Nurse claims their work is not valued

ASSOCIATE nurse manager Fiona Moore has been in the job long enough to remember a time before the nurse to patient ratios, which nurses are pushing so hard to keep, even existed.
Those times were tough.
“I remember not being able to do a good job,” Ms Moore said.
“I was younger, and I didn’t feel I was able to do my job properly – but then when ratios came in, they really made a difference. I was able to care for my patients.”
This week, many nurses around Victoria are taking part in rolling four-hour stoppages to back their stance on issues like ratios, pay and working conditions in the ongoing dispute with the State Government. Casey Hospital, where Ms Moore works, has not yet been included in the stop work action.
Her main concern, like many other nurses, is the nurse to patient ratios and the inclusion of unqualifued nursing assistants being included in those ratios.
“I’ve been nursing for 15 years and love my job,” she said.
“I don’t want to resign – I like going to work every day and making a difference to people’s lives.
“But it feels like our work is undervalued by the government.”
Ms Moore, from Pakenham, said including nursing assistants, who she believed would only receive basic training over a six- week course, would add to the work load of qualified nurses, already under pressure in busy wards.
“Today, we had a really busy day in the ward, and we are all qualified,” she said.
“Most didn’t get a break until later in the day – without keeping those ratios it would make it that much harder.
“And what’s worse than that I’ll be accountable for those assistants under me, it will be my registration on the line if they make a mistake – that’s what’s scary.”
Ms Moore said she didn’t know how long it would take for the government and nurses to come to an agreement.
“It feels like we’re not respected.”