February 2022

Floods, Mudslides and Roadblocks Feb 2022

I live in a gorgeous semi rural village north of the city, a 30-50 minute commute to work depending on time of day. It’s been raining here for days and days culminating this past weekend in the worst flooding event for years , records smashed in my state of QLD, there’s been half a years rainfall in this one weekend.

I was booked to work early shifts Saturday and Sunday. The drive in 6.30am Saturday straightforward first flood I came across was five minutes from the hospital so spun around found an alternate route heading back towards the city which led me eventually to my destination , entered the carpark via the usual way shooshing through a big puddle (which was later to turn into a big flood) traffic lights out but everyone inching forward slowly navigating them politely and safely

Complications

Usually pregnancy is a joyful time but for some women things go wrong and hospital admission is needed.

Separated from family, friends and support network, stuck in hospital, often miles from home, joy is replaced by anxiety and fear

For some women …..

We Are Worth It

I wrote this blog in Feb 2022 in the midst of the pandemic while working in a COVID ward. Around that time my NSW colleagues had taken strike action due to serious concerns about the quality of care they were able to give. Unacceptable nurse:patient ratios and pay inequity the major problems

Now, November 2022 i can sympathise with the plight of NHS nurses in the UK. Underpaid, under- staffed, working mandatory 12 hour shifts, the pandemic was the straw that broke the camels back. Maintaining the sympathy, compassion, resilience and energy needed for this job with those conditions and the UK government ignoring their concerns and requests, seems they’ve no choice but to strike.

There’s a strong sense of purpose in this job, great personal satisfaction can be gained knowing you make a difference, a positive contribution to peoples lives. It’s not for the faint hearted. Emotional strength, unflappability, sympathy, compassion and firm boundaries. A “do no harm, take no shit.” attitude.

Lacking these qualities the job might hurt you or you might inadvertently hurt the very people you’re meant to be caring for.

The business of nursing brings us into the messy swampland of human suffering, illness and death.
Gutkind, Lee, Ed

Working on the wards of a large Australia tertiary hospital means …

Team work , respect and kindness

I’m usually the calm professional at work (on the outside anyway) I’ve only lost my composure once, with an unprofessional bully type colleague.

The older you get, it’s easier to take these people on, call out the behaviour, never comfortable but important to find your voice when someone is taking the piss.

Empathic , tolerant , stoic personalities are targets for abuse in the healthcare setting. Self awareness and personal boundaries are essential.