August 17, 2022
  • Homepage
  • Social Justice & Action
  • Climate Change and Environment
  • Community Campaigns
  • Member Stories
  • Home
    • Latest News
    • Featured News
    • Editorial
    • Lamp Archive
    • Lamp 2022
  • Professional Issues
    • Research
    • Education
    • Career
    • Registration
    • Students
    • Public Health
  • Specialities
    • Mental Health
    • Aged Care
    • Midwifery
    • Emergency
    • Drug and Alcohol
    • General
  • Workplace Issues
    • Ask Shaye
    • Workplace News
    • Unions
  • Social Justice & Action
    • Climate Change and Environment
    • Community Campaigns
    • Member Stories
    • Share Your Story
  • Life
    • Work
    • Offers
    • Travel
  • Conferences, Scholarships & Research
    • Jobs

Top Advertisment

Member Stories

Social Justice & Action / Member Stories

Making our voices heard is how we win

Lamp Editorial Team
|
August 6, 2021

There were tears in my eyes as I stood against the tree outside Wyong Hospital during the recent strike, joining in the chants about ratios: “Four on the floor! Three in ED!” while listening to the honks of the horns from the community as they drive by.

The issue of safe staffing ratios is so important.

The emotional stress is a killer for nurses, as well as the impact on our patients.  We are simply too busy with the current ratios.

Looking around me I notice I am the only old nurse here. So many older nurses have gone.

I reminisce about standing outside Bankstown Hospital with a placard shouting “Pay nurses a living wage!” during the strikes in the ’80s. I remember how poorly paid we were then. I had been paid more as a teenager taking phone orders at a liquor company in the ’70s.

The camaraderie and support from the community was amazing.

I think of all the improvements nurses have brought about by being proactive and making our voices heard. Wins like maternity leave, patient-centred care, and the no-lift policy especially.

We need to get the community behind us now! Get out there! Let them know that because of these ratios the nurses are overwhelmed. Take the fight to the people and they will support us as they have before.

Politicians react to voter pressure and this creates results. Nurses unite and fight for our ratio right!

Gail Rollinson, RN

Related Posts

Not Enough Respect Shown To ENs

4 years ago

Julie Page: our July Nurse of the Month

2 years ago

‘Our families miss us’

15 days ago

Middle Advertisment

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Reader Interactions

Cancel reply

Advertisement Area Single Article

COVID-19 Information

  • Public health employees
  • Private health employees
  • Aged Care information
  • Student information
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Trending

  • Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases – NSW Health Policy Directive update under Public Health
  • Didn’t get a new grad offer? Here’s what you can do! under Students
  • What you need to know about the NSW government’s Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme under Public Health
  • How to do well in an AIN interview under Students
  • Public health employee information for COVID-19 under COVID-19 , Public Health

Footer Content 01





Footer Content 02

The Lamp is the magazine of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association. It is published bi-monthly and mailed to every member of the Association.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Footer Menu 01

About

NSWNMA
Careers
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy

Footer Menu 02

Contact

Contact Us

Footer Menu 03

Advertising

Advertising

Copyright © 2022 NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association. Authorised by B.Holmes, General Secretary, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, 50 O’Dea Avenue Waterloo NSW 2017 Australia.
Design and Development by Slant Agency