Keeping nursing in aged care
As our Because We Care campaign continues to gain momentum across the state, one member shares her thoughts about the importance of keeping nursing in aged care.
Irene McInerney works as an RN at a facility on the Sunshine Coast.
Irene has worked in both the public and private sectors and in many different workplaces and says the differences are drastic.
"Particularly noticeable are differences in staffing levels, workloads and responsibility," she says.
"Staff recruitment and retention is a critical issue in the aged care sector – there are simply not enough nurses to meet the demand for care.
"This in turn has an impact on the morale of staff, with many simply burning out or becoming disillusioned with the sector."
While there are some employers who are committed to improving the situation for their staff, Irene says there are others who expect staff to simply make do.
"There are so many more dynamics and complexities in nursing in aged care now," says Irene.
"As a result our responsibilities have dramatically increased.
"It would be so good if management acknowledged our increasing responsibilities at the coalface through an increase in nursing staff, wages and more respect."
Irene has been working in aged care for 15 years and says it has become increasingly difficult to provide quality nursing care in the face of the current challenges.
"I know that I am making a difference to the lives of residents and that I am a valuable part of the team," she says.
"Looking after our older people is such a unique and rewarding experience.
"That’s why it’s so saddening that we no longer have time to provide the small, caring things, which are often most appreciated by our residents and which we most enjoy giving."
For these reasons Irene says our Because We Care campaign must be successful.
"It’s important for other nurses to be involved in our campaign because they need to know what’s happening in our sector," she says.
"Employers aren’t increasing their staff at the coalface or allocating funding for direct care.
"I believe the number of staff should be directly linked to the needs of residents, which are increasingly complex.
"But with the current situation, where employers don’t have to spend their government funding on direct nursing, it’s the residents who are missing out most.
"This is a desperate situation which we all need to do something about."
In pictures: Because We Care Day of Action
In pictures: Because We Care campaign
Shortcuts: Because We Care about aged care
