I can’t help but be saddened by the fact that the Royal Children’s Hospital here in Melbourne have been reduced to a state where they’ve had to go on a silly program like A Current Affair to talk about the nursing shortage & to put to air on Thursday night (October 16th) nothing short of a recruitment campaign. Apparently they are even having a Nurse Recruitment Evening this coming Tuesday at 1830hrs. All I can say is if there is a nursing shortage crisis in Paediatrics it must be everywhere because Paediatrics is perennially one of the most popular nursing fields.
It’s strange to read in the news about massive layoffs in the retail, industry & finance sectors & then to hear of the constant staffing deficits in health care. But the reason is bloody obvious…..nobody wants to do it! Apparently up to ¼ of all trained nurses are not even working in nursing – because it’s too blasted stressful! The government have provided an incentive for them to return to nursing by offering a lump sum of $6,000 – what, approximately a month worth of wages! How about working on improving current conditions instead? My husband & I both had to have a little bit of a laugh when we watched the segment from ACA – how they chose the young nurses to interview, the young & inexperienced – those yet to be jaded by the health care system or ravaged by caregiver strain. I’m sorry but since I’ve had more time on my hands I’ve been observing other people at their jobs & doctors & nurses have it damn tough! At least nurses get to go home after their 8hrs but a lot of doctors out there are working dreadfully long hours & unlike nurses most are not paid by the hour. Sure some are living in the lap of luxury but this would be a minority.
Oh well, I hope the Royal Children’s are successful in their bid to recruit more nurses. Nursing can be very rewarding in some aspects, at least most days you can go home knowing that you have actually done something "good" and "worthwhile". One thing is for sure; if you’re a registered nurse or a doctor you’ll never be short of a job……if you want it!
It’s strange to read in the news about massive layoffs in the retail, industry & finance sectors & then to hear of the constant staffing deficits in health care. But the reason is bloody obvious…..nobody wants to do it! Apparently up to ¼ of all trained nurses are not even working in nursing – because it’s too blasted stressful! The government have provided an incentive for them to return to nursing by offering a lump sum of $6,000 – what, approximately a month worth of wages! How about working on improving current conditions instead? My husband & I both had to have a little bit of a laugh when we watched the segment from ACA – how they chose the young nurses to interview, the young & inexperienced – those yet to be jaded by the health care system or ravaged by caregiver strain. I’m sorry but since I’ve had more time on my hands I’ve been observing other people at their jobs & doctors & nurses have it damn tough! At least nurses get to go home after their 8hrs but a lot of doctors out there are working dreadfully long hours & unlike nurses most are not paid by the hour. Sure some are living in the lap of luxury but this would be a minority.
Oh well, I hope the Royal Children’s are successful in their bid to recruit more nurses. Nursing can be very rewarding in some aspects, at least most days you can go home knowing that you have actually done something "good" and "worthwhile". One thing is for sure; if you’re a registered nurse or a doctor you’ll never be short of a job……if you want it!
No comments:
Post a Comment