Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary
The last couple of weeks have certainly been very busy. While we learn to live with COVID and directions change I would remind every staff member to continue to look after yourselves and your family. While we seem to be existing within a new “normal”, as we continue to traverse the issues that COVID has and will continue to cause, we are also heading into what is historically our busiest time of the year.
I would strongly encourage you to have a flu vaccination this year and also continue to maintain vigilance in the COVID space. Please follow the health directions as we are advised. The EOCs in Metro North continue to keep us informed and I would recommend you read the regular messaging and attend the vidcasts where the Metro North executive aim to provide the most up to date information.
Thursday 5 May 2022 is International Day of the Midwife. This is a wonderful day to celebrate the amazing contribution of our midwives in the health service. I would also not only call out all of our midwives in Metro North but a very special salutation to our Ngarrama midwives. While we care for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums, babies and families in every one of our maternity services, Ngarrama is a service unique to the provision of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. A big congratulations and thank you to every one of our midwives for your special day!
To that end, 5 May marks the commencement of what I hope may become an annual event in Metro North. If not in the current format, certainly an event which I believe this year is unique to our health service.
Commencing on Thursday 5 May, I will be in the front foyer of RBWH walking on a treadmill to raise funds for Metro North Nursing and Midwifery. I will be walking, with some help from some of our senior nursing colleagues, the equivalent of a shift each at 6 of our sites in Metro North. Senior nursing colleagues will provide me with meal relief and comfort breaks. On the 9th I will be in STARS, the 10th at Redcliffe Hospital, the 11th at Caboolture Hospital, the 12th at TPCH and 13th at COH.
Please come and talk to me. I am looking forward to strolling along and talking to my tribes… I don’t particularly want to talk to myself, I do that enough! Do not be a stranger, regardless of whether you intend to donate or not I would love to chat and spend some time with you.
The 12th is International Nurses Day and it is the day for all nurses. Clearly, I can only be in one place at one time, but I am hopeful that during the week you will take time to acknowledge the wonderful work you all do each and every day. I know that each directorate has some wonderful celebrations. Enjoy them, give yourself a great big pat on the back and acknowledge your colleagues. You are all amazing.
With regard to the walk, please visit the website to see what is happening, where I will be and how you can contribute. You are also welcome to share the link with friends and colleagues. Funds raised will go via the RBWH Foundation – Professor Joan Webster, Nursing and Midwifery Research Award Fund, and The Common Good (TPCH) Megan Lowe Fund for Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Education. As we raise funds the money will be available for all nurses and midwives across Metro North through a competitive application process.
In addition, I would love you to consider regular giving to either one or both of these funds. There will be information available on how to do this available at each of the sites on the days of the walk. There are nearly 10,000 nurses and midwives in Metro North. If every nurse and midwife donated the equivalent of a cup of coffee every pay cycle we would raise $25,000 a fortnight for each of these funds. Imagine what we could do to provide nursing and midwifery education and research opportunities. I have donated through workplace giving for nearly 30 years. It is easy, comes out of my pay before I even get it and at the end of the year automatically appears on my group certificate! Makes it very easy at tax time.
Every dollar raised during this event is for nursing and midwifery. I am nervous about how my legs will feel after 6 days of walking, but I want you all to know that what I am doing is what is expected of you all each and every day that you come to work. Together we walk with pride, passion and professionalism.
Thank you. #ProudToBeChiefNursing&MidwiferyOfficer
Regards
Alanna