Dec 22, 2009, 09:02 pm
1) Where do you work (You don't have to answer this if you wish not to) What state are you from, and a brief description of your job title (What area of nursing do you work in etc.)
I WORK IN A QLD PUBLIC HOSPITAL AND MY JOB TITLE IS A REGISTERED NURSE AND I WORK IN A LEVEL 2 INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
2) What are some of the main roles, duties and tasks that you undertake?
GENERAL AND ADVANCED NURSING DUTIES WORKING WITHIN THE COMPENTENCIES/PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED BY NURSING GROUPS AND FACILITIES. SPECIFICALLY IN INTENSIVE CARE THIS INVOLVES LOOKING AFTER 1 PATIENT WHO IS INTUBATED AND VENTILATED AND ATTENDING TO THE TREATMENTS NEEDED SUCH AS ASSISTING DOCTORS WITH PROCEDURES, GENERAL NURSING CARES AND MEDICATIONS/FLUIDS. ALSO TEACHING NEW STAFF AND STUDENTS IS PART OF OUR JOB DESCRIPTION.
3) What kind of education and training did you need to become a nurse (Did you go to tafe or uni and if so for how long?)
3 YEAR FULL TIME UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AT A UNIVERSITY ACCREDITED WITH THE QLD NURSING COUNCIL
4) How does this job have an effect on your lifestyle (eg, nightshifts or remote locations etc)
I DO SHIFT WORK WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF DAY, EVENING AND NIGHT SHIFTS AND A COMBINATION OF 8 & 12 HOUR SHIFTS INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
5) What kind of skills or abilities do you think someone needs to become a nurse?
VERY GOOD PEOPLE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, A GOOD WORK ETHIC AND THE WANTING TO HELP PEOPLE GET BETTER AND A GENIUINE INTEREST IN CARING FOR THE ILL.
6) What are your work and pay conditions like (How many hours do you work roughly per week and what is the average salary for your job description.)
I WORK 32HRS A WEEK AS I AM ALSO STUDYING A POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE AND AS A 3RD YEAR LEVEL 1 RN I EARN APPROXIMETELY $1600 A FORTNIGHT AFTER TAX AND HECS PAYMENTS. MY WORK CONDITIONS ARE EXCELLENT, MY FELLOW NURSES AND MANAGAMENT AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS MAKE A FANTASTIC TEAM IN THE ICU AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUPPORTS FOR STAFF INCLUDING EDUCATION, COUNSELLING ETC.
7) What do you like about your job? What do you dislike about your job?
I ENJOY WORKING IN INTENSIVE CARE AND BEING PART OF A TEAM WHO HELPS PATIENTS GO FROM KNOCKING ON DEATHS DOOR TO WALKING OUT THE FRONT DOOR. I ALSO ENJOY LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND EXPANDING MY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN A SPECIALIST FIELD. I ENJOY THE PATIENT INTERACTION (WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER INTUBATED) AND WORKING WITH OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
8) What is your uniform like, and are their certain health and safety issues you have to be aware of daily?
I HAVE 2 UNIFORM OPTIONS- THE STANDARD QLD HEALTH NURSE UNIFORM (BLUE & GREEN FLORAL BLOUSE WITH NAVY SKIRT OR TROUSERS) OR HAVE THE OPTION OF WEARING INTENSIVE CARE SPECIFIC PURPLE SCRUBS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES, MAINLY INFECTION CONTROL AND IDENTIFYING FAULTY EQUIPMENT ETC AND REPORTING HAZARDS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND BEING EXPOSED TO BODILY FLUIDS INCREASES MY RISK OF INFECTION SO THINGS SUCH AS NEEDLE SAFETY AND DISPOSING OF RUBBISH/WASTE IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACES IS VITAL.
9) Why did you choose this as a career? Was it a hard industry for you to get into?
AFTER HAVING MY GRANDMOTHER DIE IN HOSPITAL WHEN I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WATCHING THE EXCELLENT CARE SHE RECIEVED BY THE NURSING STAFF I DECIDED THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I SECURED A JOB STRAIGHT AFTER UNIVERSITY AND HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE GETTING INTO THE AREA OF ICU. THE INDUSTRY IS REACHING OUT FOR MORE STAFF AND I DONT BELIEVE IT IS A HARD INDUSTRY TO GET INTO
10) What motivates you to do what you do?
NURSING ILL PATIENTS BACK TO GOOD HEALTH IS AN EXTREMELY SATISFYING JOB AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DAYS THAT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN TO HELL AND BACK ITS THE MOMENTS LIKE THAT THAT MOTIVATE YOU TO KEEP GOING. UNFORTUNETELY DEATH IS SOMETHING ALL NURSES MUST DEAL WITH AND THIS CAN BE DIFFICULT BUT WHEN A DYING PATIENTS FAMILY THANKS YOU FOR ALL THE CARE YOU HAVE GIVEN ITS A GREAT FEELING TO KNOW YOU HAVE HELPED A DYING PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILY. THEN THERE ARE THE MOMENTS WHEN A PATIENT STARTS HAVING MULTIPLE CARDIAC ARRESTS AND YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DIE WALKS OUT OF HOSPITAL A FEW MONTHS LATER, ITS GREAT TO KNOW YOU HELPED SAVE THEIR LIFE, WHICH IS THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE SOMEONE IN MY OPINION.
