Newsroom

Forget Sherlock Holmes, our social workers are deep in detective work to help their patients and families cope with the challenges that might arise from a hospital stay. 🕵️‍♂️❤️‍🩹

Senior Social Worker Helena works in the ICU, with patients who are in a critical condition, but primarily with their families navigating the next steps for their loved one who may no longer be able to make decisions about their healthcare.

"Often we need to find the most appropriate person to be a patient`s substitute decision maker for healthcare matters, and often the reason patients come in isn`t planned so they don`t have the opportunity to express their wishes to their loved ones," Helena says.

"We use police and past hospital records and investigate whether there`s a pre-existing enduring power of attorney (EPOA), which might require some exploratory phone calls. However, we are also balancing a person`s privacy whilst navigating complex family dynamics.

"Because we are a trauma centre at the RBWH, we got a lot of patients who come from elsewhere outside of our catchment area, so we also provide resources for those who might travel into Brisbane and not think about where they might stay, how they will pay for it or how they will return home if they choose not to stay." ...

"I retired as a beekeeper, my brother and I were doing business out at West Emerald, producing five tonnes of honey a month for Capilano. People always asked me how many stings I would get in a day and I said it depends, whether it`s a good day or a bad day. A bad day might be 150 stings, but it depends what tree they were on. Not everybody can say that they enjoyed their work, but I did, until the health went, I was working seven days a week. Doesn`t matter who it is, I always try to say g`day when people walk past and be outgoing, I may not know their names, but people know my face so they will then stop and talk. The most interesting thing I can tell you is to smile and not let anybody know that they`re hurting you, it doesn`t cost you anything for a smile!"

💭 Monday Mantra, Norman, RBWH Cardiac Care Unit Patient ...

Whilst menopause is something that almost half of the population will experience, it`s a topic that is often underdiscussed. ❤️‍🩹

Caboolture Hospital Pelvic Health Physiotherapist Helen is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Sunshine Coast, and with the support of The Common Good, is exploring experiences of how menopause impacts staff working in healthcare settings.

"There are lots of evidence-based strategies that can be implemented to improve menopausal symptoms. Some of these are based on the pillars of lifestyle medicine - healthy eating, physical activity, mental wellbeing, sleep, healthy relationships and avoiding risky substances - which are all things that we promote and practice in allied health," Helen said.

"I have seen some of the challenges that women have to manage in the workplace particularly in relation to some of the less talked about symptoms of menopause such as bladder urgency or incontinence and I wanted to see if there was a better way to support staff during menopause transition.

"Our project identified that menopause related symptoms are common and bothersome in the workplace for majority of peri and postmenopausal staff at CKW. Only one in ten peri or postmenopausal staff feel women experiencing menopausal symptoms are supported at work."

The next phase of Helen`s research will involve focus groups and workshops at Caboolture Hospital and surrounding Metro North facilities to co-design a solution to support staff with menopause transition. ...

After 45 years of nursing, 30 of those spent in Coronary Care at the RBWH, Registered Nurse Estrella is about to hang up the scrubs for her well-earned retirement! 🥰

Estrella started her nursing career in Saudi Arabia for nine years before moving to Australia with her two children, and she has been working at RBWH in cardiac services since 1997!

"I have mixed emotions, I am excited to retire but I will miss the team here, and they will miss my noodles that I bring in for them!" she laughed.

"I don`t have much planned at the moment, just time to relax and spending time with my grandchildren, hopefully we can go on a trip with the whole family next year to Japan."

#ShoutoutSaturday to Estrella and we wish her all the best in retirement! ...