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Dear Anonymous
I've been there done that. I stood alone in a system, stood my
ground in a case seen by the HCC, saw a doctor deregistered for his
actions but paid a hefty price myself. By speaking up I was labelled a
'troublemaker' and had IMMENSE difficulty gaining work in other hospitals, whom
I subsequently realised were playing chinese whispers. Lots of hearsay and
very little of the truth.
Just beware that a hospital may only support you on the
surface, dont expect anything from them that will step outside the boundaries of
keeping the peace. It simply wont happen. Watch for your peers they will often
be supportive at the time but not prepared to go the distance with
you.
Look after yourself. I was very good at bottling things up.
Didnt talk about them because I was in a desert where no-one quite understood
and no-one could say anything constructive. It took four years for me to crack,
and when I eventually did, the year prior to it was one spent in anger and
lashing out at the system/doctors. I didnt pick it for what it was that was
happening to me until small issues became huge and I eventually lost the plot
completely and in the process alienated myself from the system and colleagues.
It's taken me two years to put the pieces back together but now, I'm a stronger
more self aware midwife. However, thoughts of what I went through will still
make me teary , so i put it in a place where I rarely bring it out these
days.
Do your homework. If you want to push changes you'll not
be doing it for your professional well being. You'll be doing for your personal
integrity only. And you'll be doing it for the women.
Talk to the NRB, talk to the HCC, talk to the Nurses Union.
Talk to the ACMI.
There are so many of us out there who understand your feelings
and so many who feel they make not much of a difference anymore. You are not
alone in your immense frustration at the brutalisation of these
women.
There will be light at the end of the tunnel for you. It might
not be prior to your resignation, it might not be next year, but you will learn
and gain strength and wisdom from whatever action you choose to take. I"m
firm believer there is always good that comes from bad.
Good Luck.
Robin
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