nurses and midwives in new south wales

Queensland ratios win improve outcomes for nurses and patients

October 30, 2020 by Rayan Calimlim Leave a Comment

Researchers have found sizeable improvements in patient safety and staff satisfaction arising from the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union’s nurse-to-patient ratios win in 2017.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, showed measurable qualitative improvements in both patient and staff outcomes.

For example, researchers found a 12% drop in 30-day mortality rates per reduced patient per nurse where nurse-to-patient ratios were implemented.

The research also found a 15% drop in emotional exhaustion and 14% drop in job dissatisfaction for each reduced patient per nurse.

The implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios also resulted in more consistent staffing levels in the wards where the mandated ratios were present.

The union has continued to campaign for the roll-out of nurse-to-patient ratios in more wards and clinical settings in the lead up to the Queensland State Election on 31 October 2020.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is also campaigning for nurse-to-patient ratios. Support their campaign by signing this NSW Parliament e-petition.

Unionised nursing homes have lower COVID mortality rates

September 25, 2020 by Rayan Calimlim Leave a Comment

The presence of strong labour unions in nursing homes has been shown to have a direct effect on COVID-19 mortality rates.

According to a recent study, the presence of a health care worker union in a nursing home was associated with a 30 percent relative decrease in COVID-19 mortality rate for residents.

The study, which focused on nursing homes in New York state during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, also found that highly unionised nursing homes had lower rates of infection and were significantly less likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks.

Authors Adam Dean, Atheendar Venkataramani and Simeon Kimmel concluded that this had to do with improved access and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) at facilities where unions were stronger.

“Our results suggest that unions may have reduced COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents by successfully demanding PPE for health care workers,” the authors said. “Health care worker unionization may play an important role in ensuring access to appropriate PPE and implementing infection control policies that protect vulnerable nursing home residents.”

Unions in Australia are continuing their campaign for universal access for PPE, to ensure the safety of both workers and the community.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is the industrial union for registered nurses, enrolled nurses and assistants-in-nursing working in the aged care sector. Join today, and help make your workplace safer.

National Pain Week: Nothing about us – without us

July 23, 2018 by Nurse Uncut Editor Leave a Comment

National Pain Week is an annual initiative run by Chronic Pain Australia. This year, the week runs from 23 – 29 July 2018, and seeks to build awareness of the experience of people living with chronic pain.

Chronic pain – pain that doesn’t go away after the injury or illness has resolved and lasts at least three months – is a significant health issue in Australia, with around one in five people of all ages living with this invisible illness. Figures are even more alarming for our older population, with one in three people over 65 years living with chronic pain.

Chronic pain can have significant impact on a person’s ability to work, form relationships, and live an ordinary life. Chronic pain can also have a seriously detrimental effect on the mental health of people living with chronic pain. However, by working with various health practitioners in a long-term approach, people living with chronic pain can start to combat some of the effects it has on their lives and manage their pain the best they can.

National Pain Week is an annual initiative of Chronic Pain Australia, the national voice of people living with chronic pain. The week aims to destigmatise the experiences of people living with chronic pain while also championing the need for the voice of people living with chronic pain to be heard when any related health policy is developed. This year’s theme, ‘Nothing about us – without us’, further highlights this.

WHAT: National Pain Week

WHEN: Monday 23 – Sunday 29 July 2018

INFO: http://www.nationalpainweek.org.au/.

Main Events:

A Q & A Facebook Live event will be held on Tuesday 24th, from 5 – 6pm. on Chronic Pain Australia’s Facebook page. The panel will explore how a multidisciplinary approach to pain management works in practice. The panel will be taking questions from people living with chronic pain and include representatives from health peak bodies. Further details will be provided closer to National Pain Week.

The National Pain Week survey results will be announced at an event in Sydney on Monday 23^rd July 2018. The event will be open to people living with chronic pain, industry colleagues and media. The survey aims to provide a snap shot of what people living with chronic pain are saying about how pain is managed in Australia and what they need from their GPs, pharmacists, federal government and community.

During National Pain Week, people living with chronic pain are encouraged to share their experiences and ideas on the chronic pain forum or on social media using the hashtags #NPW2018, #nationalpainweek, #bebold, #nothingaboutuswithoutus

About Chronic Pain Australia

Chronic Pain Australia is the voice of Australians living with chronic pain. We are a grassroots movement whose membership is comprised of people living with chronic pain across Australia. We help our members by providing high-quality, user-friendly, research-based information and support that puts people living with chronic pain at the centre of our attention. Chronic Pain Australia also works towards de-stigmatising chronic pain in society. De-stigmatising chronic pain saves lives through reducing the social isolation that inherently follows this invisible condition. http://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/index.php

Facts on Chronic Pain:

Chronic pain is arguably Australia and the world’s fastest growing medical condition.
• One in five Australians lives with chronic pain including adolescents and children. This prevalence rises to one in three people over the age of 65.
• One in five GP consultations involve a patient with chronic pain and almost five percent report severe, disabling chronic pain.
• The prevalence of chronic pain is projected to increase as Australia’s population ages – from around 3.2 million in 2007 to 5 million by 2050.
• Chronic pain is pain that doesn’t go away when the injury or illness has resolved – and lasts for longer than 3 months.
• It can be associated with chronic disease or injury e.g. arthritis, lupus, cancer and even ongoing infection post injury.
• Many people live with chronic pain that does not have an obvious explanation in the structures of the body. In these situations, the nervous system and brain play a key role.
• Pain that relates to sensitisation of the nervous system can be particularly problematic. It is invisible and can lead to stigma.