Metro North Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alanna Geary has completed a six-facility walking tour to mark International Day of the Midwife (May 5) and International Nurses Day (May 12).
Adjunct Professor Geary plans to walk and meet as many nurses and midwives as possible to say thank you and raise funds to support nursing and midwifery research across Metro North Health.
“Research provides the context for how we work as nurses and midwives,” said Adjunct Professor Geary.
“We put research into clinical practice and ensure that what we are providing is up-to-date, evidence based, and enables us to provide the best possible care for patients who come through our doors.”
Nurses and midwives make up nearly half of the workforce across the Brisbane North district, with close to 9000 nurses and midwives delivering high quality care every day.
“If every nurse in the health service could afford $1 a week, we would raise approximately $9000 a week and over a year that would realise nearly $500,000,” said Adjunct Professor Geary.
“Imagine the research and education grants that we could give out to our high-flying researchers and those committed to professional development.”
Alanna’s challenge is for staff and the general public to match her walking tour efforts by becoming a regular donor.
Celebrating Nurses in Research
This year, we shine a spotlight on Meg Miller, a Clinical Nurse in the RBWH Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and recent recipient of an RBWH Foundation Extraordinary Opportunities Grant. Meg has worked at RBWH since 1994 and has more than 25 years’ experience in ICU nursing.
Meg is leading a Metro North-wide project to implement an in-person and virtual Peer Support Group program for RBWH ICU survivors and their families. The Support Group will use Telehealth technology to reach patients and their families who live regionally.
“I really wanted to give back something to families who have supported loved ones being treated in ICU,” said Meg.
Physical, cognitive, and psychological problems are common among survivors of critical illness and are often associated with a reduced quality of life.
This constellation of physical and psychosocial consequences of critical illness has been termed Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS).
These issues are also seen in the caregivers of survivors (PICS-family). Although some in-ICU strategies to prevent Post-Intensive Care Syndrom have been proposed, current strategies aimed at reducing Post-Intensive Care Syndrome and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome -Family do not eliminate the problem, warranting additional intervention to treat the condition.
“Once a patient leaves the hospital system, their care ends and a lot have come back to us and said they’re lost out in the community and need something to connect to,” said Meg.
“The Support Program provides an ideal opportunity for patients and families to normalise some of their feelings and hopefully move on from the experience and get on with their life.”
Metro North Health operates two quaternary and two regular intensive care units (ICU) with a total of 68 ICU beds. Across the health service, ICUs admit over 5000 patients a year, in addition to a state-wide retrieval service conducted by RBWH and The Prince Charles Hospital.
* Quaternary care refers to a level of highly specialised hospital equipment and expertise that is not available in every hospital. Some types of uncommon diagnostic or surgical procedures are considered quaternary care.
International Day of the Midwife
Each year on May 5th, International Day of the Midwife is a chance to acknowledge and recognise the incredible work and contribution of midwives to maternal and newborn health.
The theme this year is ‘Together again: from evidence to reality’ and honours the efforts of midwives and their associations to action critical evidence like the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 towards meaningful change for their profession and the women and families they care for.
International Nurses Day
International Nurses Day on May 12th marks the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Known as the 'Lady with the Lamp,' and considered as the founder of modern nursing, she still stands as an example of the importance of the profession today.
Each year the International Council of Nurses (ICN) sets a theme for the annual occasion, with 2023 being ‘Our Nurses. Our Future.’
“Together our future depends on every nurse, every voice, to not only be on the front lines of care, but also be on the front lines of change.”,” says ICN President, Dr Pamela Cipriano.
