Karlene Willcocks, Executive Director
Again, we have seen high demand from our community and have spent much of the week on Tier 3.
Tier 3 means that all our non-clinical staff should be focusing on supporting our patient care and flow through our system, our meetings and education are also generally cancelled.
We obviously take care to ensure that we manage this so that staff get crucial education they need to maintain and build their skills and that critical meetings are held with essential staff.
Tier 3 also indicates that we all need to lean in and help each other. Often we are asked to help with care or tasks outside the normal of what we do. For example, we may have patients in areas that are not normally for inpatients use but are safe, such as procedure or treatment rooms. We open the ‘flex areas’ such as on ground floor or use PPW for patients that may need longer stays.
We also may ask medical staff, when they have time, to help in different areas. For example, this week I asked that the paediatric team lean into the Emergency Department to help assess and pull children to the ward early so the emergency team could look after the significant number of patients that were critically unwell. We do not take these decisions lightly and always look at all options and risks.
I really want to thank those of you who have been asked to go outside those normal tasks and responded so positively and supportively, with the patients, families and communities at heart.
Tier 3 also means that many of our teams are working with high workloads. This includes our wards, our medical teams, our Emergency Department and our Satellite Hospital. This impacts more broadly our administration, our operational support team, in fact almost all areas of our system.
I want to thank everyone for once again going above and beyond to provide kind and compassionate care for our community.
This high demand has been felt not only at CKW, but across Metro North, with all our acute sites having periods of Tier 3 this week.
Staff have asked me recently, what is being done to help lessen the heavy load. It’s clear that we can’t continue to do what we’ve always done and we are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve flow. I am keen to continue to showcase these strategies as we move forward but also as always really want to hear your thoughts.
One of the most important things we do is to ensure that patients are cared for in the right place with the right care. While traditionally we have seen that as a hospital emergency department or inpatient bed, this is no longer the case. We have options such as:
Virtual Emergency Department
Murrumba Downs Urgent Care Centre
Virtual Ward
Hospital in the Home
Please make sure you consider these options for your patient and speak to their medical team or the patient about these options.
We also have our amazing Kilcoy Hospital (aerial shot on the right), which is a truly welcoming, calm and healing environment with great Allied Health support, medical coverage and experienced nursing staff who do a wonderful job.
Some families of patients who live west of Caboolture, in areas such as Wamuran or Woodford, have said how they prefer to visit loved ones in Kilcoy rather than coming to Caboolture.
Kilcoy Hospital takes acute patients, maintenance patients and Geriatric Evaluation Medicine (GEM) patients.
We are also going to undertake a facility wide bed audit to truly understand our blockages in the system that prevent our patients’ care progressing. We are aiming to do this within the next month. I look forward to sharing our insights from this as I have to say whilst these processes often highlight what we know, they also often raise issues that we don’t.
We will be looking for staff keen to be involved. If you are interested, contact Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Sam Schefe via email.
I always appreciate your feedback and suggestions on what could make a difference. Please send them via the ‘Ask Karlene’ link below.
Midwifery celebrations
Last Sunday was the International Day of the Midwife. I hope all our wonderful midwives received my email of respect, recognition and gratitude, and that you all had a great day.
Our Nursing and Midwifery Director of Women, Children and Families, Marcia Morris and Midwifery Nurse Educator Chris Holm, attended the International Day of the Midwife event at the University of the Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs.
Marcia presented the CKW maternity model of care and was on-site for the presentation of Caboolture Hospital Midwife of the Year, as voted by USC midwifery students.
Congratulations to the winner Verena Nemetala and finalists Kristy Murray and Alina Fagan. We’ve profiled Verena and Kristy in the message this week with Alina to come soon.
Verena Nemetala – Caboolture Hospital Midwife of the year
Verena works in our core midwifery team and has done for seven years. She is a well-respected member of our staff who is loved by the team and our women.
As Verena reflects her career choice and joy in her job, her modesty, humility and women and family centred approach is so evident, it brings a smile to me.
“Somehow, following high school, I fell into the profession of midwifery without completely understanding the role and the qualities of a midwife.
I grew a passion for midwifery during my student placement at Caboolture Hospital. I learnt that midwives need to be compassionate, resilient, trustworthy, patient and able to work as a team.
At Caboolture Hospital, all midwives were supportive in nurturing and educating me, to become the midwife that I am today.
There was no question about it – I wanted to work here and be part of this team.
The most rewarding part of my role is being able to be the mother’s and family’s trusting midwife in the room, to make sure that they feel safe and heard.
It brings me much joy to see the relief and tears of joy from mothers and partners, when their long-awaited baby comes into the world.
The most important personal value is respect towards my colleagues and every single person I take care of. To show integrity to the profession and continue holistic treatment and support to women, babies and families.”
Kristy Murray – Finalist Caboolture Hospital Midwife of the Year.
Kristy also works in our core midwifery team and has worked at CKW for 10 years, she is a joy to the team.
Kristy is also one of our Clinical Midwifery Clinical Facilitators (CMCF).
As I read Kirsty’s career overview, it made me reflect on the different pathways we come to join healthcare and the true respect Kirsty has for her career and the families she works with – we are so lucky to have the wealth of life experience within our midwifery team.
“I always wanted to work in healthcare but went travelling after I finished school, landed a job at Qantas and stayed there for 15 years.
I went through IVF to start a family and got my twin boys. Following that experience, midwifery was for me.
I was placed at Caboolture Hospital as a student midwife, loved the team and have never left.
I love working with undergraduate students and new graduates. I love my role as one of the CMCFs for Maternity, that brings me a lot of job satisfaction.
I love being there for women during the most vulnerable moments of their lives. It’s a privilege to be there for families as their baby (or babies) are born, it’s a very emotional moment. We have the opportunity and responsibility to make precious memories for the little ones who have passed too soon.
You need to be compassionate and have empathy to be a midwife. It’s important to validate the feelings of your patients, working in partnership with families to ensure they feel heard and listened to.”
International Nurses Day
Sunday 12 March marks Florence Nightingale’s birthday and the day we celebrate another group of our healthcare heroes, our nurses.
Florence’s birthday was long since chosen as the day to celebrate nursing with her lasting impact on the profession and professional standards through changing times. It celebrates the principles she drove in the spirit of compassion and care for patients and their families.
I am extraordinarily proud and feel very privileged to be a Registered Nurse. I started my career as a Voluntary Nurse Aid as part of my Duke of Edinburgh Award when I was 13, progressing to a paid role when I was 15 and never leaving healthcare. I graduated in New Zealand and have worked across New Zealand and in three states in Australia (Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland) through my career.
Every day I work in healthcare I value the privilege that nursing has gilded me – the trust people give to us as nurses to let us in at the best and worst times of their lives, the hardest times of saying goodbye, the challenges of saying hello and the belief they place in us that we will help them navigate their care and needs.
I am obviously in a very different role now but still every day I value and use my nursing knowledge, skills and judgement to do my job and care for our community.
It was so exciting to see 70 nominations across the seven categories of the annual CKW nursing and midwifery awards. What a fantastic way to recognise your colleagues and for those nominated what fantastic recognition of the difference you make to our community and your colleagues.
Earlier today, Sam Schefe announced finalists with winners to be announced at the CKW Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards ceremony on Wednesday (15 May) from 10.30am to 11.30am.
I really encourage you all to attend the ceremony in person if you can to show support to your nursing and midwifery colleagues at the Caboolture Hospital Lecture Theatre or if you cannot attend watch on Teams.
The event is sponsored by QSuper. Thank you for the ongoing support of CKW.
Earlier this week, we also welcomed three local MPs – State Member for Pumicestone Ali King, State Member for Kurwongbah Shane King and State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan – as part of our celebrations for International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.
It was a great turnout and I was glad that some of our new graduates were able to come along during their orientation – thank you.
The local members were very surprised and grateful for the turnout – Shane King, who had bought cupcakes, noted he will bring a lot more next time!
I hope Ward 4A enjoyed the cupcakes kindly delivered by Tania and team to them.
Other celebrations through the CKW Clinical Directorate will include Metro North CNMO Alanna Geary rounding with Nursing Directors at Caboolture Hospital on Monday (13 May) and Acting CKW DOMN Sam Schefe visiting Woodford Corrections Health and Kilcoy Hospital on Thursday (16 May).
It’s also a great time for all of us to say thank you and express appreciation to our nurses, who are here for our patients throughout their journey at all times.
Ask Karlene – Nurse Initiated X-Ray and Pathology
Emily sent an ‘Ask Karlene’ message last week suggesting nurse-initiated x-ray and pathology to assist with flow in the Emergency Department (ED).
I can confirm that the ED has established procedures for nurse-initiated pathology and nurse-initiated x-ray.
Emily’s email highlighted that with lots of new staff and post our move to the new department, it was timely to reinvigorate these processes and the ED leadership and education teams have leant in to work with staff on increasing the utilisation where appropriate, with reminders, education and training.
If you have any further questions, concerns or are unsure on how and where to access this information, contact the ED education team (Tim McMahon and Julie Hannah) who will be happy to assist you.
Thanks Emily, for taking the time to write with your thoughts. I really appreciate the knowledge and expertise of our staff in improving our patient experience, care and access, and our staff enjoyment and safety at work, so please keep your ideas coming.
10,000 Steps Challenge
Competition is heating up with a new CKW leader in the Queensland Health Steps Challenge.
Earlier today, the ‘CKW – 2 legit 2 quit’ team lead by Emily Quilty was leading, approaching 2.7 million steps, Our Pill-grimage almost two million steps, CKW Executive ‘Ctrl+Alt+Elite’ just over one million steps and the Caboolture MOPS team on just over 600,000 steps.
The top performing team in Metro North Health will receive a $5000 professional development / training prize from the Office of the Director-General. Don’t worry if you don’t have a large team, the Director-General’s prize will be chosen on the team average, rather than totals.
There’s still time to sign up, create, or join a team and Get Moving Together. The challenge runs until Friday 31 May.
Key Appointments:
Aleesha Hampson: Nursing Director – Emergency, Kilcoy and Woodford Corrections Health
Following a robust recruitment process, Aleesha Hampson has been permanently appointed the Nursing Director Emergency Department, Kilcoy Hospital, Woodford Corrections Health, Caboolture and Bribie Island Satellite Hospital Minor Injury and Illness Clinic role.
Aleesha has an extensive background in Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, along with well established relationships across our health service and emergency network.
Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Aleesha on her permanent appointment.
Casey McCoist: Emergency Management Coordinator
Casey has been appointed as the CKW Emergency Management Coordinator.
Casey will be responsible for developing, implementing and
administering CKW’s business continuity plans and emergency response such as severe weather.
Many of you may know Casey who worked at CKW previously in an administration role, and she is returning to us after a stint in COH, where she has been working in a similar role in emergency management.
Amanda Jensen: Assistant Nursing Director – Bribie Island Satellite Hospital
Amanda has been appointed to the temporary position of Assistant Nursing Director for the Bribie Island Satellite Hospital, focusing on operationalising the Bribie Island Satellite Hospital.
Amanda is the Nurse Unit Manager of the Minor Injury and Illness Clinic at the Caboolture Hospital Satellite Hospital.
She commenced this role when the Satellite Hospital opened last year and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to our patients and team.
Staff Movements:
Helen Vickery-Smith: Deputy Director Medical Services
Helen has returned to the CKW Deputy Director Medical Services role this week, following maternity leave.
I am sure you will all join with me in congratulating and welcoming these staff to their roles and to our Caboolture team.
Positions Vacant
Clinical Director Paediatric Emergency
Associate Nurse Unit Manager – Paediatric Emergency
Nurse Navigator – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Identified)
Senior House Officer
Registrar / Principal House Officer
Social Worker Advanced – Domestic and Family Violence Specialist
Speech Pathologist Senior
There are also several roles available at Bribie Satellite Hospital:
General Practitioner – Bribie Island Satellite Hospital Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic
Registered Nurse – Day Medical Treatment Unit
Clinical Nurse – Day Medical Treatment Unit
Nurse Navigator Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Satellite Health Hub (Identified)
Senior Project Manager – Commissioning
Out and about
Left (sitting): Charity (Social Work), Stella (OT) Tim (Psychologist). Standing: Jacinta (Acting Pall Care CNC), Hunter (Pall Care AO), Jim (RN – leaving us!), Jonnel (NN), myself, Rosalee (NUM 3C) and Christen (GEM AO). Front row: (from middle) Anuva (RN), Emma (physio), Rosie (A/CN) Dr Siang and Dr Doris.
This week I had the joy of visiting Ward 3C – I was actually invited to Jim’s Farewell. Jim is one of the Registered Nurses that opened our Palliative Care and GEM unit with the team. Jim is off to Ipswich where he has bought a house – what a sad loss for us but what an exciting move for Jim and, in Nurse Unit Manager Rosie Trent’s words, “Caboolture will always be home, come back anytime”.
This was actually a multidisciplinary get together and a shared farewell as some of the junior doctors were also moving to new rotations. It was lovely to see all disciplines mingling over beautiful food and memories. As I have previously said, please invite me to your events I will always try to attend.
What was really lovely was to hear from the team the difference they are making to their patients as a team and their planning towards Palliative Care Week in two weeks’ time from 19-25 May.
I also this week visited Ward 4D and while I arrived on handover, it was great to chat to the amazing nursing team and some nursing students.
I was impressed to be told by the students that they thought they had hit the jackpot and that 4D was the best ward placement ever – one had even been endowed with a Happy Birthday medal that the RN he was partnered with had given him.
Meanwhile, two of the staff, new qualified and just finished their first year, agreed they had hit the jackpot with 4D as their new permanent home.
This was in amongst a really busy day but the team had time to share a yarn with a laugh and joy, this truly shows in this feedback.
I also went to visit Ward 4C and, as I walked in, I met Ferdie who was quick to show me a big smile and tell me that he had had a great day and they were all great!
This was after a busy shift and his colleagues proceeded to tell me that this was always his manner – how wonderful is this for our patients and for team spirit.
I also met Tony, who is acting Cardiac CNC currently, who also reflected a positive vision for great care across cardiac services.
Tony is a leader in the team and really wants to make the unit a great place to work and be cared for.
Although the ward was busy, full and the staff mentioned some challenging patients, what was evident was the calm and happy feel (with friendliness from the ward clerks to the nursing staff) of the environment – well done team.
What a compliment!
To continue celebrating our nursing and midwifery superheroes, here are two great compliments received recently:
‘I was able to see the same midwife, which I really appreciated. She is very experienced and not having to make the trip to get an appointment but just getting to be home and she comes to me was amazing. No stress finding a babysitter for my other children, no travelling with recovery wound and a newborn.’
‘All aspects of care (at Kilcoy Hospital) were very good. The atmosphere was more relaxed and the nursing staff were attentive to all patients, not just my needs. The observation of nurses meeting other patients’ needs, at all hours of the day and night, was reassuring to me.’
Reflection
As we have worked through this week and as I have visited different services, I was reflecting on silos… and how unhelpful they are in healthcare!
Silos are used in agriculture to store fermented feed known as silage. They are used to separate and store bulk quantities of things such as grain, coal etc and I personally think they should stay there.
In health care, while we have specialties with special needs and considerations, working in these silos will not meet our community’s needs.
We really need to lean in and work together to create a safe place of high quality care for all our community from birth, through childhood, to old age.
At CKW, we really are a community service, with our community, for our community, and, as such, while valuing the needs to do the best in each specialty, we also need to lean in to each other, to provide the best experience and care.
I guess my analogy that highlights this… if we do not look after the parents, grandparents and siblings, our children do not have the best experience or healthcare. If we do not look after the children in the first 2000 or even 5000 days, their futures are affected and our future community care needs grow.
While we are all special in our own rights, we are also one team – please look after each other and lean in so we can look after our community.
Other than International Nurses Day, Sunday is another very special day – Mother’s Day – a day we celebrate those very special women in our lives that have often made huge changes to give us our best and support our achievements… and are a large proportion of our workforce.
I want to extend a Happy Mother’s Day wish to all our mothers and a hope that you get to celebrate the role you play not only to your families but also to our community.
Personally, it is a little sad as this week I put my own mother on a plane home.
I am so grateful that after a significant healthcare journey and three years without her being able to travel, we were able to have her stay and she got to properly meet my boys – who adored her.
Quote
“The way to achieve you own success is to be willing to help somebody else.”
Iyanla Vanzant.
Regards,
Karlene.
