Specializes in aged, palliative care, cardiac, agency,.
..the littlest thing can be examined; things you wouldn't believe. And nurses are the easiest people to pick on. Perhaps because we are the first person on the scene, and the only group of ppl with the patient for 24 hours. We are not remunerated for the stress and legal responsibilities we have in comparison to many other professions.
Nurses are also the ones who have to put up with aggression and violence. Again, because we are first on the scene and are there with the patient for 24 hours.
NYAPA, I sent a thanks response but felt I really wanted to say a more truly heart felt thankyou. I feel you have accurately described the situation. Nurses are there 24 hours a day, anything can be isolated as requiring explanation, often many many months after the event. I urge all nurses, all people, to ensure they have the support they require if and when anything should arise. I have never been personally questioned as to my performance or behaviour but did work in a ward where a serious incident occured. The entire staff were questioned (including me), tape recorded answers etc as it was a legal case. I didnt have to contact the ANF in this instance but it cemented for me the need to ensure support. The nurse involved did not have membership and was left without legal or emotional support in what was a very serious event. Had it been me in her place I would have wanted / needed the outside support.
Specializes in aged, palliative care, cardiac, agency,.
In addition to a monthly journal (Australian Nurses' Journal), which combined industrial and professional news with best practice guidelines and topical articles, you also have free online access to the peer-reviewed Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Hey I didnt know that you could access the Aust Journal Of Advanced Nursing?? I am a member of the ANF so how do you do this?? Is it via the ANF website?? Do I need to register? and how?
Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
Hey I didnt know that you could access the Aust Journal Of Advanced Nursing?? I am a member of the ANF so how do you do this?? Is it via the ANF website?? Do I need to register? and how?
I'm no longer a member of ANF, but I'm guessing you can access the AJOAN via the ANF site. Just a guess mind you.
Hey I didnt know that you could access the Aust Journal Of Advanced Nursing?? I am a member of the ANF so how do you do this?? Is it via the ANF website?? Do I need to register? and how?
I've just done it now, so I could be sure I wasn't leading you up the garden path! Log in to the members only area, and there should be a section under the 'links' banner with the AJAN logo. Click on that and it takes you straight to the AJAN website; you can access any journal back to September 2000.
There's currently a survey about using sterile water injections for management of back pain in labour that's really interesting, if anyone's interested in the topic.
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
NYAPA, I sent a thanks response but felt I really wanted to say a more truly heart felt thankyou.
Not a problem. As you said, you often get questioned months after the event. Short of writing a journal every day - and that would breach confidentiality - how do nurses protect themselves? Through documentation, following policy, and having support, whether it be your own legal resources or the ANF
The nurse involved did not have membership and was left without legal or emotional support in what was a very serious event. Had it been me in her place I would have wanted / needed the outside support.
OMG, the poor thing! Can't imagine what she was/is going through...
Specializes in aged, palliative care, cardiac, agency,.
I've just done it now, so I could be sure I wasn't leading you up the garden path! Log in to the members only area, and there should be a section under the 'links' banner with the AJAN logo. Click on that and it takes you straight to the AJAN website; you can access any journal back to September 2000.
Yes, in my case there was an equipment malfunction and the patient received a bolus dose rather than infusion and sadly died.
I was a young, inexperienced nurse and suddenly there was NO support. Curiously, the medical staff on my ward were much more supportive than the nursing staff, who were trying to cover their own butts and have nothing to do with the incident.
It was very stressful and almost led me to leave nursing, however I hung in there. I found the ANF referred me to a city law firm, and they were totally useless. No return calls, no help or advice. Kept sending letters with incorrect info etc. I chased it up with ANF and informed them that I was not getting help - no reply.
In any case, it soured me on the union. I was a job rep previously too.
I can get journal access thru my employer. I can buy professional indemnity insurance for cheaper. Union shopper is a huge bonus and you can save easily the cost of the membership on one big purchase alone.
In theory, I like the thought of the unified workforce, but it's a fantasy - nurses are not unified and do not stand together. Plus, I cannot participate in any strike action etc as I work in critical care and could not abandon my patients.
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
ghillbert, thats terrible. And I imagine that sort of experience would have affected you for life. You've obviously experienced the other side. I hope not many ppl have been there...
ghillbert I'm so sorry you had such an unpleasant experience, and the lack of support from the ANF and legal team clearly compounded the problem. A good friend of mine had a similar experience with lack of union support (in another state), and left nursing altogether as a result of the issue that caused her to seek representation and, perhaps more so, the (lack of) response of the union.
I agree that nurses are tend to be divisive, particularly when there's a situation like that. Several years ago we had a death on the ward that was referred to the coroner and I was amazed by how many nurses - experienced nurses who I thought would be fair and supportive of the nurses involved in the death - launched straight into how it wouldn't have happened if they'd been looking after the patient. Which was ridiculous - it was one of those situation where it could have happened to any nurse and it was just bad luck that it happened when it did.
Medical staff do seem, in general, to present a more unified front, at least in public, when something like this happens to them.
And, as a rep, I am often frustrated by the apathy and lack of involvement of nurses who are very happy to complain about conditions but not prepared to do anything about it themselves - "I don't want to lose x, but I couldn't possibly lose an hours' pay to go to the meeting," or "why isn't the union more militant?" as though council unilaterally makes decisions and doesn't need input or support of members.
Little hobby horse of mine! However, despite this, Pollyanna-like I hope for a future where there is more unity and support among nurses. The most recent Victorian industrial action, at the end of last year, restored a lot of my optimism on this front - for the first time in a long time many nurses pulled together, took action together, stood up for one another (especially in the face of widespread administrative bullying), and the feeling of the last meeting at Festival hall was electric.
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nyapa, RN
995 Posts
Gorgeous! :bowingpur