Adj. Prof. Alanna Geary, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer

With the festive season upon us, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all nurses and midwives, and of course all of our colleagues in the other health professions, a very safe and happy time. This time of the year is a great time to reflect on what has been achieved, what we have done in our professions and what we can do in 2024 to make our lives and those of our patients better.

I certainly have had a big year, with the last six months of this year spent at Caboolture, Kilcoy & Woodford (CKW) as the Executive Director. Sometimes, stepping out of our comfort zone is a little scary but I can highly recommend it. I have a theory that, as nurses and midwives, it is important to embrace opportunity and take some calculated risks in order to gain experience and also learn new things. What an amazing team at CKW and I am proud to say that we together achieved so much during the time I was there. I would like to thank Tanya Beaumont, Cherie Franks and Christine Burridge, who all acted in the CNMO role while I was absent. While I was having a great experience at CKW, I know that they were doing an incredible job here in Metro North and certainly kept the home fires burning.

Could I just take a moment to remind you all that while the carrying and use of mobile phones in clinical areas is not restricted, please ensure that they are used only for personal emergencies or clinical reasons. I am so very proud of the professionalism of nurses and midwives – but of late we have been hearing comments about staff using mobile phones during work time to access social media, have personal conversations or texting. I totally understand the reasons for carrying phones, but if we could just think about the image we portray to our patients when we access our phones for non-essential reasons. Downtime and during breaks are the right times to undertake personal business.

I look forward to an exciting and fruitful 2024. As many of you know we have been working for a little while now on the QUT/Metro North Academy. This alliance is to bring together, in a meaningful and constructive manner, those things that are important and topical for our professions today. The Academy initiative is not new, but we are hoping that, in 2024 we will refocus our energies on the priorities which we can address to buoy our professional capability and kudos. Gillian Nasato is the Director of Nursing & Midwifery – Research & Academy and she will be leading this work in 2024. I strongly encourage as many of you to become as involved as possible. Similar models to this alliance are well established in the US and UK and we are hoping to “Australianise” it to meet our needs. Your input is valuable and your application for membership will be most welcomed. This is an all-inclusive strategy and membership from all levels of nursing and midwifery staff, from all specialities and all facilities are so important to ensure that we can meet the long-term needs of our wonderful professions.

Christmas for me will be on Boxing Day when my husband and I host our entire family at our house. I love it. As I get older and hopefully wiser, I know that my family are the most precious gifts I have. My beautiful grandchildren are wonderful, my children and their partners are amazing, and my siblings, their partners and families, and of course my mother (don’t tell her that I mentioned her last) are truly incredible. I am a lucky person to have all of that and a great workplace in which to come to every day.

Lastly, I wish you all a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year. Thank you for all you do. Please take some time out to look after you and your loved ones.

Till 2024…stay safe and happy.

Kind regards

Alanna.