Meet Jayne, our Nurse Unit Manager from our short stay Dolphin ward. Jayne tells us about how her ward was recognised for how quickly they move patients from the emergency department to a ward and the weightlifting title she held in high school.
What makes your ward and the patients you care for different from other wards?
Although we don’t care for children with complex medical needs, we see patients that are acutely unwell and at what is often a stressful time for the family. The ward is 24 beds. The majority of the patients come in acutely unwell, and within a short period of time you can see an improvement in their health and are sending them home. We see common childhood respiratory illnesses like asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis and croup, as well as other medical conditions such as gastroenteritis, tonsillitis and eczema. We have a great team of nurses, doctors, ward clerks and domestic services who all work together to provide great care for the patients on the ward.
Tell us about your RCH journey. When you joined, the roles you’ve held here:
I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse, and it really wasn’t until I started my nursing career that I knew which type of nursing I wanted to be in. I had an opportunity to come to RCH to complete an eight-month course, thinking I would go back to the country area where I grew up. However, I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else, and 18 years later I’m still here! I started on the general medical ward as a Registered Nurse, furthering my career to be a clinical nurse specialist on this ward before the Short Stay Unit was implemented within the organisation.
I was then held a position of an Associate Unit Manager (AUM) before I was successful in my application as Nurse Unit Manager in 2009. I have had many opportunities within the organisation on working on specific working groups/committees and professional development of my nursing colleagues.
Talk us through what a typical day looks like.
Typically, I start at 7am so I can be available for the night duty staff at the end of their shift as well as be aware of the day-to-day plan of care for the patients in Dolphin. The ward’s main objective is ‘patient flow’, so I work closely with the nursing and medical team to promote timely admission and discharge of patients. Throughout the day, I attend meetings as a representative of the unit as well as the nurse manager group. I help the unit overall, including touching base with all staff on for the day, liaise with the medical teams, oversee the day-to-day running of the ward ensuring that patient safety is maintained at all times.
What is the most rewarding thing about your current role?
The rewarding part for me is seeing patients and their families come in and within a relatively short period of time, they are on the mend and then going home. I also enjoy working alongside inspiring health professionals. I am fortunate enough to have an amazing team of nurses that I get to work with every day, so coming to work is not a chore for me.
What is your favourite RCH memory or achievement?
In 2015, the Dolphin ward received the CEO award for ‘Timely Access’. This was a great achievement for all staff that have worked within the unit to get the recognition of the contribution that they made in moving patients from the emergency department within a timely manner and providing optimal care for their patients.
In five words, tell us what you love you about your work?
The people I work with.
If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and why?
Jimmy Barnes. I admire him for having a positive outlook on life despite his hard upbringing and the resilience that he has shown. He’s one of my favourite singers – down to earth and an all-round nice guy.
How do you relax after a long shift?
Spending time with my family and friends.
Can you tell us something about yourself that your staff might be surprised to learn?
In high school, I was a state weightlifting champion!