RN from OZ

I cannot understand why...when we already have a nursing shortage and recruitment issues......would the government shoot themselves in the foot and make it worse ?? I understand even less why our union did not do a thing about it ! A sad time for nursing.

under the billi lights.......in the Bali sun The itty bittys in the humidified isolettes covered in eucerin......cook'n with gas

MH it was...I heard a rumor that they are selling off all their hospitals...too much trouble not enough gain. They actually wanted us to have a higher turn around of Pts to justify more staff...these poeple are funded for 6 days for a delivery and that is why they come so they are not kicked out in 4 to 24 hours like in the public system with no support.....thats what happens when truck drivers run hospitals !

Well ! I have worked in both the public and private systems in NSW. I left the public system after 10years due to the decline in the standard of Pt care...basically in a level 3 NICU with vented Pts we were dismally lacking in senior staff sometimes more new grads than exp staff. Inflexable rostering. Also the patients and relatives were becomming so abusive interferring in care, not respecting a single regulation upon entering the unit...eg washing hands quite time not looking at other peoples babies notes..and then there was DOCS. I have worked in 2 private systems one owned by a profit organisation one owned by a non profit organisation ..like a religious affiliation. The ones run for profit are pathetic..you recieve no better care...perhaps worse care than the public sector..staffing was a scandal 2 to 30 pts in a maternity unit post op C sections and these women come with a baby so really 60pts to 2. But the clientel are a breath of fresh air and very compliant. In the non profit one where I work now I cannot speak highly enough of it. They train their staff and pay for it. we are always well staffed no more than 8 pts per RN and an AIN on the Am shift to do beds and linen. A Lactation consultant on every second day to do the ward round assisting with feeding issues flexable self rostering and nice environment all the equipment we need.

We have a system that does home visits untill the parents are happy on their own. Then they come in to the clinic follow up for 7 years...3monthly 6monthly then after 4 yearly. We monitor their developmental progress and address any issues. they are seen by the nurse, physio, speach path, neonatologist, optical specialist and surgeon if they had surgery, or require it. Parents have acess to councelling, and educational support for the children. They decided 8 years ago that it was a poor standard of care to just send these children into the community with no follow up or support. It also benifits us in our research .

We have a Lactation Consultant on Staff every day, she sees the worst cases, and she also holds a clinic after lunch for discharged Mums who are still needing support. To work in NICU here, you have to be a midwife...so you know the breast feeding basics, we also have inservice meetings once a month on breast feeding techniques, stimulating sucking reflexes in neonates and milk storage etc...this is one of the most vital requirements for discharge planning...Baby cannot go home if it is not feeding. Ask your LC to train up the staff !

In Austraila we have not been able to wear wrist watches for ages,( for the obvious scrub to the elbow wash ) but 3 years ago they banned all rings even wedding bands as they say bacteria breed underneath the rings and most people do not remove their rings every hand wash and dry under them.

Motillium and Maxolon are often prescribed to increase prolactin level in the NICU where I work. We also Advicate fennel seed tea and Fernugreek as stimulators of milk production......all have been proven to work.....but the best thing is to express after a feed, and get up in the night and express. Many new mums prefer to sleep and have the Bub bottled overnight in the nursery....who wouldn't ! Breast feeding takes time to establish and society has made mothers anxious about milk volume and neglected to inform them of the 6weeks of work it takes to get it all together. We have a high rate of Elderly primi in the Private system 1st bub at 38 and the hormones are just not happening as they do in your 20's so they need to work at it.

This is a not uncommon situation. I have seen this many times before, but the terror that you are refering to is like a lady we had who was in a concentration camp, and had her pregnacny treminated by a camp Dr, and was also repetedly raped during her time in the camp. We obtained this information from her family. We had a very difficuilt time with her and tried everything...even down to a shower/bath every 3 days, and also had the issues of over sedation as she was a walker. We have had good results with a drug called Kalma...or Xanax...I do not know if you have it in the US but it takes effect in 30 min and has a 3-4 hour half life. It has not irradicated the fear she has but has made her more compliant and she will listen to your explanations . Best of luck

renerian, Some recruiting places will pay for your visa over and be your sponsors. Have a look in the NRB web site and you may find one that recruits for that hospital. I have seen the hospital but I have not worked there. Coffs harbour is a lovley place but I hear that it is very hard to get work there as all the RN's from QLD travel to the Coff's hospitals as the pay rate is much less in QLD then NSW. It may have changed now as we have this shortage. RN from Oz

Aussienurse2, Thanks for your suggestions. I work on an acute care surgical unit where we do have alot of long stay patients, but it is a country hospital and needs to under go accreditation. With our small budget I cannnot justify these bag baths ! we could afford another staff member for the cost of them. How do they work out in aged care ? We already use the J&J products. Thanks Rn from Oz

renerian, In NSW we do a 3 year degree for Rn's .....But if you are from overseas and are a recognised Rn in that country, they will get you to do a refresher type of course and register you with the Nurses registration Board in Aust. Thinking of joining us ? RN from Oz

Thanks renerian those are great....we are doing staff ones but Orientation is one we have not looked at !....and most important to the retention of staff

We are under going acreditation at my hospital and have to start up quailty improvement projects. I'm needing Ideas for research into nursing practice....but it has to be something that you do every day for every patient..... Like we are Trialing one on 2nd daily showering of patients and using the bag bath product on the non shower day....this is supposed to save us time.....It does not, and it costs $3000 a month so we know that is going to fail.:chuckle Any Ideas ?

Over inthe land of Oz we are having Tea tree oil misted through our airconditioning system.......supposedly to remove odour and bacteria, as well as fungi spores....so far it seems to be working.