Listers,
I could not believe what was written here! One minute extolling the virtues
of have skilled EN and students to care for clients then how frustrating it
is to provide fragmented care!!
The real world of the politics of health care may be a real shock to some
people but do you mean that by caring for those unfortunate souls afflicted
with admission to hospital following a complicated birth, that it be given
to EN's and students with supervision by midwives on a daily basis!
Heaven's above that would be a real cost saving measure but lets take it
further -why put them into hospital, ... why not expect the family to
struggle with care? I mean to say isn't that government policy now with post
operative clients now. Send them home bedridden so the family can take time
to care for their loved one in the all compassing loving and homely
environment as a cost saving measure!
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Jenny Parratt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 7:44 AM
Subject: Re: Clinician/client ratios in Victoria
>
> There are enough skilled enrolled nurses and students to provide the
> workforce able to care for those women unfortunate enough to be
> admitted antenatally or incur a surgical birth / severe complication
> needing post-partal hospital care. With the primary care midwife
> visiting daily, debriefing and supervising each day's work the
> staffing levels suggested would be more than adequate.
And...
> Fragmented care is very stressful and not satisfying work for anyone
> ... ask any midwife working in a post-natal ward as she flops into
> her chair at home with exhaustion and fustration of not being able to
> give the quality time her patients deserve.
>
Industrially ACMI is not strong and can it afford to have an industrial
component as part of its focus? At the recent QNU conference union
membership figures were given- Australia, the highest employee group that
was unionised was nursing. Beats the most traditional industries yet we also
have the highest non-participation numbers of any group. You may ask why a
predominently female orientated group with such huge numbers are so inept to
even get ratio's right. The Victorian nursing ratio's were raised but it
was pointed out even with ratio's the staff are not there and the Victorian
governments are struggling to meet the ratio's!!
The ratio's given are rubbish! I work in a downsized renovated unit with 19
beds and I know which way the ratio's will be adjusted and it won't be 20!
Acuity can be very different with these patients and what if you were in a
unit of high risk mothers ...can you imagine? Lets not get bogged down with
numbers, lets look at the care these families deserve.
I'm using the terms nursing/midwifery together which will offend some
listers. Lets keep the debate about giving women choices with their birth
experience. Some want all the drugs, an obstetrician others don't. Who has
the right to say one system is better over another? WHO organisation gives
us basis in showing midwives are best for primary care givers of normal
birth. Are we to ignore the other section, those who have high risk issues
or complications?
Hospital based midwives also care and are in the majority. Who is caring for
them?
Just my few cents worth
Barb
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