HOORAY! Carolyn, your message "hit the spot" for me. I get so sick of midwives in all sitations complaining & playing the victim instead of getting up and doing something! The more the merrier. Cheers, MM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Heartlogic" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2003 1:49 PM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Bullying - doing something about it
> Hmmm, you Barb and Sandra are amazing. Both being active in the union and > doing what needs to be done! How sensible. I had drifted away from the > union idea and hadn't been a member for ages, thinking that the union didn't > have midwifery issues at heart and so was no longer relevant to me. It > never occurred to me to become more active in the union, which would have > been a far better plan I realise now. A position I now realise was the > result of my version of learned helplessness, didn't think I could make a > difference through that pathway. > > It has only been since coming in out of the wilderness (homebirth practice) > and seeing how it is for my colleagues and students, not to mention the > director of nursing who had been sidelined so much from the role of managing > nursing (and midwifery)and who has been subjected to corporate bullying... > grrrr... that I felt moved to do something strategically intelligent instead > of whinging and/or feeling aggrieved (which was VERY tempting and which I am > still seeking to avoid doing :-) > > The position of the Realnurses team on the many complex issues facing our > twin professions also gives me real hope. We can make a difference. > Interesting looking at Victorian facts and stats about ratios for example - > read on if you are interested... > > in solidarity ;-) > > Carolyn Hastie > Council candidate, Realnurses and Midwives team (NSWNA Election June 03) > www.realnurses.net > > I thought you would be interested in what is happening about ratios, so have > included the following information: > > The Realnurses team are committed to delivering mandatory, enforceable nurse > to patient ratios encompassing acuity and safe skill mix. > > This will be done in every sector - not just the public sector > > And this is only the start of our campaign to make nurses work easer, safer > and more enjoyable. > > The Real FACTS about ratios > > Fact: Ratios have seen 2650 nurses return to the public sector in Victoria > > Fact: Victorian universities have seen a 26.5% increase in nursing > enrolments since ratios were introduced > > Fact: Victorian employers argued that they would need between 800 and 1200 > extra nurses, which they claimed would be impossible to get. In fact 2650 > nurses returned > > Fact: In the Victorian ratios case the employer argued that they would > need to close up to 1200 beds. They got the extra nurses despite the global > nursing shortage and the mass bed closures did not eventuate > > Fact: The majority of wards and units in Victoria have now met the ratio > requirements while NSW struggles with a nursing shortage > > Fact: Ratios are now in use in City, Regional and Rural areas of Victoria > > Fact: Ratios are being used successfully in a wide variety of clinical > settings including medical, surgical, ED, midwifery, OT, ICUs, > Rehabilitation, CCUs, Palliative Care and Special Care Nurseries > > Fact: Ratios in Victoria are minimum staffing levels. They also take into > account skill mix and acuity of patients. Agreements have been signed in > some areas to give specific wards higher ratios > > Fact: As part of the ratios case in Victoria, nurses were awarded 3 days > paid professional leave > > Fact: The Judges in the ratios case stated that ratios had to be met > through the employment of permanent nursing staff > > Fact: The Judges ordered the employer to employ an additional 50 FTE CNEs > and an additional 50 FTE CNCs > > Fact: In Victoria ratios have improved roster planning > > Fact: Ratios are enforceable and guarantee nurses appropriate and safe > staffing levels > > Fact: In Victoria, 'Patient Dependency Systems' were tried and discarded > because they were not enforceable and management did not follow them > > Fact: Management in Victoria can no longer keep beds open on a promise that > they will find more nurses later in the shift > > Fact: The Victorian model of ratios has been such a huge success that > models are being introduced in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, > California USA, Massachusetts USA, Maine USA and are being looked at in New > Zealand. > > > ANF Victoria research is showing that ratios are responsible for: > > > 1. Reduction in staff turnover > > 2. Reduction in sick leave > > 3. Improved morale > > 4. Increased graduate confidence because of suitably resourced preceptors > > 5. A decline in workplace injuries > > These facts are from the ANF Victoria website www.anfvic.asn.au and from the > AIRC Victorian ratios decision. Please take the time to check the website > and see for yourself. > > What About NSW > > Professor John Dwyer, Professor of Medicine, University of New South Wales > and Clinical Director of programs for Medicine and Oncology, Prince of Wales > Hospital, said as part of his evidence in the 'Whats a Nurse Worth' case: > > 'Now I know the argument is if we specify the ratio, given the number of > nurses we don't have, we would have to close a lot of beds but the argument > can be put the other way, until tested no one can give the answer'. > > The Realnurses Team say it is time to test the argument. > > He went on to say: > > 'We have heard in Victoria where ratios were introduced the (sic) prophets > of doom who said that would mean a decrease in the number of beds you will > be able to run have been found wanting. Nurses are voting with their feet > and coming back into the system because of ratios. I believe for my sort of > hospital this would be a very important issue.' > > Why has NSW waited for so long for workload management? > > . The Realnurses team are committed to the introduction of nurse to > patient ratios encompassing skill mix and acuity in all sectors > > . The Realnurses team are committed to ratios because they give nurses > mandatory enforceable staffing levels not just a daily dispute system > > . The Realnurses Team are committed to nurse to patient ratios because > dependency systems alone are not working > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
