Adj. Prof. Alanna Geary, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
Happy International Day of the Midwife!
35 years ago this month I finished my midwifery training at the Royal Women’s Hospital! It is hard to believe it was so long ago and yet it feels like yesterday. I was encouraged to do midwifery by my father who felt that a nurse was not a nurse unless they had a “dual” certificate. While I didn’t agree with him, I certainly did think it might be a fun thing to do, so off I went from the then Royal Brisbane Hospital to the then Royal Women’s Hospital to become a midwife. What an amazing year. It was hard work, long hours and much more study than I anticipated, but, oh, it was so rewarding.
I am forever grateful for my father’s insistence and now as the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer I can legitimise the title. I am so proud of the midwives in Metro North. The care, expertise and support provided to the mothers, babies and families who utilise our services is outstanding. Congratulations to each and every one of you. Some of the initiatives we are working on in Metro North in the midwifery space are the ongoing and much needed attention on the health equity agenda and making sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families have access, choice, and culturally safe care. Let’s work together to continue to achieve outstanding care for all.
Today, I am walking the corridors and floors of Caboolture Hospital. I am so excited to be here and looking forward to talking with as many of you as possible as we celebrate International Day of the Midwife – Together again: from evidence to reality! I am also hoping to visit my Mental Health colleagues!
Next week I will be walking at each of our sites as we head towards International Nurses Day on 12 May. The theme for this day is Our Nurses. Our Future. Please come and say hello and walk with me if you have time. I will be at:
- Redcliffe Hospital – Monday 8 May
- Community and Oral Hospital – 9 May
- The Prince Charles Hospital & Mental Health TPCH – 10 May
- Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service & Mental Health RBWH – 11 May
- Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital – 12 May
If I don’t see you in the next week, please know that this next week is your week! While the 5th and the 12th are our specific days, think of this week as a time to connect with your colleagues, acknowledge the great things we do and think about how we can do them better! We do amazing things every single day but there are always improvements we can make, either to make the pathways and care for our patients/clients and their families better but also to make our roles more rewarding. Be proud of what we do… let’s keep making it better!
Alanna.