27 July 2021
Positivity and persistence paid off for Flinders Medical Centre nurses whose combined actions achieved much needed extra staffing for the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit.
Increasing acuity of patients over the past four years and no extra staffing left CCU nurses fearing that care was being compromised. Staff wellbeing had crashed due to workload stress and the reduction of trained cardiac nurses.
Stress levels were at times so high staff were often left in tears, prompting the nurses’ resolve to finally take action. The next step was to seek guidance from their ANMF (SA Branch) Worksite Representative.
The end result, through negotiations with management, was a big win for the CCU team, with additional staff rostered in the Unit, which has made a massive difference to morale and reduced stress levels.
SALHN implemented an action plan that included a dedicated educator, team huddles to improve communication and staff wellness sessions to support the team.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM paid tribute to the nurses’ “fantastic efforts in working so tirelessly to improve the working conditions and wellbeing of your fellow colleagues’’.
“What you have done is great. We need to see that across the board,’’ Ms Dabars said. “These nurses are an inspiration and an absolute credit to the nursing profession.’’