not least nurses and midwives – understand there is no fat in the system. There are no opportunities for further productivity improvements. A wages policy that applies a rigid cookie cutter approach is just ignorant of the facts on the ground. How will a wage freeze help attract nurses and midwives back into the system? How will cuts to ancillary services help free nurses up to deliver the necessary clinical care? I applaud all the nurses, teachers, fire fighters, police and other public sector workers who rallied for their rights on 8 September. The Government, including

circumstances that tend to breed hubris and arrogance in politicians. This State has seen enough of that. We need to continue to build our unity and maintain the pressure, and we have every intention of doing so.

Tailoring services to resources

Up to 40,000 people turned up in The Domain to send a clear message to Premier O’Farrell that job cuts and a wage freeze in the public sector will not be met lying down. all those new Members of Parliament elected with small margins, know they has a fight on their hands. We need to be aware this will be a long fight. The Government is fresh to office and has a large majority. There are another three and a half years until the next election. These are the sort of

Nurses are not just taking to the streets to protect the integrity of our public services. They are also taking action in the workplace. Nurses at Orange Base Hospital have just capped the use of beds after management failed to provide the resources needed to meet demand. Capping beds and closing beds is not an action that comes easily to us as nurses. It is not an action we have readily resorted to in the past. At the heart of our ratios campaign was recognition that nurses had nothing left to give and that the Government and the Health Department had to find more resources for our health system. This is necessary if nurses are to deliver safe, high-quality care. This view drove the actions of the Orange nurses and midwives. They refused to compromise the safety of their patients. So, they limited the services that they provide to what they can deliver. Next month I hope to be able to give more detail on Lismore. Similar predicaments are presenting throughout the state. It’s a tough decision to make. But nurses are fully entitled to make it.n THE LAMP October 2011 5

l e t t e r s

Nurse education is holding back the profession I am concerned about the deteriorating system for Enrolled Nurse Education. As an Educator in a rural area I am also a resource person for career development and I am finding it more and more frustrating to give advice on career development to those nurses who do not have the option of going to university for various reasons. TAFE was doing an acute AiN course and most of the graduates did get casual work at the Public Hospital but the hospital can only offer casual employment and then reached its quota and put a freeze on AiN recruitment. The TAFE has now cancelled this course for now. There is now only the aged care AiN program and to be employed in an acute public hospital at the completion of this they have to have two years’ AiN experience. AiNs who do the acute program once in the system want to advance themselves so they then enquire about doing Enrolled Nursing. There is only one TAFE in the area that offers this and it is dependant on funding. Currently, there is no NSW health funding except in the aged care sector. So to get a scholarship and funding to get into an EEN program you need to be an AiN in an aged care facility. The only other option is to travel to a TAFE that is offering a fee-paying program. In this case fees for the 12-month course average around $12,000 and to travel and pay that amount is out of reach for most people unless they are able to get a scholarship and are happy to move for the duration of the course. So then there’s the next option – going to university. A lot of enquiries I have are from those who have had a goal to be a nurse but life has thrown many things in the way such as marriage, children, finances and family issues. Most have not done Year 12 and have very little confidence in succeeding at university. There is a

Australian Nursing Federation NSW Branch

Financial Report 6 THE LAMP October 2011

perception that universities are only for people who have an HSC and are academics. For country people, there are issues with location and commitments to families and farms. I try and give as much information as I can and I always research information on programs and give encouragement because nursing needs these people with this strong commitment. I am, however, finding it hard to track down programs for Enrolled Nursing without going to university. I feel we are creating a workforce for the future without EENs and after 36 years of nursing I can’t imagine not having them because most come with life experience and are an integral part of the nursing team. There are also some pre-1991 Certifi cate III ENs here and all they want is to upgrade to a Certificate IV and do medi cation. The last conversion course including medication finished at TAFE 18 months ago. The College of Nursing no longer offers this and they are now looking interstate to upgrade their skills. I know quite a few ENs from other areas who have had this issue also. One of our very experienced ENs is now doing the whole EN course again, distant education through a university in South Australia. One of our AINs is also doing hers this way and another through an institute in Queensland. Is it just me or is something seriously missing here? Where are the opportunities in NSW? Where are we going? Another area that concerns me is Reconnect. On average, I co-ordinate approximately five nurses a year through Reconnect back into the workforce and they have all stayed on. This year there has been one only. I have had approximately four enquiries but they unfortunately let their registration expire and to renew it is quite a process. If over five years out they need to do a refresher program through a recognised training organisation, if under five years they must produce evidence of approxi mately two weeks’ clinical experience. Because they are not covered by The Australian Nursing Federation NSW Branch Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2011 will be available on the members page at www.nswnurses.asn.au from Monday, 17 October 2011. Members without internet access may

The letter judged the best each month will be awarded a $50 Coles Myer voucher courtesy of Moore Equipment. Clever carts to help clever nurses. For details on the range of clax carts please visit www.moore equipmentcom.au or call (02) 9519 5540

Every letter published receives the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald delivered 7 days a week for 26 weeks Subscribe to the Herald today to save 41% 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.

insurance from a learning institution they must seek personal insurance in order to come to a health service to gain super numery experience. That is if the health service gives permission for this to happen. Reconnect requires registration and previously often registration was granted with restrictions that could be lifted depending on successful return to work and completion of the program. So our nurses returning to work are being held back also. I wonder if I am living in past or have I got my information wrong. I could well have some of my facts wrong but have only what I have been able to access to guide me. I would love for some feedback and education ideas. Susan Lawler, RN, Rural Nurse Educator Susan Lawler won the prize for this month’s letter of the month, a $50 Coles Myer voucher. obtain a hard copy of the report by applying in writing to: Brett Holmes, Branch Secretary Australian Nursing Federation NSW Branch 50 O’Dea Avenue Waterloo NSW 2017

Got something to say?

Send your letters to: Editorial Enquiries email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au fax 9662 1414 mail 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 Please include a photograph along with your name, address, phone and membership number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Thanks from lucky competition winner Dianne Lohman

Wayne Baxter

Kempsey Branch pledges Sydney Alliance launch support for aged care colleagues powerful Our Branch was pleased to hear at Annual Conference that we could do something to support our aged care colleagues. We took the information given to Branches and passed a resolution in support of aged care reform. Even while we are facing a fight in the public system, we don’t want to forget our nurse colleagues in the aged care sector who lag significantly behind public sector rates, and have to bargain with their employers for wage and workloads justice. I hope that other Branches in all sectors will pass this important resolution. While it is a small gesture for each Branch, it can be a strong message to the Prime Minister if it comes from hundreds of Branches. Dianne Lohman, RN, Secretary, Kempsey District Hospital Branch

I was in the NSWNA contingent of 70 or so who attended the Sydney Alliance launch event at the Sydney Town Hall. I found it a very moving and inspiring experience to be in the room with 2000 people of very diverse cultures and experiences from all across Sydney. There were powerful personal stories about aged care, transport and cultural inclusion, which spoke of a Sydney with more compassion, less fear and more connection between people. This is an exciting ‘citizens’ movement’ and is already on its way to making positive changes in Sydney and I really hope that other nurses and community members will get involved in the Alliance. Wayne Baxter, RN, Delegate RPAH Branch

I was the lucky winner of the ‘Hunter Valley Escape’ prize in April, and I am writing to say thank you. We had a fabulous getaway, and I felt totally spoilt. Our accommodation was two nights in a spa suite at the Hermitage Lodge in Pokolbin – which was perfect. Also included in the prize was a three-course dinner at their Il Cacciatore Restaurant, and a three-course dinner at The Mill Restaurant. Added to that, a luxurious massage at the Chateau Elan Day Spa (heaven on earth), and a personal chauffeur-driven tour around the wineries with Wine Country Hire Cars. Midwives and nurses often live in a stressful environment while catering to the needs of others, and this short getaway was a chance to care for myself and escape into a different world. And what a wonderful world it was! So, once again, thanks. Lee Fusarelli, RM

LIONS NURSES’SCHOLARSHIP

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The trustees of the Lions Nurses’ Scholarship Foundation invite applications for scholarships for 2012. Nurses eligible for these scholarships must be resident and employed within the State of NSW or ACT. You must be registered or enrolled with either the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or regulatory authority of the ACT, and must have a minimum of three years’ experience in the nursing profession in NSW or the ACT. Applicants must also be able to produce evidence that your employer will grant leave for the required period of the scholarship. Details of eligibility and the scholarships available (which include study projects either within Australia or overseas), and application forms are available from: The Honourary Secretary, Lions Nurses’ Scholarship Foundation 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 or contact Ms Glen Ginty on 1300 367 962 or gginty@nswnurses.asn.au www.nswnurses.asn.au Completed applications must be in the hands of the secretary no later than 28 November 2011. lion advert_horizontal_2012.indd 1

THE LAMP October 2011 7 21/09/11 10:26 AM

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First nurse-led

clinic hailed

a success

n independent evaluation of the first walk-in clinic led by Nurse Practitioners in Canberra found a high degree of patient satisfaction. The ACT Health Walk-In Centre (WiC) assessed more than 14,000 patients and treated more than 8,000 patients in its first year. Despite being criticised by the Australian Medical Association, the clinic has been hailed a success by the ACT Branch of the ANF. ‘The Canberra clinic has not failed,’ said ACT ANF Branch Secretary Jenny Miragaya. ‘It has provided a safe and effective service that is supported and valued by the ACT community, with 84% of patients saying they would recommend the walkin centre to family and friends and 82% indicating they would definitely use the WiC again. ‘Sixty-three percent of clients were treated by the WiC staff, 21% were referred to GPs and only 5% of clients were referred to the ED – and no one has suggested that these were inappropriate referrals.’ Jenny said nurse-led clinics offer an alternative health-care option for patients, particularly in the ACT where there is an acute shortage of bulk-billing GPs. ‘The ACT ANF considers that nurse-led clinics are capable of relieving pressure on acute care and GP services within the ACT. Nurse-led clinics are not in competition with GP services but are capable of working collegially with GPs to ease pressure on both acute care and GP services.’ 8 THE LAMP October 2011

Sydney Hospital celebrates 200 years of nursing Sydney Hospital is celebrating its bicentenary this month, with a community open day and an exhibition. Dating back to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, Sydney Hospital has been on its present site in Sydney’s historic Macquarie Street since 1811 and is Australia’s first hospital. It is also home to the first nursing school in Australia. Sent to the colony by Florence Nightingale following a request by the colonial government in the mid 1800s, Lucy Osburn laid the foundation of profes sional nursing in Australia by founding the Sydney Hospital nursing school. To celebrate Sydney Hospital’s bicentenary and the invaluable contribution of the hospital’s nursing staff over the past 200 years, the hospital will be throwing its doors open wider than ever to the public. On Saturday, 29 October, the Sydney Hospital’s Bicentenary Community Open Day will be a full day of celebrations, recognising staff past and present who have contributed to making Sydney Hospital the outstanding health facility it is today. The Community Open Day will take place on site in the hospital’s courtyard from 10am to 3pm, and will feature tours

Sydney Hospital ward circa 1930.

of parts of the hospital’s current clinical areas and historic areas, such as the Lucy Osburn Museum, stalls showcasing the work of Sydney Hospital’s clinical departments and facilities, special guests, live entertainment and food stalls. On the same day, a professionallycurated exhibition, ‘Sydney Hospital: Celebrating 200 years of care’, will be opened, and visitors will be able to take a historical tour within the hospital.

Lucy Osburn laid the foundation of professional nursing in Australia by founding the Sydney Hospital nursing school. The exhibition will run until Friday, 2 December, and maps the hospital’s history – from its beginnings as a tent hospital with the First Fleet to the health-care facility it is today and its future endeavours in the areas of general medicine, eye, hand, sexual health and drug and alcohol management. Nurses who have worked and/or trained at Sydney Hospital are encouraged to attend Sydney Hospital’s Bicentenary Community Open Day and celebrate their contribution of nursing to the hospital’s proud history.

Unions form alliance to support marriage equality

NSWNA member

wins Pride

of Australia

Medal

oan Rivers, EN at Hunter New England Health Service, has won a 2011 Pride of Australia Medal. Now in its seventh year, the Pride of Australia Medal honours the nation’s unsung heroes in 10 categories: Outstanding Bravery, Courage, Heroism, Community Spirit, Child of Courage, Young Leader, Care and Compassion, Inspiration, Environment and the Fair Go. Joan has been nursing in the country town of Scone for 50 years, much of it in palliative care. She takes patients to doctors’ appointments and chemotherapy sessions, and nurses the terminally ill both in hospital and at home, showing them great dignity, compassion and kindness. She won the Care and Compas sion category, which recognises a ‘professional or volunteer carer or group, or a member of the health professions who has made a significant improvement to the lives of those around them’. The winners in each category will be rewarded with a unique sterling silver medal at a special ceremony held in each State and/or Territory. The NSWNA congratulates Joan on her well-deserved award.

A coalition of unions in NSW has launched a marriage equality campaign with a series of posters of people from within the union movement affected by the marriage ban for same-sex couples. Unions for Marriage Equality believes that ‘all members of our community should have the right to marry the person they love if they choose to do so’, regardless of their sexual orientation or sex and/or gender diversity. The NSWNA has joined with 10 other unions in supporting marriage equality for all Australians including Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union NSW/ ACT; Australian Services Union NSW & ACT Services Branch; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union NSW C & G Division; Finance Sector Union NSW Branch; Fire Brigade Employees’ Union; Independent Education Union NSW; Maritime Union of Australia Central NSW Branch; National Tertiary Education Union NSW Division; New South Wales Teachers’ Federation; and United Voice NSW Branch. Around 100 people attended the launch of the campaign at the Polo Lounge at the Oxford Hotel last month, including several NSWNA members. Unions for Marriage Equality is

unions for marriage EQUALITY “ No one should have the

right to tell my mum she can’t marry the person she loves.” Ben, son of Mary-Louise NSW Nurses’ Association

Ben Campbell, Information Officer at the NSWNA, and his mother Mary-Louise White, NSWNA member and Clinical Nurse Consultant at Prince of Wales Hospital, feature in one of the Unions for Marriage Equality posters.

encouraging union members to put up posters about the campaign in their workplaces. Posters are available by emailing unions4me.nsw@gmail.com. The group also has a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/unions.for.marriage. EQUALITY.

States must commit to equal pay, says ACTU Governments must commit to equal pay for women as the latest figures show women continue to be paid 17.2% less than men and take an extra 63 days to earn the same average income as men each year. This was the message delivered by the ACTU on Equal Pay Day (1 September). ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said the Equal Pay Day, held each year on the day women catch up to men’s annual earnings as of 30 June, was a stark reminder that another year on, nothing has changed. ‘This year it has taken 63 days for women to catch up to men – that’s the same as last year, an indictment on workplaces and governments who in 2011 still refuse to pay women the same as men,’ said Jeff, who spoke at a joint ACTU and Victorian Trades Hall Council morning tea for Equal Pay Day at Parliament House. ‘However, this year we have a unique opportunity to turn that around, thanks to the case now before Fair Work Australia to deliver equal pay to the tens of thousands of women who perform important community sector work. ‘Yet sadly, in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW, the state governments have failed to commit to deliver equal pay to these women, despite the preliminary findings of the bench of Fair Work Australia that gender does indeed play a role in the pay gap between community and public sector workers. ‘These states are refusing to commit to funding equal pay for these women, who do some of our community’s most important yet under-valued work.’ Jeff said women earned the right to equal pay back in 1972, but little progress had been made in the 40 years since. ‘We encourage the Government to continue to pursue its important reforms to equal opportunity legislation and we call on employer groups to be proactive in their support of these reforms. We have a real chance now to create pay equity for women and we can’t afford to turn our backs on it,’ he said. THE LAMP October 2011 9

DON’T PUT YOUR NSWNA MEMBERSHIP AT RISK! The State Government could at any time stop payroll deductions. As a matter of urgency please convert to the Direct Debit or Credit method of paying your fees.

BE PREPARED. CHANGE TODAY. Download, complete and return your Direct Debit form to the Association.

www.nswnurses.asn.au Alternatively call us on Metro 8595 1234 or Rural 1300 367 962 Authorised by B Holmes NSW Nurses’ Association. 10 THE LAMP October 2011

n e w s i inn bbrri ieeff

Survey on healthcare

professionals’ social media use

o you use Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, LinkedIn or read blogs? The NSW Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) is conducting a short online survey of Australian health-care pro fessionals’ social media and internet usage, and NSWNA members are encouraged to participate. ‘For healthcare professionals, social media represents a whole lot of risk: risk to reputation, to patientdoctor/nurse confidentiality, risk to personal and professional privacy, and risk to their organisation,’ said Carolyn Der Vartanian from the CEC. ‘However, there is also risk for health-care professionals not participating in online conversations about health matters, for they are the best people to provide credibility and expert content to these conversations. The information they contribute helps health consumers separate the fact from fiction. ‘The potential of social media in the health-care setting remains untapped, especially in Australia. The uptake is slow. Firstly, we have no idea how many Australian doctors and nurses use social media, especial ly for professional purposes and, secondly, accessing social media sites such as Facebook and You Tube in the workplace is generally prohibited. ‘Access is becoming less of an issue: the increasing use of smart phones and tablets, such as the iPad, means there is no need to be chained to the desk to use the internet anymore. However, it is the slow uptake of social media platforms for professional proposes that leaves the health sector lagging behind other industries,’ said Carolyn. The online survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and no personal details are required. Take the survey at www.asr2. com/cec/anon/146.aspx.

ANF stands up for nurses in West Papua The ANF is calling for the immediate end to the campaign of persecution and harassment of nurses in West Papua, who are campaigning for the payment of their contracted entitlements. Five West Papuan nurses who were arrested and interrogated over a number of days in March 2011 now face criminal charges of incitement and disobedience. ANF Federal Secretary Lee Thomas called on the West Papuan authorities to respect international labour conventions and human and trade union rights, to withdraw the charges and to stop harassing the nurses. ‘These nurses were part of a peaceful gathering demonstrating against the decision of the management of the Dokll Hospital to stop paying the nurses their agreed entitlements. The savage reaction by the authorities is completely excessive and in breach of basic human rights. ‘We stand by our colleagues and call on the Indonesian government to honour their employment contracts with the nurses and to allow them to return to their jobs in the absence of further intimidation or harassment and without the threat of these charges,’ said Lee. The ANF has also called on the Australian and Indonesian governments to assist in resolving this issue.

RCNA offers nursing information website Nurses have access to a new website providing a directory of information on nursing and midwifery in Australia. NurseInfo.com.au provides information on professional development, post-graduate courses, different areas of speciality, scholarships, registration, rural and remote nursing, and other areas of interest. The website also caters for students and individuals interested in nursing and midwifery as a career, those looking to re-enter the professions and internationally-qualified nurses and midwives wanting to work in Australia. The site was developed by the Royal College of Nursing and is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

s Appropriate Workplace Behaviour – 1 day 5 October, Armidale Members $85 • Non-members $170 s Basic Foot Care for RNs & ENs – 2 days 13 & 14 October, Armidale Members $203 • Non-members $350 s ‘Workshopping’ CPD for RNs & ENs 6 October, Coffs Harbour Members $75 • Non-members $170 s Aged Care Nurses Forum – 1 day 2 November, Waterloo Members $30 • Non-members $50 s Review & Implementation of Guidelines & Policies – 1 day 2 December, Waterloo Seminar is suitable for all nurses. Members $85 • Non-members $170

TO REGISTER or for more information go to www.nswnurses.asn.au or ring Carolyn Kulling on 1300 367 962

Global midwives’ petition presented to world leaders A petition has been delivered to world leaders in the hope of increasing midwifery resources and saving lives. Nurses from across the globe signed the petition calling on world leaders to increase their ‘commitment to the education, recruitment and retention of midwives and health workers’. Organised by the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Save the Children and International Confederation of Midwives, the petition was delivered to world leaders just before they were due to meet at the UN General Assembly in September. ‘We are calling on global leaders to invest more in midwives and health workers with midwifery skills in the right places, at the right time, with the right education, the right support and the right pay,’ the petition said. Read the full text of the petition at Nurse Uncut: www.nurseuncut.com.au/ midwives-save-lives-sign-the-petition. TO REGISTER or for more information

go to www.nswnurses.asn.au or11ring THE LAMP October 2011 Carolyn Kulling on 1300 367 962

c o v e r

s t o r y

g Momentum grows against the O’Farrell Government’s attacks on public sector workers’ wages and conditions.

Bob Lipscombe, President of the NSW Teachers Federation (centre) marched with Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon (second left from Bob Lipscombe) along with nurses and other public sector workers.

Defending public

n June, 15,000 people rallied against the announcement by the O’Farrell Govern ment to freeze public sector wages. On 8 September, two days after 5,000 public sector jobs were cut in the new government’s first budget, 40,000 public sector workers, their families and community supporters gathered in The Domain, virtually under Barry O’Farrell’s parliamentary office balcony, to send a clear message to the Premier that he had a serious fight on his hands. Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon told the crowd they would be heard loud and clear by the Government. ‘When we rallied in June we said we would be back bigger and better. We have delivered. If the Premier had any doubts about the level of anger among public sector workers and the community he just needs to look out his window at this crowd,’ Mark said. ‘Premier O’Farrell promised a new direction in delivering services but he has only taken us backwards. His is an unprecedented attack on employee rights in NSW. NSW public sector workers are the only workers in this country without a right to bargain and without the right to an independent umpire for arbitration. ‘We are under threat with 5,000 jobs to go in the budget. It’s just the start. There are more attacks to come. They have announced in the budget $4 billion in cuts over the next four years.’ The rally finished with everyone sending a simultaneous phone message to a mobile phone linked to O’Farrell’s email address: ‘Not happy Barry’.n 12 THE LAMP October 2011

services NSWNA members turned out in force to defend their rights. Inset: Mark Lennon, Secretary of Unions NSW addressed the crowd.

THE LAMP October 2011 13

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Public sector workers threw beach balls into the air – the balls featured Barry O’Farrell’s face and the message ’Hands Off Rights At Work’.

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Defending public services 1 Katrina Lee, CNS from Orange Base Hospital, described the difficult conditions nurses work under in a regional hospital. ‘Every day, every shift, a nurse is expected to do overtime and double shifts. Across NSW there aren’t enough nurses to cover the workload. Most of us feel exhausted. We always put our patients first. ‘Last week at my hospital we took a stand. We closed beds because we do not have enough nurses. ‘We have already had to fight for improved nurse-to-patient ratios. We now have to fight to get the Government to honour their agreement. It shouldn’t be this way. Nurses just want to provide safe patient care. The Government finds it impossible to recruit enough nurses. How can you recruit nurses while cutting our rights, wages and conditions?’

2 Teacher Gemma Ackroyd explained how the attack on teachers’ wages would impact on our kids. ‘I’m proud to be a teacher in NSW. We provide topquality education to our students. This is under threat. An experienced teacher will have a cut to their wages of $75 per week. How can we attract teachers into our public schools when independent schools can offer them more money? We fought hard to reduce class sizes. We will not stand by and let this be rolled back. ‘Let us get on with our work and you [O’Farrell] can get on with the Government’s role of supporting us to do our job well.’ 14 THE LAMP October 2011

Nurses came from across NSW to make their voices heard.

3 Brendan McMenimin, a DOCS worker, captured the spirit of the occasion. ‘This Government views public sector workers as a liability. They view us with disdain.’

4 Firefighter Leighton Drury told of the impact of the Government’s cuts on our fire service. ‘Our job is about protecting the community. O’Farrell is forcing the closure of stations. He’s cutting jobs. He wants a second-rate fire service. He has to realise we are a service, not a business.’

4 Allanah Anson, a police sergeant, said police officers would not be wedged by the Government from other public sector employees. ‘This Government is treating us with contempt. They are treating people like fools. They think if they give police an exemption we won’t stand with other public sector workers against these laws. I’m here to tell you the Police Association will stand with you all the way.’ THE LAMP October 2011 15

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Orange nurses take a stand g Bed closures at Orange Base Hospital won a commitment from the LHD for safe staffing ratios.

range Base Hospital Branch closed beds and enforced a bed cap in defence of patient safety, and won a commitment from the Local Health District (LHD) to introduce some wards to the staffing ratios set out in the Public Sector Award. On 1 September, Orange Base Hospital Branch voted to enforce safe staffing in the medical, surgical and rehabilitation wards, in line with the staffing ratios set out in the Public Sector Award, and staffing in the maternity unit according to Birthrate Plus. Based on existing staffing levels, this meant beds were immediately closed in a number wards to reach the safer ratios. Six beds were closed in the maternity unit and the remaining 12 beds were only to be used for obstetrics patients. Five beds were closed in the surgical ward, with a cap of 24 surgical beds remaining open, with four surge beds to help relieve bed block in the Emergency Department. Bed numbers were also capped in other wards across the hospital. Nurses also demanded the cancellation of elective surgery to allow all emergency surgery to be completed. The Branch also demanded that hospital management abides by the ‘like-for-like’ provision in the award and replace nursing sick leave and absences with nurses of the same classification, which means replacing Registered Nurses with Registered Nurses. On 1 September, Orange Base Hospital Branch also held a rally, which was attended by more than 30 nurses and midwives, to inform the local community of the staffing shortages and nurses’ concern for patient safety. A day after the rally and bed closures commenced, the LHD agreed to provide extra funding to introduce the surgical ward to the new nurse-to-patient ratios system from 9 September – meaning an extra 4.58 FTE positions. An additional new resuscitation nurse for the Emergency Department will also be funded and provided for the afternoon

16 THE LAMP October 2011

‘By sticking together and taking action, Orange Base Hospital Branch won significant staffing improvements. They closed beds to achieve this.This is a brave example of what we may all need to do to defend our services.’ NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes.

shift, and the LHD has committed to a review of maternity services because it can identify a large increase in birthing at the new hospital. The original calculations for additional midwife positions did not accurately reflect this increase in births. ‘This is a huge win by nurses and

midwives at Orange Base Hospital,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘By sticking together and taking action, Orange Base Hospital Branch won significant staffing improvements. They closed beds to achieve this. These nurses and midwives fought back. ‘It’s never an easy decision for nurses and midwives to take action but Orange Base Hospital Branch was forced cut back services because there were not enough nurses to provide safe patient care,’ said Brett. Vice President of Orange Base Hospital Branch, Katrina Lee, CNS, said there have been chronic staffing problems at Orange Base Hospital since the move to the new facility in March. ‘There has been increased acuity, referrals, presentations and activity. We’re the major referral hospital in the Central West. ‘There is increased pressure on maternity services as more complicated cases are bypassing the smaller facilities. There has also been an increase in births since the pilot project. ‘In the surgical ward, one nurse is often required to care for up to eight acute patients during the day, and that is far too many to be safe. The skill mix is also inadequate, with Registered Nurses often being replaced by AiNs. ‘We’re at 98% capacity most of the time but staffing levels haven’t adjusted. Vacancies haven’t been filled. There are problems recruiting staff; people just aren’t available to recruit. ‘A lot of nurses and midwives are exhausted. We all have to do massive overtime. Vacancies are not backfilled because there is no casual pool. ‘Workloads are untenable and unsafe. Every day, every shift, nurses and midwives are expected to do their jobs without enough nurses. ‘We have a professional obligation to ensure patient care is delivered in a safe way. That’s why the Branch decided we just couldn’t continue. We’d had enough and we voted to take industrial action to get the government to listen. We closed Continued on page 19

‘We have a professional obligation to ensure patient care is delivered in a safe way. That’s why the Branch decided we just couldn’t continue.We’d had enough and we voted to take industrial action to get the Government to listen.We closed beds because we do not have enough nurses.’ Katrina Lee, CNS and Vice-President, Orange Base Hospital Branch. THE LAMP October 2011 17

Are your workmates or friends members of the NSWNA? Why not ask them. And, if not, invite them to sign up. Like you, they need the security of belonging to a strong and dynamic union. Not only will you be building your union by signing up new members, you and a friend could win this fabulous cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. The more members you sign up, the more chances you have to win! Prize includes return airfares for two from Sydney, a seven-night cruise of the fabulous Barrier Reef in a stateroom on the beautiful Coral Sea Princess Cruises. Multi-award-winning Coral Princess Cruises will introduce the lucky prize winner to Australia’s most famous natural wonder: the Great Barrier Reef. With over 28 years’ experience and an unrivalled reputation for cruising excellence, their exclusive itineraries

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showcase the very best of the Great Barrier Reef and tropical islands in total comfort and unmatched style. You’ll enjoy the hidden jewels of the Great Barrier Reef: the reef, ancient rainforest and secluded tropical islands most visitors never see. Exclusive reef moorings mean you won’t be surrounded by hundreds of other reef visitors – and the company’s small ships accommodate a maximum of just 44 guests, ensuring an intimate and personalised experience. You can be as adventurous or as relaxed as you please. Explore remote coral cays, deserted but for a myriad of colourful tropical fish, peaceful tropical islands and primordial rainforests well beyond the reach of most visitors, or simply relax on the sun deck or in the open-bridge or spa and cruise serenely through some of the most aweinspiring scenery Australia has to offer. Coral Princess Cruises’ informative crew is always on hand to provide assistance and information about the fascinating reef life and habitats, and an experienced dive instructor can take you for an exhilarating introductory scuba dive, revealing even

more of this breathtaking world heritage-listed wonderland. Three, four and seven-night cruises depart Cairns and Townsville each week, all year round. A special 10% discount is available to NSW Nurses’ Association members on the company’s range of small ship cruises on the Great Barrier Reef, Western Australia’s Kimberley, Across the Top of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia and New Zealand.

HURRY! Call the Association now for a recruitment kit and recruitment incentive scheme details. Phone 8595 1234 (metropolitan area) or 1300 367 962 (rural) or go to www.nswnurses.asn.au RECRUITERS NOTE: nurses and midwives can now join online! If you refer a new member to join online, make sure you ask them to put your name and workplace on the online application form. You will then be entitled to your vouchers and draw/s in the NSWNA Recruitment Incentive Scheme.

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Orange nurses stuck together and won a victory for better staffing and patient safety.

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Orange nurses take a stand from page 17 beds because we do not have enough nurses,’ said Katrina. Matt McGrath, Branch Secretary and CNS in the hospital’s busy intensive care unit, said: ‘We’ve been understaffed in intensive care for a long time. Management has not been able to fill vacancies. There are not enough nurses available with the adequate skill mix and experience,’ he said. ‘Inadequate skill mix is a serious problem at Orange Base. At the moment, AiNs, ENs, and new grads are replacing RNs – some with 10-15 years’ experience. Not having the right skill mix and experience puts patients at risk. ‘Staff are put in a position where they have responsibility beyond their scope of practice and skill level. This puts them in a position where they risk their registration,’ said Matt.

Brave action to defend patients and services Brett Holmes said Orange Base Hospital nurses and midwives are to be commended for standing up for patient safety. ‘At a time when the NSW Government is attacking public services, the action by Orange Base Hospital Branch is a brave example of what we may all need to do to defend our services. By sticking together and taking action we can win the fight to defend our public services and the rights of public sector workers. ‘During the campaign for nurse-topatient ratios, NSWNA Branches learned tools such as closing beds to enforce safe staffing. We let the Government know we were prepared to take action to defend our patients and services. And we

Fire fighters turned out to support Orange nurses’ campaign to address staffing issues.

will close beds again if services and safe patient care are at risk,’ said Brett.n

‘Inadequate skill mix is a serious problem at Orange Base. At the moment, AiNs, ENs, and new grads are replacing RNs – some with 10-15 years experience. Not having the right skill mix and experience puts patients at risk. Staff are put in a position where they have responsibility beyond their scope of practice and skill level.’

Matt McGrath, Branch Secretary and CNS, Orange Base Hospital.

THE LAMP October 2011 19

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O’Farrell axes 5,000 public sector jobs g There was slightly more money for health in the O’Farrell Government’s first State Budget but it comes at the cost of massive job cuts elsewhere in the public sector.

he O’Farrell Government announced 5,000 public sector jobs are to go in the State Budget. But this is likely to be merely a start as it also flagged another $4 billion in unidentified savings over the next four years. The Government did not specify which departments would be cut but NSW Treasurer Mike Baird said nurses, teachers and police would be spared the cuts. NSWNA Secretary Brett Holmes says more money for health is always welcome but many of the Government’s health spending ‘initiatives’ were just spending commitments that were won from the previous Labor Government. ‘The Government made great fanfare of an $80 million promise to employ 900 extra nurses by June 2012. This is simply a commitment to honour the agreement won by NSWNA members during the ratios campaign with the previous Labor Government,’ he said. In 2011-2012, the new Ministry of Health’s budget is $16.4 billion, an increase of $949 million or 6.1% on 2010-2011. The Government has promised

$36 million for 150 new beds and an extra $109 million for mental health. There is also increased funding for hospital buildings. The NSW Government and the Federal Government through the Health and Hospitals Fund will invest $850 million to develop South East regional Hospital, Bega, and redevelop Dubbo Base, Port Macquarie Base, Tamworth Regional Referral and Wagga Wagga Base Hospitals. According to the budget papers, wages are expected to grow by 4% over the next two years over both public and private sectors. The NSW Government sector represents about 12% of total employment in the state so O’Farrell’s freeze on public sector wages will have only a small impact on total state wages growth. Inflation rates are expected to be 3.8%, then 2.5% and then increase to 3% and 3.25% in subsequent years. ‘With private sector wages increasing at 4%, inflation being over 3% and nurses’ wages capped at 2.5%, there will be pressure on nurses to seek other opportunities in the private sector,’ said Brett Holmes.n

New ‘Ministry of health’ The Director-General’s report on the governance structures of NSW Health has been released by the NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner. NSW Health has been renamed the Ministry of Health and reduced in size with a loss of 150 positions. The three Clinical Support Clusters have been abolished and their functions and resources devolved to the Local Health Districts. The Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks will have responsibility for their local area or specialty network. Health Support Services will become HealthShare NSW. ICT Statewide services will become eHealth NSW.

‘I don’t think this is the way to go. I don’t know where they think they can make these cuts. With the rising cost of living, no one will be able to afford to be a nurse, a teacher or a police officer if they hold our wages to 2.5%. If they take away the behindthe-scenes people, it won’t help us. Where will it end? I worry about our health and education systems.’ Rhonda Burke, CNS, Mona Vale and Manly Hospitals THE LAMP October 2011 21

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Strong case for Fair Work Act g The clamour is growing louder from business organisations and the Liberal Party to roll back key elements of the Fair Work Act. On the Act’s second anniversary, The Lamp looks at the track record of the Federal Government’s key IR legislation.

he employer lobby, backed by key Liberal luminaries past and present such as Tony Abbott, Peter Reith and John Howard, claims that the Fair Work Act has had a negative impact on productivity and the economy in general. The facts suggest otherwise. The Australian economy proved its robust nature during the Global Financial Crisis and ever since, jobs, wages, profits and productivity are up: c Half a million new jobs have been created since the introduction of the Fair Work Act; c Wage growth has been solid with little impact on inflation;

c Productivity is at 1.8%, unchanged

from figures prior to the introduction of the Fair Work Act. The Fair Work Act restored rights for millions of Australian workers by: c abolishing AWA individual agreements; c creating a strong safety net through the National Employment Standards; c establishing collective bargaining rights; c establishing protection from unfair dismissal; c maintaining a genuinely independent umpire. Under WorkChoices, the vast majority of AWAs (89%) removed basic Award conditions such as penalty rates, annual leave loading and public holiday pay. The Fair Work Act protects the rights

to overtime, penalty rates, public holiday pay and redundancy. Under WorkChoices, minimum wages declined in real terms by up to $84 a week. The Howard Government’s Pay Commission even imposed a wage freeze on low-paid workers in 2009. This year, workers on minimum wages received a 3.4% pay increase. Under the Fair Work Act, six million workers now have unfair dismissal protection. Unfair dismissals account for only 1% of all dismissals across the workforce, contradicting employer claims that the system is prone to abuse. The Fair Work Act has strengthened women’s rights at work. Paid parental leave is now available to all working

Liberals target Fair Work Act The Fair Work Act replaced WorkChoices, which was resoundingly rejected by Australian voters at the 2007 election. The federal and state Liberal parties conspicuously distance themselves from any association with WorkChoices around election time, but the O’Farrell Government has shown no such reluctance to roll back workers’ rights once in power. Prominent Liberals and business groups are now openly advocating the roll back of workers rights’ enshrined in the Fair Work Act. John Howard told the ABC’s 7.30 Report that ‘at some point this country has to wind back the re-regulation of the labour market’. Tony Abbott endorsed John Howard’s 22 THE LAMP October 2011

remarks on Melbourne’s Radio 3AW. ‘Essentially he is right. I think there is no doubt that the Fair Work legislation took the pendulum from one side and swung it right back to the other side,’ he said. ‘We want the businesses of Australia … we want them to come to us and tell us how government can make it easier for them to compete and employ.’

This is what business has been asking for: c the removal of penalty rates, minimum shifts and loadings from awards (retailers); c more flexibility to avoid National Employment Standards (Australian Mines and Metals Association); c the return of AWAs that can be imposed on workers and which

‘... at some point this country has to wind back the reregulation of the labour market’. John Howard

Fair Work Act more generous than Award on termination NSW Health has conceded that the Fair Work Act delivers better benefits than the Award in regards to termination of employment by the employer. The Award says the Department must give 14 days’ notice of termination. Employees who have been employed for more than three years but less than five are entitled to an extra week’s notice under the Fair Work Act. If they have been employed for more than five years they are entitled to an extra two weeks’ notice. Employees over 45 who have completed at least two years of continuous service are also entitled to an extra week of notice.

parents, including part-time and casual employees, providing 18 weeks’ government-funded payment at the federal minimum wage. The Fair Work Act has allowed Australian unions to run a national equal pay case for workers in social and community services. Since the Act was introduced more workers are covered under collective agreements than before: 43.4% of all employees. Despite the shrill cries by employers to the contrary, there has been a reduction in the number of days lost to industrial disputes since the Fair Work Act took effect.n

‘Essentially he is right. I think there is no doubt that the Fair Work legislation took the pendulum from one side and swung it right back to the other side.’ Tony Abbott

can be used to put an end to collective bargaining (Australian Mines and Metals Association and Australia Industry Group); c an exemption for small business from unfair dismissal laws (Australian Mines and Metals Association and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

NIDA Advanced Film Making Workshop for Nurses and Midwives Due to the success of the NSWNA’s Nurses Short Film Festival the Association wants to know if you would be interested in undertaking a 5-day intensive short film-making workshop at NIDA?

Who can attend? Those who have previously attended NSWNA-sponsored 2-day NIDA film-making workshop, or those who have submitted a film in the Nurses’ Short Film Festival, regardless of whether it was selected to be shown at the festival, or those who have experience making short films for family, friends or others; this workshop may be just what you are looking for to further develop your skills.

What will the intensive film-making workshop cover? The workshop will cover the following: story structure, script development, visual narrative, pre and post-production, shooting on location and in the studio, lighting, sound, music and directing of actors.

How can I register my interest in this film-making workshop? Please email gginty@nswnurses.asn.au and tell us a little about your film-making experience and why you would like to attend.

How much will the workshop cost? While the Association would subsidise some of the costs, there would be some costs for you as a participant. For a workshop of 14 participants (maximum number) the approximate cost per person would be $400. Considering the calibre of the NIDA programs, the range of topics covered and the fact that all materials are provided during the week, this represents excellent value for film-makers wanting to take their films to another level.

See www.nswnurses.asn.au and click onto the Nurses’ Short Film LAMP October 2011 23 Festival icon for more THE information.

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Photo courtesy of Barrier Daily Truth

Nurses from Broken Hill.

g Nurses joined teachers and other public sector workers on 8 September in rallies across NSW to protest Barry O’Farrell’s IR laws. The message was clear: ‘Hands off public sector jobs’.

Photo courtesy of Barrier Daily Truth

Statewide rallies protest IR laws 0 Broken Hill is disappointed

NSWNA member and Branch Official Bonnie-Jo Tavian, RN, addressed the large crowd of nurses, teachers and other public sector workers in Broken Hill. She spoke passionately about how the IR laws would roll back everything public sector workers had fought for. ‘We’re disappointed that everything we fought for in the past 12 months is now in jeopardy. And I know that teachers, who supported us in our fight last year, are also at risk of having bigger class sizes.’ Pictured, left to right: Bonnie-Jo Tavian, RN, with Maureen Clarke, President of Broken Hill Teachers Federation.

1 Barham workers say ‘Hands off’ Public sector workers from Barham, including nurses and teachers, gathered for the statewide rally on 8 September. Nurses, wearing their red union t-shirts, are (from left to right): Angie Keck, RN; Glyndia Gee, EN; Joan Walle, Shirley Hall, EN; and Gayle Allitt, EN. 24 THE LAMP October 2011

2 Gilgandra nurses turn out in support Although a small Branch, several members of the Gilgandra MPS attended the rally in Dubbo on 8 September. Kim Eason, RN, said: ‘Recruitment is a joke. No one responds to the advertisements. Skill mix, working short-staffed – no wonder people are leaving the profession and getting sick, and it will only get worse.’ Pictured, left to right: Veronica Gwyn, EEN; Lorraine Baker, EN; Kim Eason, EEN; Deirdre Lee, EEN, and in front Trudy Behsman, AiN.

0Shoalhaven midwives and nurses get together

0 ‘We won’t be better off’

Around 150 public sector workers turned out for the rally in Kempsey. Jennifer Clarke, RN, who spoke at the rally, said: ‘They say we will be better off with this new IR legislation. The average nurse employed at the top of the pay scale would be about $12,000 worse off per annum if they worked on a full-time basis if this IR legislation had been in since 2000. I just can’t quite see how this makes me better off!’ Pictured, left to right (front row): Jennifer Clarke, RN; Helen Laurie; Leanne Klug, RN (with stroller). (Back row): Liz Ekman, RN; Martina Rosas, RN; Julianne De Boer, RN; Melinda McFarlane, EN; Dianne Lohman, RN.

3 Stop work action in Taree

Members of the Taree Community Nurses Branch held a stop work march through the main street of Taree to protest the attacks by the NSW Government on public sector workers’ pay and conditions. Pictured, left to right (front row): Sue Kingsland, RN; Christine Somerville, CNE; Anne Davis, CNC; Helen Purch, RN. (Back row): Peter Ivey, CNC; Steve Blyth, RN; and Anne Villayrack

Nurses from Shoalhaven Hospital joined members of other public sector unions in a rally outside their local member’s office to protest against the O’Farrell Government’s proposed IR laws. Around 70 people gathered and vowed not to give up the fight until it is won. Several nurses and other union members from Shoalhaven also caught the train to Sydney to attend the rally in The Domain. Pictured left to right: Jill Byrne, EN; Annette Alldrick, RN; and Jenny Greed, RN.

3Bombala nurses say ‘No’ to IR laws Nurses from Bombala District Hospital showed their support on 8 September by collecting signatures in the main street of Bombala for a petition against the workplace laws. Front row left to right: Sara Hayes, RN, NSWNA Branch Official; Linda Holster, EN, NSWNA Branch Official. Back row left to right: Sue Fernandes, RN; Robin Sproates, EN.

Photo courtesy of Bombala Times THE LAMP October 2011 25

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Community consultations with Minister for Ageing g NSWNA and QACAG members took part in a series of community consultations with Minister for Ageing Mark Butler.

lder Australians, their families and carers were invited to participate in a conversation on ageing with Federal Minister for Mental Health & Ageing Mark Butler at the end of August. The events – held in Sydney, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Gosford and Ballina – provided the opportunity for local communities to discuss the Productivity Commission’s report on aged care, which was released 8 August 2011.

for an official nurse-to-patient ratio – which QACAG and the NSWNA are campaigning for, as well pay parity for aged care nurses,’ said Margaret. ‘Money needs to be quarantined for that purpose rather than just handing it over to nursing home owners. Many people raised issues around the money for aged care and where it’s coming from and how it is spent.’ Margaret said that many carers and residents felt there were not enough positives in the report for them, but felt

‘My concerns and that of others were about the nursing care and the need for an official nurse-to-patient ratio – which QACAG and the NSWNA are campaigning for, as well pay parity for aged care nurses.’ Margaret Zanghi

Margaret Zanghi from the Quality Aged Care Action Group (QACAG) attended the Sydney meeting, which she said attracted around 100 people. ‘Minister Butler spoke about the report, and questions were raised about the care and the money. My husband suffered from a neurological disorder and he went into nursing home. My concerns and that of others were about the nursing care and the need

NSWNA supports ‘Fight Dementia’ campaign 26 THE LAMP October 2011

the meeting was beneficial. ‘There were some angry reactions to the report, which many people felt was biased in favour of nursing home owners, but it was a productive meeting in that opinions were aired. I’d like to see further work done and the question of nurses’ pay addressed, and for aged care money to be quarantined, so that a set proportion goes to hands-on care,’ said Margaret. ‘This is tax payers’ money and you

he NSWNA is forming a delegation to take part in a ‘March on Parliament House’ on 13 October, in support of Alzheimer’s Australia’s Fight Dementia campaign. There are 269,000 Australians living with dementia today, and by 2050 this number will be almost one million. Yet the 2011 Federal Budget provided no additional funding to combat the dementia epidemic and ceased the ‘Dementia Initiative – making dementia

Minister Mark Butler spoke to local communities about aged care.

have to have transparency. What other organisations receive money, say thanks and then just do what’s best for their business. For some this is empire building through constructing new facilities. For example, the nursing home where my husband was living was a bit dilapidated but the owners built a new facility in another area. That money should have gone into the existing building – to the care and comfort of those residents already there.’ At the Gosford meeting, nursing issues were also raised. ‘We talked about everything from who is going to be caring for whom, and the importance of AiNs in the workplace, to skill mix overall,’ said NSWNA member Joseph Cidoni, RN at Gosford Hospital.n

a national health priority’, meaning the loss of guaranteed funding for essential programs and support services for people living with dementia. Buses will leave Sydney at 6am on 13 October and return later the same day. To register your interest in attending, contact Stella Topaz on 02 8595 1234 or 1300 367 962 or email stopaz@nswnurses.asn.au For more information on the Fight Dementia campaign, visit www.alzheimers.org.au

Photo courtesy of Joseph Cidoni.

More MPs sign aged care pledge

From left to right: Debbie Lang, RN, NSWNA Councillor, QACAG member; Minister for Mental Health & Ageing Mark Butler; MP Deb O’Neill; and Sheila Wood, QACAG member.

Aged care minister visits Woy Woy facility

embers from the NSWNA and QACAG presented their views and concerns about aged care to the Minister for Mental Health & Ageing Mark Butler last month when he visited the Woy Woy Community Aged Care facility. The Minister had a tour of the notfor-profit facility on the same day as the community consultation meeting in Gosford (see story on previous page). ‘Our CEO invited the CEOs of Peninsula and Community Care Groups for a talk with Minister Butler. We have

got enough staff and the right skill mix in Woy Woy and our facility is an example of how aged care could and should work,’ said Kathy Murphy, RN at Woy Woy Community Aged Care. NSWNA Councillor Debbie Lang, RN and founding member of QACAG Central Coast, said: ‘It was a good opportunity to speak directly to MP Mark Butler and MP Deb O’Neill. Although I was disappointed by the fact there was nothing concrete on staffing, the Minister was very generous with his time and really listened to what people had to say.’n

BUPA members collect aged care postcards

McMillian, AiN; Karen Grzazek, AiN; Noelene Martin, RN; and Liz Ajani, RN.

Members at BUPA Tamworth collected signed ‘Aged care can’t wait’ postcards at their recent Branch meeting. From left to right: Lynne Davidson, RN; Roma Marshall, RN; Deidre Cotton, AiN; Jean Whitty, AiN; Wynta Tout, AiN; Joan

SWNA members visited Deb O’Neill, MP for Robertson, in August. During the visit she not only signed the Association’s pledge to support aged care but also promised to raise members’ concerns with Minister for Mental Health & Ageing Mark Butler. ‘Our efforts to lobby Deb O’Neill resulted in her raising our issues with the Minister and passing on our concerns,’ said Joseph Cidoni, RN at Gosford Hospital, who attended the meeting. ‘We briefed her on the Because we care aims, including wage disparity, and Minister Butler acknowledged these issues. This is a great example of why it’s important for members to lobby their MPs as it can result in our issues being heard at the highest level.’ Tony Windsor, Independent MP for New England, also met with local nurses about aged care and signed the aged care pledge.

Keep collecting signatures for postcards It’s important to keep up the pressure on the Prime Minister to commit to supporting improvements in aged care. Please keep distributing the NSWNA’s ‘Aged care can’t wait postcards’ and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to sign them and send them directly to PM Gillard’s office. Contact Stella Topaz at the Association on 8595 1234 or email stopaz@ nswnurses.asn.au for postcards.

Standing left to right: Michelle Cashman, RN, and Marta Frasca, AiN and QACAG member. Sitting left to right: Deb O’Neill, MP; Judy Paris, AiN; and Sue Perdriau, QACAG member.

Ask your MP to sign the pledge The NSWNA, along with members, is continuing to visit Federal MPs to ask them to ‘Sign the pledge for aged care’ and listen to local nurses about the reforms needed in aged care. Contact Stella Topaz at the Associa tion on 8595 1234 or email stopaz@ nswnurses.asn.au if you would like to attend a visit to your Federal MP. THE LAMP October 2011 27

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Scalabrini nurses celebrate new agreement g After several years of trying to negotiate with Scalabrini Village, the NSWNA has secured an agreement that includes a 4% pay rise.

embers at aged care employer Scalabrini Village Ltd are celebrating a new Enterprise Agreement that vastly improves nurses’ wages and conditions. A new classification structure means all nurses will get at least a 4% wage increase per year from 1 July 2011, 1 July 2012 and 1 July 2013, with many classifications securing a higher pay increase in the first year. The new classification structure in the agreement recognises nurses’ qualifications and experience in title. New positions included in the proposed agreement are AiN Certificate III; AiN Certificate IV for those required to dispense medications; EEN with medication endorsement; EN without medication endorsement; Quality Assistant (AiN); Quality Officer (EN); Quality Coordinator (RN); and Nurse Practitioner. The RN structure is compressed to five levels to attract more RNs and encourage them to stay at Scalabrini beyond their first year. Nine weeks’ paid parental leave, an increase in casual loading, and a workloads management clause were among the other conditions negotiated by the NSWNA. ‘This is an excellent outcome and a good example of members pulling together to achieve a solid agreement that sees aged care nurses recognised and valued,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘These nurses have been campaigning for over eight years to update their agreement and lock in new guaranteed pay rises and improved conditions. This 28 THE LAMP October 2011

was very difficult during the WorkChoices years as the laws did not require the employer to bargain even if it could be proved that a majority of staff wanted a collective agreement. ‘The breakthrough came after a long and determined campaign by NSWNA members at each facility, the introduction of the Fair Work Act and the Association’s capacity to demonstrate majority support for the agreement. Scalabrini continued to delay until they realised that a majority of nurses wanted a new agreement and knew they had to sit down and negotiate with the Union. ‘Negotiations were conducted regularly and were efficient, taking just over two months. Management at Scalabrini are to be commended for finally offering fair pay and conditions to its nurses,’ said Brett. The new agreement at the not-forprofit aged care employer covers approxi mately 500 staff at six facilities in NSW. Previously, nurses at Scalabrini were employed under a NSW State Enterprise Agreement, which expired on 16 April 2003. The Agreement was linked to the Nursing Homes, &c., Nurses’ (State) Award for conditions not provided by the Agreement. After changes in industrial relations laws last year, nurses came under the Nurses’ Award 2010.

Bargaining an empowering process Marlene Arce, AiN at Chipping Norton, was part of the NSWNA bargaining team. She said nurses were determined to secure an agreement that put them on a par with their counterparts in aged care. ‘When we realised how much people earn in other nursing homes and that we were being paid less, we knew we had to stick together and say we wanted a new agreement,’ she told The Lamp. Although no Branch exists at Chipping Norton, Marlene and her colleagues conducted a recruitment drive to the Association. ‘I told them we have to be members of the Union otherwise we don’t count. I told them if you are a member of the Union you will be protected and supported,’ she said.

‘When we realised how much people earn in other nursing homes and that we were being paid less, we knew we had to stick together and say we wanted a new agreement.’ Marlene Arce Marlene found the negotiation process empowering. ‘I found it really good because it gave me the chance to speak up and I told management about the way things were and that if they want better care for aged people you have to pay nurses better to encourage people to do the job properly. It was really worth doing this. Management were really good – they came to the party and we got a good result. ‘Staff are very pleased with the new agreement – we came together and had a good win. If you are all together, you can get results,’ said Marlene. The new agreement was voted on in August. Of those who voted, a resounding 98.5% voted ‘yes’. The agreement is currently awaiting approval from Fair Work Australia.n

Security win for Blacktown ED nurses g Security review after nurse attack delivers permanent 24/7 security in Blacktown ED.

lacktown Hospital Branch is celebrating the outcome of a security review by hospital management, which delivered permanent 24/7 security in the Hospital’s Emergency Department. The review recommended either an officer/wardsman position or a Clinical Initiatives Nurse who would be situated in the waiting room to deescalate situations. NSWNA members overwhelmingly endorsed the option of a Health Security Assistant (HASA)

24 hours a day, seven days a week for the ED. The review followed a knife attack on a nurse in ED on the evening of 12 July. In a letter to the Chief Executive of Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), members in the ED demanded that the security position is permanent and the person is an employee of the LHD, and reports to the NUM of ED. They asked to write the position description to specifically meet the needs of ED, and stipulated that the position must be specifically designated to the ED and is not a hospital-based position. ‘We request a review in six months to be assured that this HASA position is wor king effectively for the members of the ED. The members overwhelmingly accept this offer and thank you for it,’ the letter said. In addition to the security win,

patients will now receive their main meal in the middle of the day, instead of the evening, and their night meal will comprise soup or sandwiches, which does not require cutlery. Any cutlery not being used at the lunchtime meal – such as when patients go to have tests – will be securely locked away in a newly-installed cupboard in the ED. Meals will also now be distributed by domestics instead of nurses to relieve nurses’ workloads issues. All staff in the ED will also receive on-site aggression minimisation training. Currently, a two-day program is being investigated. ‘This is an excellent outcome,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘Nurses deserve to be safe when they are at work, and it is good to see Western Sydney LHD take the concerns of Blacktown ED nurses seriously.’n

THE LAMP October 2011 29

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Members’ input needed for night duty survey g Survey of nurses’ experiences of night shift to inform night duty case in IRC.

embers are urged to take part in a survey about night shift patterns and their experiences of working night duty. The survey, being undertaken by the University of Sydney, was ordered by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) as part of an ongoing case brought by the NSWNA in seeking increased penalties for working night duty. In 2008, the NSWNA negotiated a new wages and conditions agreement with the then Labor State Government, but a couple of items remained contested. These matters, including an increase in night duty penalty rates for nurses and midwives, went to the independent umpire – the IRC – for arbitration. That case started in May 2009. The previous government opposed the NSWNA’s claim, but acknowledged the Association’s right to go to the IRC. In September 2009, the NSW IRC wanted more research done, by the NSWNA and NSW Health, on the impact of night duty on nurses and midwives before it considered an increased penalty rate for night duty.

‘Night duty penalty rates for NSW public hospital nurses and midwives have not increased since 1975 and the NSWNA does not believe the current rate of 15% fairly and adequately compensates NSW nurses and midwives for the social, domestic and health disadvantages expe rienced when they work night shift,’ said NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes. ‘That rate is also way behind the rate now paid to nurses and midwives by other States and Territories. This contributes to the ongoing problem of retaining and recruiting nurses and midwives in the NSW public hospital system. Mandatory shift work is one reason nurses give for leaving nursing and midwifery. ‘The NSWNA understands and supports the general principle that if something is detrimental to a person’s health and wellbeing it should be removed. However, night duty is not an optional extra in the hospital system. As a “necessary evil”, increased financial compensation for night duty is a legitimate remedy, as it helps reduce or remove stresses in other aspects of the person’s life, thus potentially reducing the overall impact of night duty,’ said Brett. Participation in the survey is voluntary and all data will be collected anonymously. 2 Are you a registered nurse with an advanced

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The survey can be filled out online at http://sydney.edu.au/nursing/research/ night_work_study.shtml or to request a hard copy, contact Virginia Mapedzahama on 9351 0820 or email virginia. mapedzahama@sydney.edu.au.n range of health assessment and monitoring services, for personnel seeking recruitment to fire fighter positions and personnel that have been exposed to hazardous materials in the course of their work, to ensure optimal health outcomes for these individuals and manage Fire & Rescue NSW’s obligation to its personnel including compliance with Occupational Health and Safety legislation. You will also be responsible for health promotion and vaccinations. Contact: Sally Edwards, Team Leader Health and Medical Programs, on 02 9265 2976 Apply now at www.jobs.nsw.gov.au Job Reference Number 00000KR2

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p r o f e s s i o n a l i s s u e s

New English Language Skills registration standard g Nursing and Midwifery Board revises standard for testing registrants’ knowledge of English.

revised standard for English language skills for nurses came into effect on 19 September. Applicants who have completed a minimum of five years (full-time equivalent) of combined secondary and/or vocational and/or tertiary education taught and assessed in English, in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the UK or the USA are considered to have met the standard and do not need to sit an English language test. All other applicants are required to submit evidence of English proficiency. The revised standard also recognises the different education requirements for nursing and midwifery, and each category of nursing. For Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives, two of the required, full-time-equivalent five years of education must be a pre-registration program of study taught and assessed in English in one of the listed countries. For Enrolled Nurses, one of these five years must be a pre-registration program of study taught and assessed in English in one of the listed countries. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) now has the flexibility in the future to consider and/or grant an exemption to a defined group, through developing nationally-consistent policy, if compelling evidence arises demonstrating

32 THE LAMP October 2011

English language proficiency to the standard for a defined cohort/s. ‘For example, if the Board has compelling evidence from a cohort of applicants who think they can demonstrate that their English language proficiency is equivalent, it provides the capacity for further consideration. Currently, the Board does not have such an exemption process,’ said NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda. Transition provisions are in place for currently enrolled students who are soon to complete their courses. Students due to complete their course by the end of

‘This group must still achieve a minimum of level 7 in one sitting in each of the four components – listening, reading, writing and speaking – of the academic International English Language Testing System (ILETS), or a B score or above in one sitting in each of the four components of the Occupational English Test,’ said Judith. The revised standard brings it in line with the standard of the other National Boards representing various health-care professions. Overall, the NSWNA supports the changes to the standard. ‘We are relatively happy with the changes. They provide a

Applicants who have completed a minimum of five years (full-time equivalent) of combined secondary and/or vocational and/or tertiary education taught and assessed in English are considered to have met the standard and do not need to sit an English language test. 2011 or who complete their outstanding course requirements by 30 March 2012 must either meet the Board’s previous (to 18 September 2011) requirements in relation to English language skills, or they can opt to meet the Board’s new registration standard, which came into force on 19 September 2011. The revised standard does not change the requirement for applicants who must submit evidence of proficiency in English through their English test results.

little more flexibility than the previous standard but the academic IELTS remains the same. We are concerned about the validity of the test. However, this is currently being reviewed by the NMBA and we look forward to the outcome of the review,’ said Judith. For detailed requirements of the standard, lodge an online enquiry at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au or phone 1300 419 495 (within Australia) or +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers).n

building stronger communities

Sydney Alliance The way to have your say g Sydney Alliance launches, with a mission to address issues to make the city a better, fairer, and more sustainable place for all.

ore than 2,000 people packed out the Town Hall in Sydney’s CBD for the launch of Sydney Alliance last month. Those attending were representatives of 45 organisations that form the Alliance, with members numbering 500,000. The theme of the launch was ‘The way to have your say’, and informs the Alliance’s mission to create a city that is ‘more civil, safer, more caring, with more opportunities for its citizens to have a say’. The Agenda for the Common Good was launched – with a new vision for community care and health, transport and social inclusion. Members of the community talked about the issues that had brought them to Sydney Alliance, including a woman who lost her eye in a knife attack by youths. She decided to forgive them and now works to help disaffected young people.

Anne Robertson, a senior school administrator, highlighted issues at the heart of the NSWNA’s Because we care campaign as she recounted the moving and sad story of her mother who has spent the past 15 years in a nursing home since being diagnosed with dementia. Anne described how her mother’s care has deteriorated over the years due to the problems of the aged care system. ‘Mum is a silent participant in her life. She can’t complain when she is left unattended for hours, when she is fed solid food that she can’t chew, let alone swallow. She can’t ask to be turned because her 35kg frame is aching with being left in the one position for so long. I have found my Mum lying in her own faeces, deprived of most sensory delights, talked about, but not to, and fed like she is on a production line,’ said Anne. ‘The system is broken, but it can be fixed. It must be fixed.’ Statements of support for Sydney

Alliance were received from the Governor of NSW and Cardinal George Pell. Governor Marie Bashir wished Sydney Alliance well and said its work ‘can demonstrate a model which will contribute to the greatness of Australia, a model for communities everywhere’. For more information on Sydney Alliance, including training and leadership development sessions being held in October, contact Rita Martin at rmartin@nswnurses.asn.au or visit www.sydneyalliance.org.au.n

Around 70 representatives from the NSWNA attended the Sydney Alliance launch. THE LAMP October 2011 33

Q & A

ASK

JUDITH

when it comes to your rights and entitlements at work,

nswna assistant general secretary judith kiejda has the answers.

Injuries and Workers’ Compensation

What type of injury can I claim as Workers’ Compensation?

Under Section 4 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers’ Compensation Act 1998 you can claim ‘a personal injury arising out of or in the course of employment’, which may include any ‘aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any disease, where the employment was a contributing factor’. If you sustain a work-related injury, you should in the first instance report it to your manager, complete an incident form as soon as practicable and be assessed by your doctor. The doctor, if appropriate, will supply you with a WorkCover medical certificate. This will enable you to lodge a Workers’ Compensation claim.

When do I get Higher Grade Duty payments?

I am a Registered Nurse working in a public hospital and I’m currently rostered on eight-hour shifts. I have been asked to relieve a higherclassified employee who is rostered to work 10-hour shifts. When do Higher Grade Duty payments commence?

Higher Grade Duty payments commence after completing five full-time equivalent days or 38 hours – whichever comes first.

34 THE LAMP October 2011

More information can be found in the document Higher Grade Duty Circular IB2008_054 on www.health.nsw.gov.au

Daylight savings query I work in a surgical ward of a large public hospital and have been asked by the NUM as part of my role to prepare the rosters for the nursing staff. My question relates to rostering of staff on the weekend of Saturday, 1 October 2011, when daylight saving commences. The staff who are rostered on 10-hour night duty that night will only be working nine hours instead of the 10 hours. Are they paid for nine hours or 10 hours? The staff working the afternoon shift on the Saturday and again rostered to work on the Sunday morning shift will only have nine hours between rostered shifts. Will they be entitled to be paid overtime?

In answer to both your queries, when daylight saving commences in October staff working night duty on that night should be paid for the 10 hours. Those who are working Saturday afternoon and then again on Sunday morning are not entitled to be paid overtime for only having a nine-hour break between shifts. When daylight saving was introduced in 1972 this was the agreed position between the parties. It was also recommended that wherever possible,

and if convenient, the same person should be rostered on the first weekend in October at the beginning of daylight saving when the clocks are put forward one hour, and the first weekend in April 2012 at the end of daylight saving when the clocks are put back one hour.

Will the NSWNA cover me in Victoria? I am a nurse currently working in NSW. I am moving to Victoria to work for about six months and I will most likely return to NSW again to work after that. Will the NSWNA still cover me for any work-related issues that may arise during the six months in Victoria?

In the majority of cases, the NSWNA is only able to cover nurses employed in NSW. In order to remain covered by the Union, you must join the relevant branch in the state in which you will be employed (in this case, ANF Victorian Branch). The NSWNA can arrange an interstate transfer of membership from NSW to any other state in Australia. If you return to NSW again in the future, you can simply request to transfer back from ANF Victoria to the NSWNA again. Please contact our membership department on 1300 367 962 to discuss your individual situation and to arrange a transfer of membership.n

n u r s e s

o n l i n e

What’s hot on Nurse Uncut g The aged care wages gap; men in nursing – Greg’s story; nurses embracing IT, your FAQs about direct debit, and our nurses’ and midwives’ guide to a reasonable workload. Read all the latest happenings at www.nurseuncut.com.au.

Hot topics

What nurses are talking about

The aged care wages gap

Nursing a patient on a mattress on the floor – how safe is it?

www.nurseuncut. com.au/the-aged-carewages-gap

The wages gap between aged care and hospital care continues to grow each year. We need the Federal Government to fix the shortage of nursing staff in aged care by closing the wages gap so we can deliver quality care. Read the full story at Nurse Uncut and leave your opinions.

Men in nursing, part 3: Greg’s story www.nurseuncut.com. au/men-in-nursing-part3-gregs-story

RN Greg Cox has had an interesting pathway to becoming a nurse. He started out as a police officer but a series of ‘fortunate events and good decisions’ led him into nursing as a profession. Read his story at Nurse Uncut.

Nurses must embrace IT www.nurseuncut. com.au/nurses-mustembrace-it

Nurses need to be involved in the design and implementation of new technology in the workplace, according to speakers at the NSWNA Professional Day. By 1 July next year, the frameworks underpinning the national e-health system will be in place. Its aim is to connect systems so medical practitioners can send and receive information easily. Read the full story at Nurse Uncut.

*www.nurseuncut.com.au/forum/ component/option,com_ccboard/ Itemid,24/forum,13/topic,685/ view,postlist/#ccbp4087

‘From experience, working with patients on the floor is really bad for your back and your personal safety, especially if the patient is aggressive. Low beds are a bit better, but generally the patient needs 24-hour supervision in any case. Normal hospital beds with rails up or down are dangerous no matter what for this kind of patient. I don’t think there is a good solution, only compromise.’

Direct debit – your questions answered www.nurseuncut.com. au/direct-debit-yourquestions-answered

Members and the NSWNA face a major risk that the Liberal State Government could stop payroll deductions and block members’ union fees reaching the NSWNA. If it happens in NSW, members may lose industrial protection and the NSWNA financial security. Direct debit is the only way to ensure all members have union protection, and the NSWNA remains strong and able to campaign on members’ behalf. We answer some

Bullying in the workplace *www.nurseuncut.com.au/forum/ component/option,com_ccboard/ Itemid,24/forum,13/limitstart,240/ topic,187/view,postlist/#ccbp4069

‘I have recently started a job as a nurse in a large hospital and I am shocked at the amount of verbal abuse and threats that my colleagues tolerate because of the paperwork they will have to fill in if they call a code grey. I understand we are very busy and do not have time to fill in incident reports. However, I believe that pampering abusive patients and family members is making the situation worse because these patients and relatives end up thinking they can bully the staff and get whatever they want.’

of your frequently asked questions at Nurse Uncut.

A nurses’ and midwives’ guide to a reasonable workload www.nurseuncut. com.au/a-nurses-andmidwives-guide-to-areasonable-workloadpart-1

Reasonable workloads are required for nurses to assist in providing a sustainable health system for the people of NSW that not only meets present health needs but also plans for the health needs of the future. The employer has a responsibility to provide reasonable workloads for nurses. Read the guidelines at Nurse Uncut.n THE LAMP October 2011 35

nursing research

online

Evidence-based nursing research g Evidence Based Nursing Online offers a selection of articles from the health-related literature reporting studies and reviews that warrant immediate attention by nurses attempting to keep pace with important advances in their profession. Available evidence does not support routine administration of antipyretics to reduce duration of fever or illness  Anne Walsh, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane

Fever is a common occurrence in adults and Anne Walsh children in community and healthcare settings. Despite this, it does not seem to be common knowledge that fever is a natural response to an invading organism and that most fevers are associated with self-limiting viral illnesses. Many health professionals and the general public see fever as an illness in itself not as a highly-coordinated protective response. Illness sometimes results in the body thermostat being set higher than normal, and hence fever is a physiological measure, which may result in shivering, for example, in order to initially raise the body temperature to an elevated set point, and then sweating to return it to normal. Being febrile may be unpleasant, and the literature abounds with reports of health professionals’ and parents’ actions to reduce fever and maintain temperature within normal limits, during febrile illnesses. Active cooling methods include tepid sponging, cooling blankets and intermittent or regular oral or intravenous antipyretics (e.g. paracetamol). Adults may overdose using, for example, paracetamol and a cold/flu medication that also includes paracetamol (for pain management). Furthermore, parents might provide incorrect doses at incorrect frequencies, and use antipyretics in combination in their quest to normalise temperature. As fever is a natural response to illness, 36 THE LAMP October 2011

which is thought to support the body’s response to illness, then treating it might delay recovery; hence it is important to evaluate the necessity of reducing fever and the effect of reducing fever on illness duration, morbidity and mortality. http://ebn.bmj.com/ content/14/2/58.full

Limited good-quality evidence available on earwax removal methods; softeners more effective than no treatment, but evidence for irrigation or mechanical removal is equivocal

Yehudah Roth

Yehudah Roth, Yahav Oron, Abraham Goldfarb, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel

Cerumen impaction is common and saliently affects well-being. Cerumen excreted from the skin of the external ear canal provides a protective oily layer, entraps foreign materials and has antibacterial Yahav Oron properties. It is produced by special glands and is usually degraded in parallel, so in most people there is no wax accumulation. If a large quantity of wax is retained, it blocks the ear Abraham Goldfarb canal and severely inter feres with hearing. Such blockage can easily be removed to resume previous hearing.

Impaction is caused by ear ‘cleaning’ with Q-tips, which often creates a piston mechanism that pushes the wax inside the canal towards the tympanic membrane. This is one of the reasons why regular wax removal or ‘cleaning’ is not recommended. Some populations tend to develop frequent cerumen impaction, which is reflected as reversible, profound, hearing loss. Other symptoms include tinnitus, itching, cough, dizziness or pain. Reasons for higher prevalence include drier secretions, metabolic changes and genetics. http://ebn.bmj.com/ content/14/2/60.full

Expansion of nursing role in general practice: studies suggest patients think nurses can manage simple conditions but have some concerns about knowledge and competence in some areas Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Family and Community Health Research Group, University of Western Sydney, Penrith

The increasing burden of chronic disease and Elizabeth Halcomb an ageing population in the developed world has led to a shift towards primary care to manage chronic and complex disease. This has prompted a growing interest in the nursing role within general practice. Various models of substitution, delegation and supplementation have been proposed in the literature. The impact of these models on patient outcomes and service delivery has only recently begun to receive attention. This article sought to review the recent evidence

c o m p e t i t i o n

about the benefits and limitations of the role expansion of nurses in UK general practice. An integrative review method was used to identify and synthesise the literature published since 2004 that investigated the role of nurses in UK general practice. The search of nine electronic databases identified 164 articles, of which eight met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The outcomes from the included studies could be clustered under three themes: impact on patients; nurse competence; and National Health Service policy. From these outcomes, the author also identifies that the nursing role has been driven by the general practitioner contract and that current models of delegation remove consumer choice about the health professional that they see. The article concludes there is limited literature about the expanding nursing role in general practice, as well as identifying a need for additional nurse training around consultation and inclusion of patients’ views. http://ebn.bmj.com/content/14/1/28.full

Patient-to-nurse ratio in neonatal ICU associated with daily weight gain, but not other clinical outcomes in moderately pre-term infants Janet Tucker, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

Reports from critical care settings more than a decade ago suggested poorer clinical outcomes were associated with lower nurse staffing, but subsequent findings from studies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have been more equivocal. The research examined outcomes for a prospective cohort of 850 moderately pre-term infants (gestational age of 30–34 6/7 weeks) in relation to registered nurses on shift in 10 NICUs. The measure of nursing provision used was the patient-nurse ratio (PNR). This was the average number of registered nurses (calculated over a 24-hr period of shifts, including partial nurse shifts) and occupancy in terms of NICU census of midnight the previous day. In addition to testing some infrequent clinical outcomes for this particular patient group and sample size (eg. intraventricular haemorrhage and chronic lung disease), nosocomial infection and further proxy-outcome indicators were also tested. These indicators may be judged relevant and more sensitive indicators of nursing process and quality. Further follow-up information for the cohort was also available about subsequent acute emergency visits or re-hospitalisation in the three months post-discharge. A rudimentary comparison between smaller units and larger units revealed the following: the PNRs in large units were higher; their infants had longer stays and later gestational age at discharge, higher daily weight gain, more days of respi ratory support and lower rates of any breast milk at discharge.n http://ebn.bmj.com/content/13/3/89.full Access Evidence Based Nursing Online at http://ebn. bmj.com/

Winucational n ed

Worth $200 each

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The Lamp is offering 10 lucky winners the chance to win a set of three great nursing books from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Assessment Made Incredibly Easy!

Using light-hearted humour, this text provides the know-how nurses need to obtain pertinent health histories, perform physical examinations, and recognise normal and abnormal findings. Abundant full-colour illustrations, charts, memory joggers, and other special features help nurses master assessment techniques and remember key information. A companion website offers ancillary materials, such as an image bank and printable study cards.

Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy!

This book presents everything the nurse and nursing student needs to know about how drugs act and interact in the treatment of disease. The book focuses on mechanisms of drug action; details specific drugs by pharmacologic class; reviews the nursing process related to each drug category for all body systems, plus pain medications, anti-infective drugs, and cancer drugs; and highlights potentially dangerous interactions, including drug-herb interactions.

Wound Care Made Incredibly Visual!

This innovative reference combines detailed photographs and graphics with concise, informative text to make the complex concepts of wound care easy to understand. This new approach to clinical content maximises the power of visual thinking by ‘showing’ as well as ‘telling’ about the latest wound care information and techniques. The highly-visual nature of this book makes the fundamentals and advancements in the treatment of wounds clear and understandable, enabling quick review and comprehension for practical application. The Lamp is giving away 10 packages, worth $200 each and comprising one copy of each book to 10 lucky readers. To enter the competition, simply write your name, address and membership number on the back of an envelope and send it to: Books competition 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo, NSW 2017 Competition closes 31 October 2011. Please note: only one entry per member will be accepted. THE LAMP October 2011 37

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This information from Health Industry Plan contains general advice only. It is not specific to your personal financial situation, objectives or needs. Get the facts (including a Product Disclosure Statement) from www.hipsuper.com.au or talk to a financial advisor before making any super decisions. The Trustee of HIP ABN 50 030 598 247 is Private Hospitals Superannuation Pty Ltd ABN 59 006 792 749, AFSL 247063.* This calculation is based on members aged between 16-36 at four units of cover, and only if members apply for an additional three units of cover within 60 days of joining the Fund. Insurance benefit is reduced each subsequent year. Please refer to the HIP Insurance Booklet or PDS for full details. ** Subject to a maximum monthly benefit of 75% of the 38 THEmonthly LAMP October 2011refer to the HIP Insurance Booklet or PDS for full details. member’s income. Please

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i n

a c t i o n

Helping breakthroughs in skin cancer g Registered Nurse Jo Dalton works at the forefront of skin cancer research, where clinical trials are already forging breakthroughs for the most common cancer affecting young people in Australia.

s a cancer research nurse, Jo Dalton’s role involves looking after the 5,000 skin cancer patients who visit the Melanoma Institute Australia’s headquarters every year for clinical trials at the Poche Centre in North Sydney. Within months of the Poche Centre being built, the Institute announced some remarkable results from its ongoing drug trials in November last year. These new drugs worked for some patients with advanced melanoma who have a positive BRAF mutation, reducing their tumours by more than 50% in size at all sites – including the liver, in the bone, and in the brain. ‘It’s good to feel part of something that’s trying to help people,’ said Jo. The Year 8 RN is part of a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, oncologists, nurses and clinical trial officers, based at the largest melanoma research and treatment facility in the world. ‘We’re trying to prevent and treat melanoma and trying to find a cure for it, because there isn’t a cure. So you know that that can’t happen without clinical trials. You need that scientific evidence.’ Now in her seventh year at the Institute, Jo is the co-ordinator for an international surgical trial that is being conducted throughout 60 sites around the world. She is responsible for over 1,100 melanoma patients over a 10-year period in the Australian trial being run at the Melanoma Institute Australia. Jo plays a crucial role in making sure that clinical trials run smoothly, while

ensuring that patients are also safe and fully informed. ‘Even though we’re involved in patient care, we’re also collecting data for a clinical trial so it’s our responsibility to co-ordinate all the aspects of the conduct and the documentation of the trial,’ said Jo. ‘It’s my responsibility to make sure that we’re complying with regulation and that patients are protected. That’s the main thing about clinical trials. We have to make sure that the rights, the safety and the wellbeing of trial patients are protected and that the data is credible.’ On an average day, Jo and her colleagues consult with between six to eight patients throughout the 13 clinical trials run at the Institute each year. ‘A typical day is seeing patients for their follow up,’ Jo explained. ‘They see the doctor and have a physical examination, and then they see a trial nurse or officer and we do the related tasks that are part of the trial protocol.’ Some of these tasks can include taking blood samples, monitoring a patient’s weight, recording ECG data and compiling reports, while also helping patients with their psycho-social wellbeing. ‘I think because clinical trial staff are mostly nurses we sort of take on a bit of that as well. So it’s not just collecting data, you’re getting involved in the patient’s complete care as well. ‘For people between 15 and 44 years of age, melanoma is the main cancer that affects this age group,’ said Jo. Although Jo admits this part of her role can be difficult at times, she maintains a positive outlook and

considers herself ‘lucky’ to be working at the Melanoma Institute. ‘I think it’s a good mix because it’s a Monday to Friday office job, but you still have the patient contact; you’re still involved in a multi-disciplinary team and you’re all there working for the benefit of the patient, so I think it can be a rewarding job, as much as working on a ward looking after somebody recovering after surgery,’ she said. ‘Your skills as a nurse really do help you do the job and I think they help the patient as well. Experience in cancer care – melanoma, oncology or palliative care would be beneficial for a nurse who wanted to work in clinical trials. ‘Most of us are RNs but that isn’t an essential criteria. It’s pretty much attention to detail and good communication skills, being organised, able to prioritise and delegate, which nurses do all day, every day, no matter what area they work in.’n THE LAMP October 2011 39

f i g h t i n g

F i t

n u r s e s

Sharp

shooter

work permanent nights at Garden Suburb Aged Care Facility, which is part of Uniting Care Ageing. I’ve been an RN since graduating from Newcastle University in 1994. Prior to that, I had 18 or so years with the NSW Police Department: three years as a cadet and 15 years on the ranks. I have been interested in weight training and fitness generally since starting at the Police Academy as a 16-year-old and have maintained this interest for the past 40 years. I find that doing something physical is a great balance with the work as an RN, much of which is computer-based or essentially non-physical. To me, simply working and having work as my sole focus is simply not on. Working permanent nights (seven 10-hour shifts a fortnight) can make

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g Greg Cox, RN in aged care, has maintained an interest in weight training and fitness for the past 40 years, before he took up archery two years ago.

training difficult due to the fatigue factor but I have found that what works for me is going to the gym on the way home after work. I’m sure my workmates think I’m some type of weirdo going to the gym for a couple of hours straight after finishing night work. I go to a 24-hour gym and I’m often in the gym at absurd hours on my days off – that is, anytime from 1am onwards. I train now purely for the enjoyment and the sense of relaxation it gives me. In my (much) younger days, I was much more serious, devoting set days and times to working on certain body parts but nowadays I basically do what feels right, with the proviso that I never work the same body part heavily two days in succession. I train strictly in that I carry out each

exercise as it should be done – when I’m too tired to do that, I stop. My gym training – both cardio and resistance – is geared toward my other sporting interest of archery. I shoot both recurve and compound bows and have been doing archery for about two years – again purely for the enjoyment and relaxation value. I only compete against my last effort with the bow and I’ve found that there is much more to the sport than I expected: subtle things such as foot position, draw and release techniques as well as a myriad of ways that sights can be adjusted. I have my own targets set up in my garage – and yes, it is legal to use the bow and arrows at home provided that you don’t shoot toward a dividing fence. In other words, don’t hang a target on the

Select a Graduate Certificate in your chosen speciality DOH supported places close 14 October 2011 Fee-paying applications close 9 January 2012

The College of Nursing creating nursing’s future Join us on Facebook/The College of Nursing 40 THE LAMP October 2011

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neighbour’s fence and let fly! I actually shoot into my garage with the target bale set up against the back wall. While 10 to 15 metres doesn’t sound that far, and I suppose it’s not, when the target is only about 2cm to 4cm in diameter and there are many, many ways of fouling up the shot, sometimes it can take some hitting. Funny, though, how one can sometimes visualise certain faces on the target! I owe my enjoyment of archery to a woman by the name of Lynne Fairhall from Feral Archery in Maitland and have improved due to her instruction on Wednesday and Thursday nights at Maitland Showground. Although I have no desire to compete at all, I still want to be as good as possible at the sport. My other fitness interest is caring for my two dogs: I take the boxer for a walk and the labrador takes me! Nursing can be very stressful, especially in aged care when residents we have become close to pass away. My sporting and fitness interests allow me to recharge my emotional batteries and hopefully provide a better level of care to our elderly residents. I urge everyone to do something completely removed from the workplace; whatever they find relaxing and refreshing. We need to be kind to ourselves and look after ourselves, otherwise the dreaded ‘burn out’ is a risk, and then we are not much good to our residents, our colleagues and, importantly, our families.n

a brand new law Proud to be the lawyers for NSWNA members

We offer a wide range of legal services including: * Employment * Superannuation * Insurance claims * Family Law * Discrimination * Wills and Probate

Civil litigation Conveyancing * Criminal * Defamation * *

‘If you trust the Association enough to look after your industrial and professional affairs, then you can trust it to direct you to a professional and caring legal service.’ Bob Whyburn, Solicitor Director of NEW Law.

Ring 8595 1295 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (rural) for a referral from the Association.

NewLaw-THIRD.indd 1

LEGAL SERVICES FOR NSWNA MEMBERS In addition to the assistance provided by the NSWNA to members in relation to workplace, employment and professional issues, the NSWNA offers a referral for all other legal matters to the Association’s solicitors, NEW Law. All first consultations are free. For the convenience of members consultations can be arranged at NEW Law offices in Sydney and Newcastle or visitation offices, if required, throughout New South Wales. To access this service, contact the Association for a referral. Due to advertising regulations in NSW, we are restricted in publishing information on some of the services we provide. If you would like any information or assistance in relation to other legal issues, please contact the Association for a referral. THE LAMP October 2011 41 12/08/11 3:37 PM

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NSWNA

MATTERS

NSWNA Branch News

active across NSW. t ge rs be em m A N c NSW

Bankstown community meeting

A Better Services/ Public Sector information BBQ at Bankstown Hospital on 16 August was well attended by more than 300 staff at Bankstown Hospital. They heard from representatives of the Health Services Union (HSU) East Branch, the NSWNA, fire fighters, NSW Teachers’ Federation, TAFE teachers, school teachers and Unions NSW. Karen Fernance, NUM, and NSWNA Branch Official (pictured), spoke at the event.

Happy residents, happy staff

Residents at Gosford RSL Leisure Living, which has more than 94 beds, praised the excellent care, good food, and quick response of the pleasant staff at the facility. Ten new employees have joined the NSWNA with a request to form a branch. Pictured from left to right: Rosemary Godfrey, RN; Maria Ryan, AiN; Cherady Russell, AiN; Taylah Fleming, AiN; Bonnie McGarity, AiN; and Michelle Gutter.

Wet and wild

On a wet and wild morning in Sydney on 14 August, Bellingen Hospital was well represented among the 85,000 who ran and walked the City2Surf. Seven nurses completed the 14km, all with a personal best result – walking, running and sometimes stumbling from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach. This was a fundraising effort for patient equipment at the Bellingen Hospital. Pictured left to right: Bronwyn Osmond, RN; Raeleen Carey, RN; Gloria Malone, RN; Denise Forbes; Kate Williams, RN; Josee De Mooey, RN; and Charlotte Rogers, RN.

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THE LAMP26/09/11 October10:45 2011AM 43

a t

t h e

m o v i e s

Drive g A film that shows how to protect what is important to you.

Review by Michelle Cutmore, RN, NSW Health, Nursing and Midwifery Office

his dark, moody film, rated R for its strong, brutal and bloody violence, was produced by Danish director Winding Refn, and stars Ryan Gosling of The Notebook. Drive is an action thriller with twisted humour They meet again at the local and seriously hardcore violence that supermarket, and when Irene’s car bursts out of the screen like a horror film won’t start he gives her and her son or a bad dream, and has been compared a lift home. It’s revealed that Irene’s to a Tarantino film. husband is currently in jail. The two Gosling plays Driver, a Hollywood become friends and spend a lot of time stunt performer by day who moonlights together when suddenly Irene finds as a wheelman; he lives for getting out that her husband is leaving jail and behind the wheel. The driver is quietly i M I and M Skeeps A d _toOhimself, n e T huntil i r d o n t a home. l _ . pdf Pa ge 1 1 5 spoken heH o r i zreturning Irene’s husband is jealous of his wife’s meets Irene in the elevator, who lives in the same apartment building. friendship with the driver and so the driver

stays away. On returning to the apartment car park, the driver finds Irene’s husband severely injured from being attacked, with the little boy as witness. Described as the best action film in decades, it is 10 times more badass than any Transporter or Fast and Furious. It is a film in which logic, reason and / self-preservation 0 9 / 2 0 1 1 , become 4 : 4secondary 2 P M to protecting what is important to you.n In cinemas 27 October

D IS C O V ER SOMETHING NEW

iPhone app Available on the A p p S t o r e

or call 1800 800 629 Available on “CIAP” for NSW Health staff 44 THE LAMP October 2011

giveaways

for NSWNA members

The Whistleblower

The Lamp has 25 double passes to Drive and 20 double passes to The Whistleblower. To enter, email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au with your film preference, name, membership number, address and contact number. First entries win!

Review by Robin Moon, CNS, Macquarie University Hospital, and RN/MM, RNSH

g A powerful and shocking story about corruption in the UN.

nspired by real events, this intense political thriller tells the tale of an American policewoman who uncovers evidence of human trafficking while assisting a UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.

Nebraska cop Kathy Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz) is caught in the middle of a vicious custody battle with her ex-husband when she seizes the opportunity to make a quick $100,000 tax-free by spending six months in Bosnia as UN peacekeeper. Shortly after Kathy arrives in Bosnia, Human Rights Commission head Madeleine Rees (Vanessa Redgrave) promotes her to the UN’s

Gender Office, where she begins studying sexual assault cases. What Kathy doesn’t know is that her fellow peacekeepers are involved in a human trafficking ring. The ensuing controversy makes her the target of some very powerful – and incredibly ruthless – people. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she unveils a different reality: corruption and cover-up amidst a world of the UN contingents, private contractors, and diplomatic doubletalk. The film is quite graphic in parts and tough to watch at times, but gleaning an understanding of the plight of women trapped inside the sex trade is cause for lots of discussion over coffee after the movie.n In cinemas 29 September

THE LAMP October 2011 45

o b i t u a r y

Outstanding nurse educator Ellen Mary Higham, FCN OAM 15 January, 1921 - 13th July, 2011

llen Higham completed her general nursing training at Grafton Base Hospital in 1945 after which she did midwifery training at Ryde District Soldiers Memorial Hospital and Mothercraft training at the Tresillian Home, Vaucluse. She returned to Grafton in April 1949 as Theatre Supervisor and was subsequently appointed Deputy Matron in 1951. She succeeded Matron Miller in 1959, becoming the youngest Matron in the State. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Matron, Ellen was awarded scholarships, which enabled her to study nursing in the UK including a post-graduate course at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Following this, she did further studies at Guy’s Hospital in London. Ellen studied for the Diploma in Nursing Administration at the College of Nursing (NSW) in 1966 and in 1972 returned to the UK to concentrate on Senior Nursing Staff Structures. A report of these studies

was completed for the NSW Health Department. She was a strong advocate for the transfer of nursing education to the tertiary sector and worked hard to achieve this change over several years as a member of the Inaugural Council of the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education from 1974-1981. She was later appointed as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Nurse Education, University of New England, Northern Rivers, as preparation for the transfer of nurse education was in progress. Ellen was a Fellow of the College of Nursing (NSW), a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing Australia and a Foundation Fellow of the Institute of Nursing Administrators of NSW & ACT. She was awarded the honour of life membership of the College of Nursing (NSW) on her retirement. She was active in a number of organisations during her time as Matron, which included founder and member of the Graduate Nurses’ Association in 1969. This course encouraged nurses to undertake refresher courses, which would enable them to return to the workforce. She was a foundation member of Grafton’s Community Learning Unit from 1974 until 1986. During this time, community

members were given the opportunity to attend lectures in health education. In the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List in 1986 Ellen was awarded the OAM for services to nurse education. She was further honoured by her colleagues when she was admitted as the first Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Nursing Administrators of NSW & ACT in 1986. From 1990 to 1993 Ellen was a mem ber of the Board of St Vincent’s Hospital, Lismore, and from 1994 to 2000 a member of the Hospital’s Medico Moral Committee. On her retirement, Ellen had time then to fulfill a lifetime ambition to study at university and was an external student at the University of New England, Armidale, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree (Philosophy) in 1995. Several hundred nurses completed their training under her outstanding leadership and graduates were sought throughout Australia, having trained in a hospital of such high regard, with some graduates achieving national and international recognition for their expertise in nursing. Also of note under her administration, Grafton Base Hospital was the first country hospital to appoint and educate male nurses. Ellen will be sadly missed by her family, former colleagues and many friends.n By Kay Paine, retired member and former colleague at Grafton Base Hospital.

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46 THE LAMP October 2011

b o o k s NEW REFERENCE BOOK

Book me Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking (10th ed) By Lynn S. Bickley, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, RRP $ POA : ISBN 9780781735117 This 10th edition of Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking contains foundational content to guide students’ approaches to history taking, interviewing, and other core assessment concepts, as well as fully illustrated, step-by-step techniques that outline correct performance of physical examination. The comprehensive content is intended for high-level nursing education and practice markets, medical students, and related health professions such as physician assistants. Text includes free head-to-toe assessment and techniques of communication videos.

Diseases and Disorders: A Nursing Therapeutics Manual (4th ed) By Marilyn Sawyer Sommers, F. A. Davis (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP *$58.95 : ISBN 9780803622050 Diseases and Disorders: A Nursing Therapeutics Manual 4th edition has a succinct, easy-to-understand

A Mother’s Tears: A Story of Stillbirth and Life (1st ed) pathophysiology basis that allows students to apply the general concepts learned in patho or med-surg class to a specific disorder when caring for patients. It includes drug information that provides the student with a general idea of how many days the patient will be in the hospital so adequate planning can be done.

Breast Cancer: Taking Control By Professor John Boyages, Boycare Publishing, RRP *$39.99 : ISBN 9780980631111 Breast Cancer: Taking Control empowers women and their families who are faced with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Chapters centre around, ‘Control Points’, decisions or steps that need to be taken at key points of a patient’s breast cancer journey. The book also incorporates special features to assist women and their families with breast cancer including flow charts, endof-chapter summaries, and more than 100 photographs. It includes more than 75 websites, glossary and index.

Nursing and Midwifery Portfolios: Evidence of Continuing Competence (2nd ed) By Kate Andre and Marie Heartfield, Churchill Livingstone (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP *$77.00 : ISBN 9780729540780 Nursing and Midwifery Portfolios: Evidence of continuing competence has been thoroughly revised with a focus on e-Portfolios to

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 Disclaimer: Some of the items featured in Book Me are based on information received and have not

been independently reviewed. Reviews by NSWNA librarian, Jeannette Bromfield.

Publishers’ websites c Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: www.lww.com c Boycare Publishing: www.breastcancertakingcontrol.com c Jane Curry Publishing: www.janecurrypublishing.com.au c F. A. Davis www.fadavis.com c Churchill Livingstone/Mosby/Elsevier: www.elsevierhealth.com.au/

By Nicole Wyborn, Jane Curry Publishing, RRP $24.95 : ISBN 9780980721270 A Mother’s Tears is an intensely emotional but also an ultimately uplifting story of midwife Nicole Wyborn and her partner Kane, who after suffering two miscarriages, lost their second son to stillbirth. The book follows their journey as they learn to deal with the death of their son and the steps they took to rebuild their lives. provide tools to structure, reflect, plan, develop and communicate professional achievements for nurses and midwives. A new chapter on reflection highlights the value of including reflection within portfolios as a critical element towards addressing learning needs for individuals.

Nursing: The Finest Art – An Illustrated History (3rd ed) M. Patricia Donahue, Mosby (available through Elsevier Australia), RRP *$73.00 : ISBN 9780323057363 In this 3rd edition of Nursing: The Finest Art, the social, political and economic history of nursing is traced from its origins through contemporary practice. Fine art images and unique timelines offer a view of nursing through the ages. It also includes more than 400 fine art images encompassing nurses in history through the present time and around the globe, as well as timelines that summarise each era at a glance before each chapter to let you know where to find key information about nursing history and facilitate easy review.n *Price in Australian dollars at time of printing THE LAMP October 2011 47

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Hospitals, Aged Care Facilities, Community

Crossword Test your knowledge in this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nursing crossword. 1

9 10

13 14

27 28

31 32 33

across

1. A substance which can counteract a form of poisoning (8) 5. Exhaled breath (7) 9. Medical Examiner (1.1) 10. Removal of soluble constituents of a substance by running water (8) 11. Benzene hexachloride (1.1.1) 12. One related by blood or origin (3) 13. Symbol for Neon (1.1) 14. A specialised vesicle that holds a variety of enzymes (8) 15. A simulated medical intervention (7) 16. A flat, wingless, parasitic insect (5) 17. Compression bandage (10) 19. The period elapsed since birth (3) 20. Causing cancer (12)

22. To incise with teeth (4) 25. Relating to the fetomaternal organ (9) 27. A sudden audible expulsion of air from the lungs (5) 28. Loss of the power of articulate speech (9) 31. Being attracted to both men and women (8) 32. Relating to ileum and colon (9) 33. Promoting the flow of milk (8)

down

1. 2. 3. 4.

Speech defect (9) Allowing light to pass through (11) A splitting open (10) An instrument used in measuring tension or pressure (9)

5. An outdated term for disorganised schizophrenia (11) 6. Producing milk (9) 7. To perceive through medium of gustatory nerves (5) 8. Relating to nerve centres below the cerebral cortex (11) 18. Contrary to the nature of things (9) 21. Cranial (8) 22. Cimex (3.3) 23. Inflammation of the epidermis (6) 24. Great emotional or mental agitation (6) 26. To allure or attract (6) 29. The extremity of a pyramidal structure (4) 30. Any vaulted structure (4) Solution page 50 THE LAMP October 2011 49

DIARY DATES

Conferences, seminars, meetings SYDNEY, Hunter & Illawarra Paediatric Continence Interest Group 18 October, 1-4pm, Paraquad Building, 6 Holker Street, Newington Contact: Marilyn Woodcock 8741 5699 or cfansw@optusnet.com.au. Educational Forum for A.C.A.T Nurses at Bankstown Hospital 18 October, 2 pm, Aged Care Day Hospital/Allied Health Building. Please note change of time from 1pm to 2pm. Contact: Wendy Oliver, 9722 7236, wendy.oliver@sswahs.nsw.gov.au Family Planning NSW Nurse Education Day 21 October, 9am – 3.45pm, Customs House Hotel, 1 Bond Street, Newcastle Cost: $150 and: Ongoing e-Learning Courses for Women’s Health – ongoing online Cost: $50 per course Contact: 8752 4328 or 8752 4377 www.fpnsw.org.au/884077_5.html PAIN – More than a symptom Professional development one-day conf. 21 Oct 2011, Lilyfield, NSW. 4.5 Continuing professional dev hours. Contact: Sonia Markocic, 4253 4426, Sonia.Markocic@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au Riding the Waves of Change, Nursing and Midwifery Unit, Managers’ Society of NSW 21 Oct, Citigate Hotel, Thomas St, Sydney Contact: numsexecadmin@optusnet. com.au Discharge Planning Association Professional Development Day 26 October, Sydney Adventist Hospital Contact: kerriek@sah.org.au Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support 1-day Update 29 October, Westmead Private Hospital. Contact: (03) 9390 8011 or info@criticalcare. edu.au, www.criticalcare.edu.au Anaesthesia and Post-Anaesthesia Care Nursing 2-day seminar 18-19 November, Westmead Hospital. Contact: (03) 9390 8011, info@criticalcare. edu.au or www.criticalcare.edu.au The ’ALERT’ Course – Acute Lifethreatening Emergencies, Recognition and Treatment 2-day seminar 25-26 Nov, Wests Mayfield, Newcastle. Contact: (03) 9390 8011, info@criticalcare. edu.au or www.criticalcare.edu.au 50 THE LAMP October 2011

Nepean Midwifery 21st Annual Conference 2 March, 2012, Sebel Resort Windsor Contact: murrayt@aimhigherevents.com.au REGIONAL Midwives on the Tweed (Subbranch of ACM), ‘Broadening our Horizons’, 9th Annual Education Day 24 October, Tweed Heads Bowls Club Contact: Janeen Brennan, 07 5590 5448 or Jenni Sullivan, 07 5524 8142 or midwivesonthetweed@iprimus.com.au

Diary Dates 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 and the web, before the 5th of the month prior, for example: 5 May for June Lamp. Send information to: Editorial Enquiries Email: lamp@nswnurses.asn.au Fax: 9550 3667 50 O’Dea Ave, Waterloo NSW 2017 Please double-check all information is correct. The Lamp cannot guarantee that the issue will always be mailed in time for the listed event.

Interstate and overseas

Reunions

The ECG Workshop Dublin: 3-4 Oct; Birmingham: 10-11 Oct; Liverpool: 20-21 Oct; Glasgow: 5-6 Dec Contact: bookings@mkupdate.co.uk, 017687 73030

Sydney Hospital Graduate Nurses Annual Reunion Lunch 5 October, 12noon, Parliament House – Macquarie Street, Sydney Contact: Jeanette Fox, 4751 4829

7th European Congress on Violence in Clinical Psychiatry 19-22 Oct, Clarion Congress Hotel, Prague Contact: info@oudconsultancy.nl

RPAH PCB Oct 1981, 30-Year Reunion 8 October Contact: Jenny Grout, 0438 112 163; Tracey Lown, 0401 997 126; Linda Carmichael, 0418 989 549

7th International Meeting On Intensive Cardio Care 31 Oct-1 Nov, Tel Aviv, Israel Contact: 972 2 6520574, conventions@isas. co.il, www.isas.co.il//cardiac-care2011 2011 International Symposium on Reducing Child Mortality 15 Nov, Melbourne Convention Ctr Rm 207 Contact: alexandra.brown@sydney.msf. org, childmortality.msf.org.au Understanding Blood Results Birmingham: 17-18 November; London: 6-7 December; Manchester: 8-9 December Contact: bookings@mkupdate.co.uk, 017687 73030 3rd Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium 14-16 Nov, Mercure Hotel, Ballarat VIC. Contact: Laura Hancock, ruralhealth@ anzmh.asn.au, www.anzmh.asn.au/rrmh11 Evidence-Based Rehabilitation 19 November, London Contact: bookings@mkupdate.co.uk, 017687 73030, www.mkupdate.co.uk/ acatalog/Allied_Health_Professionals.html The Future Role of Support Workers in Perioperative & Critical Care 24 November, Manchester Contact: www.mkupdate.co.uk The International Conference on Integrative Medicine 13-15 May 2012, Jerusalem Contact: +41 22 5330 948, rlevy@ paragon-conventions.com, www.mediconvention.com

Mater Graduates annual Reunion Mass and Lunch 16 October Contact: Christine Kirby, 0414 550 419 St George Hospital Annual Reunion Lunch 22 October, 11.30am, Grange Rm, Lvl 1, St George Leagues Club, Princes Hwy, Kogarah Contact Judith Cornell, 9502 2946, jcornell@netspace.net.au Charles Sturt University Bathurst 1989-1991 Reunion 5 November, 7pm, Church Bar, Bathurst Contact: Grant Frecklington, 0418 610 288 Lewisham Hospital Graduate Nurses Association – Annual Mass General Meeting and lunch 5 November, 11am, the function room of Dalton Gardens, 678 Victoria Rd, Ryde

Due to high demands on 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. Special Interest Groups Special Interest Groups is now part of Diary Dates. If you are a special inte rest group, you must send information about your event as above. Diary Dates are also on the web – www. nswnurses.asn.au/events

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. Contact: John Bohun, 9684 6350, johnbohun@bigpond.com St Vincents Hospital Darlinghurst January and March 1972 PTS 40-Year Reunion February 2012. Contact: Jennifer Purcell 0418944320 jennacell86@gmail.com RPAH 50-Year Nurses Reunion Still seeking RN graduates from the RPA Hospital January 1962 PTS Group. 8 February 2012. Contact: barbdryland@hotmail.com or Rosemary, rabrab75@gmail.com RPAH April 1979 Graduates Reunion April 2012. Contact: Jane Howland, 6581 3381

Crossword solution

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FRE L NUR ANDE E R S

ES $5 $50 00 Acce PAC † 0 Se s K rvicesories o WITH r EVER V o Y uche FRO CAR PU M TH r RCH AS IS IS AD †

Micra M ic ic icra crra ra ST ST

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†Nurse’s pack is free with every car purchased from this ad between October 1st & October 31st 2011. Vehicles and offer are available at time of printing. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Offer valid until 31st October, 2011. RRP= Recommended Retail Price. MD20305 2269-FP YPA

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www.ahg.com.au THE LAMP October 2011 51

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1 Selectingsuper, a company of Rainmaker Information Pty Limited ABN 86 095 610 996, describes the best overall fees payable for retirement funds, where overall fees are calculated for a member with an initial deposit of $100,000 and receives 12 monthly pension payments all invested in the fund’s default investment option. Research dated 1 April 2011. 2 Neither FSS Trustee Corporation nor First State Super is responsible for any advice given to you by Q Invest Limited ABN 35 063 511 580 AFSL Number 238274 trading as FSS Financial Planning. 52 THE LAMP October 2011

SIMPLE LAM 0811

Consider the applicable First State Super ABN 53 226 460 365 Product Disclosure Statement before deciding whether becoming a member or continuing your membership is right for you. To obtain a copy visit the website or call us. Issued by FSS Trustee Corporation ABN 11 118 202 672, AFSL 293340. August 2011.