Victorian Nurses Strike 2011

Hi all,

I've been a registered nurse for the last 18 years having worked in the public sector. I've worked in theatre, cardiothoracics, intensive care and at the moment I'm working on the surgical unit. Sometimes I'd rather be stuck in the shed (wouldn't we all?).

As some of you may or may not know we've just commenced industrial action where we are closing 1 in 3 beds. Despite what the Victorian State Government might be saying I thought it might be worthwhile stating that under no circumstances will this action threaten patient safety and welfare. Today we accepted many patients who needed immediate care and reopened beds. The State Government will not tell you we've done this in good faith.

This is not about money, it is about the State Government wanting to abolish mandatory nurse-patient ratios. The ratio is 1 nurse to every 4 patients. The State Government would also like to introduce unskilled workers to look after you. Can you see the paradox here? While we are on strike the State Government are stating that your welfare and safety is at risk however if they get their own way, your welfare and safety would not be guaranteed.

I sincerely hope this action ends soon and both sides can come to an amicable arrangement. Thanks for reading this far and have a good night!

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Originally Posted by sjt

I sincerely hope this action ends soon and both sides can come to an amicable arrangement.

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I hope so too. Not understanding all the issues involved, as the news reporting is always biased, I hope that arbitration will soon settle this dispute.

Closing beds is such a drastic action that, whilst not affecting emergency and current patients, will adversely affect waiting lists.

Waiting lists are not just list of numbers but people in need and any avoidable delay ought to be unacceptable to all parties concerned.

Especially as I may need some further medical treatment soon.


Peter.

Hi Peter,

At the end of the day there i no doubt the intended outcome is to affect waiting lists. I suppose you have to balance this thought, unsavoury as it seems (especially when it affects yourself), with the notion that at the moment you will be well cared for by a professional who has 3, 4, and even 6 years training and is well capable of giving you the best care you could want. I hope you get your treatment soon and if you're at the Austin on 8W ask for me and I'll make sure you get tucked in at night :D

Good luck for all our sakes.
Cheers,
Jim

There was some radio talk just after the Qantas lockout business that letters had been sent out with regards to locking out the nurses - only mentioned for one day here in Qld and then no more.

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Originally Posted by Bob38S

There was some radio talk just after the Qantas lockout business that letters had been sent out with regards to locking out the nurses - only mentioned for one day here in Qld and then no more.

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Imagine the office staff and/or community volunteers having to change drips and colostomy bags to say nothing of the high-tech life support systems.
Cheers,
Jim

You know things are bad when nurses decide to take industrial action....nurses have always treated industrial action as an action of absolute last resort. Employers know this and have taken advantage of this situation for years.

Time also for the public to shake themselves out of the "Florence Nightingale" mindset...a large proportion of the public think all nurses do is empty bed pans and make beds. My wife is a Registered Nurse specialising in palliative care. She has more uni degrees than I have and 25 years of experience both in Japan and here in Australia. Everytime I head off to my GP with a problem my wife already has me diagnosed and tells me exactly what the GP will say before I walk out the door.

Time to pay Nurses what they're worth and address issues such as nurse to patient ratios.

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Originally Posted by jimbur

Imagine the office staff and/or community volunteers having to change drips and colostomy bags to say nothing of the high-tech life support systems.
Cheers,
Jim

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A few weeks ago I was visiting my old man in his NZ nursing home and he managed to bust open his colostomy bag (Im sure he did on purpose just to scare the s**t out of me). The nurses were not around at the time...busy dealing with another patient who'd just had a fall. Luckily my wife who's a registered Nurse was with me and she calmly dealt with the problem in her usual professional manner.

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Originally Posted by sjt

Hi Peter,

At the end of the day there i no doubt the intended outcome is to affect waiting lists. I suppose you have to balance this thought, unsavoury as it seems (especially when it affects yourself), with the notion that at the moment you will be well cared for by a professional who has 3, 4, and even 6 years training and is well capable of giving you the best care you could want. I hope you get your treatment soon and if you're at the Austin on 8W ask for me and I'll make sure you get tucked in at night :D

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Most likely I will get on that ward as I'm a current outpatient at the Austin.

Had a radical prostectamy operation there (recovery on 8 E) followed a year later with radiation treatment combined with testosterone blocking treatment.

On Wednesday week I have an appointment with the Liver clinic as my liver is pushing into my right lung reducing the right lung capacity to 2/3. So I hope the dispute gets settled very quickly for everyone's sake.

When I get more details as to what and when I'll let you know.


Peter.

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Originally Posted by kiwigeo

A few weeks ago I was visiting my old man in his NZ nursing home and he managed to bust open his colostomy bag (Im sure he did on purpose just to scare the s**t out of me). .

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Been there and it's certainly one of those few times when you wish you had a head cold.
A ratio of one to four isn't over-generous these days. Time was when patients stayed in longer recuperating. Now it tends to be in and out as quickly as possible meaning that most patients are at the high care level.
Cheers,
Jim