Transcript of: Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2020.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Hello and welcome to a very different awards ceremony in an environment that's quite a change to what we've known before, usually we'd be together with special guests and colleagues to acknowledge some outstanding people and to celebrate our professions.
And this year, we'll still hear from the Minister for Health, Brad Hazard, the Secretary of NSW Health, Elizabeth Koff and some other special guests, just all in a virtual way, in a safe way.
It also means that for the first time we can come across the state to celebrate together. So there will be talk of challenges which is not surprising considering the year that 2020 has turned out to be. Most importantly even in this virtual format we'll still be celebrating achievement, inspiration and professionalism and what is International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
So it's time to celebrate, I hope that you're going to enjoy the 2020 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: Hello, I am Elise McCarthy-McPhan, a proud Dharug and Bidjigal woman of the Eora Nation. I would like to acknowledge all traditional custodians of the lands in which we as NSW Health staff work in each day.
Our connection to Country is intrinsic, it is our being. It is our connection to our ancestors, our Dreaming.
It is through our connection to Country that we as nurses and midwives, are able to draw on the strength to be the voice for our people.
People who come far, I see all of you. We embrace all of you, we open the door to all of you.
So please walk with me to respect the Elders both past and present, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working within NSW Health today. Please collaborate with us to lead lasting change my people, whose land it is, was, and will always be. Thank you.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Thank you Elise for that beautiful Acknowledgement of Country. So I too would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the lands in which we meet today, and I pay my respects to Elders past present and emerging and also would like to welcome all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are joining us today in this wonderful celebration.
It's my absolute pleasure to welcome you all to the Excellence in Nursing and Midifrey Awards for 2020. We're streaming the show by the NSW Health website and you'll be able to tweet and post along. Just remember to hashtag #exceptionalcare and hashtag #einma2020.
In a year that has been punctuated by devastating bushfires and floods and a life-changing pandemic you've continued to excel and to respond in ways that showcase nurses and midwives as being agile, resourceful, innovative, unstoppable and at the very centre of our healthcare system. So let's begin the eighth Annual Excellence and Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
We'll meet the finalists and the winners in seven award categories but first, let's pause and reflect on the year that's been.
Jenny, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Milton Ulladulla: During 2020 there's been a lot of trauma. I was involved in the New Year's Eve bushfires that come across really quickly, we saw the smoke and we rushed home and it was basically fighting the bushfire straight away.
Carla, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Shoalhaven District Hospital: The whole sky went black and trees and leaves and everything was going everywhere it was a frightening time. We were like we might come home to nothing.
Michelle, Registered Nurse, Milton Ulladulla Hospital: We had members of staff who were intensely worried about their own families. Ee had other staff that couldn't get home we had the road cut off at either end and we cried compassionately with those that came in covered in smoke that had lost their homes.
Deborah Cameron, Executive Director, Illawarra Shoalhaven: One young nurse down in the Shoalhaven who was at work, and she just asked me where she could get a second uniform from because the only article of clothing she had on was the uniform that she was wearing the night she came to work when the fire just unexpectedly came through and destroyed her entire home. But she was still back at work and just doing what she had to do so it is a bit of a cliche that resilience but nurses and midwives do that.
Phil Minns, Deputy Secretary, NSW Health, Governance, Workplace and Culture: If you think about the last twelve months, it began with the bushfires, we then had a period of flood and then we landed with COVID.
Voice on screen:I also want to remind the community, that this is a long game, it's a team game.
Voice on screen: To stay committed to the public health system, to keep turning up to keep bringing their professionalism, it's been tremendous, it takes courage, it takes commitment.
Melani, Registered Nurse, Milton Ulladulla Hospital: I think what it did ultimately is challenge you to look at your resilience personally. You know, dig deep and find the resources we needed to just have our own resilience.
Carrie Marr, Chief Executive, Clinical Experience Commission: I've also been really pleased to see how people have joined forces. People have worked together in teams who've never been together before. People have used each other in ways they've never used each other before, and that shows a lot of possibility for the future, I think.
The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research: It's great to be here for the Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards. It's my honour to be a part of these very important awards that of course acknowledge and celebrate the immense contributions nurses and midwives of NSW make every year but particularly this year.
As we've just seen, it's been an extraordinary year that has highlighted the compassion, the knowledge, skill humanity of our nurses and midwives. I'd like to acknowledge all of the nurses and midwives who continue to step up in these extraordinary times, we're so appreciative, I am so appreciative for all the nurses and midwives who worked in such diverse clinical environments to provide exceptional care to every person, every time.
Through the show today we will hear from some other people in NSW Health who have worked tirelessly through this unprecedented year and they include Elizabeth Koff, our Secretary, Phil Minns, our Deputy Secretary of People, Culture and Governance and of course Jacqui Cross, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. I'm also delighted that Louisa Hope, the Louisa Hope Fund for Nurses will be here later in the show.
And special thanks to the awards judging panel who had the pleasure and the pain of choosing the 2020 finalists and winners. There are more than 53,000 nurses and midwives caring for patients, families and the community in NSW , I want to offer my personal thanks and congratulations to every nurse and every midwife in NSW for the amazing effort, commitment and courage you've all displayed this year, and I want to thank you for the key role you've played in this world-class healthcare system.
I also want to make sure all of you are out there watching knowing how grateful I am as your Minister, for the professional way you've responded to so much change, so much difficulty, pushing through to provide safe quality care.
The first award today is for Team of the Year, it's an award given to a team who really went above and beyond this year. There were so many amazing team stories amongst the nominees that spoke of collaboration, compassion, person-centred care, no matter what was needed you did it. In a year where teamwork has been fundamental to success, there are three finalists for the 2020 Team of the Year.
Text on screen: Team of the Year.
Tracey Hinke, Team: COVID-19 Assessment Clinical Team, Shellharbour Hospital: As COVID-19 became more within Australia, we knew we needed to get a team together to be able to start testing the community. I think what made the team work so well together was that they were all so innovative. It did become apparent that for COVID-19 testing, one size did not fit all community clients and we needed to be adaptive to make sure that we met the needs of the community in all different areas.
So for us to be a finalist, I think we've done something really special. They really deserve it, to be honest, they really deserve and they're all humbled to be finalists.
Tracey Hurley, Team: Severe Injury Burns Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital In my 15 years on the Burns Unit, I've never seen a busier time than we have seen this year.
So the bushfires first started in November then had the volcano disaster right in the middle. The thing with this as well, is they were coming to work and they were dealing with all of the patients trauma, and then the girls were going home as well and they would have to look at the tv that was also constantly bringing up things like the volcanoes and the bushfires, and even when you go out and see your family and friends they always try and ask you what's going on and you're trying to get away from your work and basically they're dealing with it 24-7. They'll come into work and deal them with it but they're wonderful they were really good.
I'm really excited about our team being nominated for Team of the Year, it's great to be appreciated for the work that we did in that time.
Sally Bristow, Team: Medical 2, The Tweed Hospital: So I think the team's been nominated for the outstanding care that we give our patients, they're willing to change and the programs that we've put in place throughout the Ward to improve patient care.
We still, to this day, we've had patients that come back and bring us little sweets and we've got a banana farmer who brings us boxes of bananas and it's very nice to see the care that we give is recognized by the patients and their family, and I'm just so proud of my team and being acknowledged for this award.
The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research: What a fantastic and inspiring line-up of team finalists. Congratulations to all of you and the winner of our first Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Award for 2020, the Team of the Year is: Shellharbour Hospital's COVID-19 Assessment Clinical Team.
Tracey Hinke, Team: COVID-19 Assessment Clinical Team, Shellharbour Hospital: The team culture was one of particularly of kindness and collaboration. You know they were just so amazing and I'm really proud that I was part of that team.
We created a bond that still exists and I catch up with them when I can because they were all so innovative. So they were always coming to me with ideas of how we can improve processes. Professionally I think they will take away that although it's been difficult and challenging, they know that they can achieve great things.
I'd also like to thank the Director of Nursing, Kerry Shanahan, for giving me the opportunity and having faith in me to lead that team, and I know that the team are going to be so excited to hear that that we've won.
You guys are an amazing team, and wow, look how far you've come, we've outshone the whole of NSW, woo-hoo, go team!
Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health: Thank you to Minister Hazzard, the Minister for Health and Medical Research for kicking off the event with the first award and my warmest congratulations to the Team of the Year. It is fitting perhaps that the winning team is one put together in response to COVID-19.
In this truly extraordinary year, it's been inspiring to witness our nurses and midwives respond to new ways of working, remaining agile and flexible as they've dealt with natural disasters and then COVID-19. Amidst a pandemic and in the year declared International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife by the World Health Organisation, if ever there was a time to put the commitment and compassion of our nurses and midwives on the centre stage it is now.
I thank you all for your continued dedication in ensuring the best possible health care for the people of NSW
I'm here to present Midwife of the Year Award. We all know how important our midwives are to give women, families and babies, the very best possible start to life, now here are some young students from Sydney with some further thoughts on the importance of midwifery.
Text on screen: The McDonald College, Strathfield
Text on screen: What is a Midwife?
McDonald College Strathfield student: When the person is pregnant they get the baby out. They are the person like taking out the stitches.
McDonald College Strathfield student: The stitches?
McDonald College Strathfield student: Oh they take the babies out?
McDonald College Strathfield student: Yeah, yeah they take the babies out.
McDonald College Strathfield student: The babies out, the little bubby.
McDonald College Strathfield student: When a mother is giving birth, a midwife is there to like keep them calm and relaxed.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Midwife is a great person who helps make sure we come into the world safely and my mom's midwife is so amazing that she named me after her.
McDonald College Strathfield student: It's okay, it's okay, we're going to give birth to a beautiful baby.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Doing great
McDonald College Strathfield student: Just breathe.
McDonald College Strathfield student: I's all good
McDonald College Strathfield student: Everything's just going to be fine.
McDonald College Strathfield student: No need to worry about it, everything's going to be just fine.
McDonald College Strathfield student: You're going to be so happy when the baby's in the world with you.
McDonald College Strathfield student: You were very brave.
McDonald College Strathfield student: A midwife would tell someone to push their baby out.
McDonald College Strathfield student: That would be painful.
Text on screen: Would you like another sibling?
McDonald College Strathfield student: I mean it sounds quite nice but I don't want have another annoying problem to deal with
McDonald College Strathfield student: My mum always says no I'm not having another baby, I have andyou that's final.
McDonald College Strathfield student: She'd say no.
McDonald College Strathfield student: She'd be like, sure, definitely I love, she'd say yeah.
Text on screen: What's the best thing about babies?
McDonald College Strathfield student: They're cute, they're adorable, um and you can help them with whatever you need. If you're like bored or something, there's just a baby right next to you to keep you comfortable, and if you're lonely baby, right next to you, done.
Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health: There could very well be some future midwives in there.
And now here are the finalists for the 2020 Midwife of the Year.
Text on screen: Midwife of the Year.
Joanne Blake, Clinical Midwife Specialist, Aboriginal Mothers and Babies Services, Tamworth: When I found out that I was nominated I was yeah, rather excited, but yeah really shocked as well.
What we do as part of the Aboriginal Mothers and Baby Service, we do all the clients' antenatal care, basically from confirmation of pregnancy right through until the babies are eight weeks old. We just don't do the birthing bit at the hospital.
I'll like to be able to help women and families to have the best experience that they can. If i can get women back in the door, that's the most important thing. So as long as the women feel safe to come back and yeah ask the questions and get the answers that they need.
One day when at the front of the clinic, all my babies walked past in their uniforms for school for the first time, so that was pretty good as well.
Jo Masri, Clinical Midwifery Educator, Auburn Hospital: The best part about being a midwife is the relationships and connections that you form with the women that you're caring for and their families.
Well some of the moments where I've felt that I've had the most impact have been moments where I've been caring for women going through pregnancy loss or stillbirth, things like that.
You don't have that same happiness when you leave work, that you feel really good about your day, you've done a really good job, but you can still feel very satisfied in knowing that you've made a difference for that woman in some way shape or form. Hopefully she's still leaving the hospital feeling as though she's had an experience that wasn't made any more difficult or negative by the care that you've given.
Cindy Partridge, Aboriginal Caseload Midwife, Nepean Hospital: I actually was interested in midwifery just coming out of school but I didn't actually know what a midwife was, so it wasn't until I had my own baby that I saw the impact that midwifery had on on me as a mum.
I'm really passionate about Aboriginal midwifery, about making sure that they feel safe, making sure they feel heard and culturally sensitive towards their needs as they birth and as they welcome their new baby into the world. Just seeing them be strong and confident and empowered and just this beautiful bond in this family is just wonderful.
Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health: We just saw three remarkable midwives from Metropolitan and Regional Centres who make women-centred care their absolute priority. This year the winner of the Midwife of the Year Award is Cindy Partridge from Nepean Hospital.
There's a lot of women that look at you in the eyes and say that they can't do it, and I can't do this, I can't do this. Holding the hand and just saying you can do this and you're doing it, is really something that gets me every single time.
Cindy is extremely woman-centred in her care, culturally sensitive and innovative in her approach to providing midwifery care.
It's quite touching reading the nomination. I'd like to thank my boss, Faye Matthews, she's always believed in me and always been so encouraging and so supportive, of course I'd like to thank my husband Jason and my boys Oscar and Will, they sacrifice a lot for me to be on call 24 7.
I'd like to thank my own midwife, Karen Topping, who looked after me for my children and inspired me to become a midwife. I'd like to thank my mum, I couldn't have done what I'm doing now without her. The other caseload midwives that I work with the deadly Aboriginal birth workers at Nepean, the other midwives and staff at Nepean Hospital, you guys are my village and I just love where I work and I love it because of you.
Most importantly I want to thank my amazing clients, because without them I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't have the most amazing, rewarding job that I do.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Congratulations to Midwife of the Year, up next, the Aboriginal Nurse or Midwife of the Year.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Congratulations to our two winners and six finalists so far today. And now it's time to present the Aboriginal Nurse or Midwife of the Year, and I'm delighted to be joined by last year's recipient of this award Elise McCarthy-McPhan.
So Elise, if you think back 12 months ago you were sitting in the auditorium and I'm sure you had a lot of butterflies going, can you tell us a little bit about what it was like when your name was announced.
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: I was absolutely shocked, and it was such a humbling experience to be recognized as a role model, not only within my Aboriginal community, but within NSW Health.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So the last 12 months, I'm sure a lot's changed, maybe you want to share some of those highlights for the last little while.
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: Yes, since being named the Aboriginal Nurse of the Year I was provided many professional development opportunities and it really led to my current role as the Principal Advisor of the Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Strategy at the Ministry of Health
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Who knows where you might end up.
So what might be your piece of advice to the next person who's going to be announced as the winner?
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: I think be proud and be humbled that you've been recognised as a Aboriginal leader within NSW Health, stay resilient, challenge yourself, I always led by each opportunity that I was given meant the more opportunities that I was able to give back to my Aboriginal community. So the work that you're doing is creating sustainable change within NSW Health.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So at least it sounds like the last 12 months has been huge, it had a really positive impact on you but also the people that we're supporting as well, so well done.
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: Thank you.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So now it's time for you to pass the baton on to the winner of this year's award.
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: I'm proud to present the three finalists for the Aboriginal Nurse or Midwife for 2020.
Text on screen: Aboriginal Nurse or Midwife 2020.
Amelia Bolt, Nursing Unit Manager, Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour: To know we're having such a positive impact on people's cancer journeys it's amazing, I have no words for it.
My aspiration for Indigenous care in the coming years and into the future, is to close that gap. Growing up and my Dad being a proud Bundjalung man, he's always worked and done good for other people, he always taught me don't take something for nothing because if we just take the stereotypes and take them on board and we'll be defeated we won't make a difference. One day in the future this won't even be a topic, there will be no disparities, there'll be no gap to close, we'll all just be equal.
Neisha Manning, Registered Midwife, The Maitland Hospital: Passion is definitely a key attribute, you've got to love what you do, and any type of health, any career really, you will succeed in and do really well if you're passionate about it, otherwise it just becomes a painstaking day-to-day. There'll be days that are really hard obviously, but it's about being passionate and reassuring yourself that you are doing the right thing and you are doing a good job.
As an Indigenous midwife, I am fully aware of the comorbidities that affect our people, as we see a time change and the Indigenous face appear within the health setting, we found it's actually quite important being that Indigenous face and being the person that they can go, okay well, one of us is here so it mustn't be too bad, and I'm going to get the care that I deem as culturally safe, that's really important.
Kaarina Paasila, Registered Midwife, Liverpool Hospital - Women's Health Outpatient Unit: There's never been a program you know for our Aboriginal women in the community. In August 2019 I helped start the Aboriginal antenatal model of care, Binya Winyangara in Liverpool Hospital. Biny Winyangara is Darug for pregnant mothers.
And getting this program off the ground I was fighting for my women and that was my main concern, to get this program up and running for their benefit.
It's all about the women and the babies and that's what I was happy about, providing that welcome space, a culturally safe space for our Aboriginal women and their babies.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So three outstanding finalists, wouldn't you agree Elise?
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: Absolutely, you could just see the passion in their stories.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So the winner of the 2020 Aboriginal Nurse or Midwife of the Year is..
Elise McCarthy-McPhan: Amelia Bolt.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: And Amelia is from the Cancer Institute at Coffs Harbour.
Amelia Bolt, Nursing Unit Manager, Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour: It's an amazing feeling for them, that they can feel safe to come to us for their care.
Amelia is compassionate in her nursing care and demonstrates a unique understanding and knowledge of the cancer journey of Aboriginal patients.
It's quite surreal really because it was always my goal to make differences like this to people's lives.
I'd like to thank the many Indigenous women who paved the way for me and men nurses in particular like my dad. Manager Jill, who was really supportive of instigating the Aboriginal liaison role, my community for taking on the help of the role, my colleagues for being open to learning.
And of course my partner Mitchell and my daughters Mahalia and McKinley, I just hope that seeing me here, just this kid from Sawtell on the Mid North Coast, this lets all Indigenous kids know, my children, my daughters know, that they can do whatever they want in life, that anything is possible, we can make a difference and we can inspire our future generations to continue to do the same thing.
The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research: I'm now delighted to present this very important award, The New to Practice Award. A strong and vibrant workforce coming through is vital for the future of our health system. And this year nominations came in for nurses and midwives new to their professions from all across the state, all of them making their mark in our health care system as health professionals.
More than 2,600 new graduates have been recruited across all of our local health districts and networks this year, the biggest intake ever. I'm sure all of them are eager to start their careers and put into practice or their learning and to express their compassion and commitment and exceptional care for each and every patient.
It's especially pleasing to see that about a quarter of these new graduate nurses and midwives will commence in rural and regional locations in NSW. Our new graduates and nurses and midwives new to practice are its future, it's that simple.
You're about to hear from three articulate, passionate and committed young nurses who between them care for children, the elderly, and the vulnerable, and all of them making an impressive early career impact on their patients and their families. Here are this year's finalists for The New to Practice Award.
Text on screen: New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year.
Corey Sclater, Registered Nurse, Prince of Wales Hospital: So six months ago around February, late February, I started working as a registered nurse as part of the transition of practice programs. What i did with my project i just did for patient safety, patient care and just staff safety and stuff like that.
To see the safe clinical handover in practice, my project was astonishing, I never expected it to be recognised like that and I never sort of did it for that reason, and when I did get recognised for it, it sort of made me think about how needed the project was. Everything can do with a little bit of change and it just takes someone to facilitate that change, and especially as a new graduate coming in with a fresh perception. New graduates should understand that they can really make a difference.
Michael Bone, Registered Nurse, Metropolitan and Remand Centre, Silverwater: My experience within the first six months has been frightening but exciting. I recently became a father during this six months as well so I've had to learn how to be a dad and plus a new nurse at the same time, so that's been quite difficult. Sometimes you doubt yourself when you're at work and you think am I doing the right thing, but you know being nominated for this award, I think I'm on the right track.
I've been a tradesman for the past 15 years so what I came into nursing for was a bit of job stability and I looked at nursing I thought oh, that looks pretty fun and pretty easy and then when I actually jumped into nursing I found out it was quite the opposite, it's one of the hardest jobs in the world to do but I'm kind of kicking myself now that I didn't do it earlier.
Alexandra Penn, Registered Nurse, The Children's Hospital Westmead: I've always wanted to work in neonatal. Getting to see the babies come in and they often can come in really really sick, but watching them and watching their parents sort of develop and grow as they get better and as they get closer to going home, is super rewarding.
Being recognised really early, I don't know, makes me excited for everything that's still to come. I love working with patients and families and other nurses, all the things that I can still learn and get really good at, so yeah it makes me excited for everything else still to come.
The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research: Seeing new to practice nurses like these, I know we can all rest assured that the future of nursing and midwifery in NSW looks fantastic and very skillful, we're in safe hands.
In 2020, the winner of the New to Practice Award is: Corey Sclater from the Prince of Wales Hospital.
Corey Sclater, Registered Nurse, Prince of Wales Hospital: I feel like I have changed a lot, not just as a nurse but as a person Through this first six months of my new graduate program.
When you see people get better and see people gain this confidence and independence back in their lives, it's a really beautiful thing to be a part of.
I haven't read this yet so I'm quite excited to actually see what the nomination says. Corey's initiative in developing and implementing this quality improvement activity is to be commended.
I feel very proud of not just myself but the hospital that I work at allowing a new graduate to come in and sort of work with the educators. I feel like I could be a role model for other new graduates. I'm over the moon, words can't describe how happy I am.
First of all I'd like to thank Park Six Acute Aged Care at Prince Wales Hospital, I'd like to thank Cherie Hooker, one of the educators there, Chris as well, one of the other educators, for helping me with the project
I'd also like to thank my parents as well for supporting me all the way through, thanks mum and dad, Jack and Marilyn, thanks Ben, thank you for getting me the job really appreciate it, hope I've done you proud.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Coming up in the show, the Nurse of the Year Awards.
McDonald College Strathfield studentFwi: And the Judith Meppem Leadership Award.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So what makes a great nurse? Well for me it's a few things. Kindness: the ability to be present in the moment with the person that they are caring for. Reflection: Our ability to pause and consider our skills and knowledge, and to bring that to the person at the centre of our care. Support: A nurse or a midwife who can help and encourage all around them to be the best that they can possibly be. And knowledge: To always be learning and finding new ways to share their wisdom with colleagues, and the really important next generation of nurses and midwives.
And for the junior school children for Mcdonald's College in Sydney Stratfield, it's something else again.
Text on screen: What is a Nurse?
McDonald College Strathfield student: Nurses are people in a hospital that helps patients.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Check your temperature, they'll give you medicine and they're very special.
McDonald College Strathfield student: A nurse is a wonderful person who takes care of us when we feel sick or hurt.
McDonald College Strathfield student: I think the nurses are like the most bravest people in the world.
McDonald College Strathfield student: I think they'd have to be very nice to the patients.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Positive, happy.
McDonald College Strathfield student: For sure not clumsy or angry.
McDonald College Strathfield student: They need to be very very resilient.
Text on screen: What does a nurse look like?
McDonald College Strathfield student: I think they normally wear white.
McDonald College Strathfield student: It's normally in a white coat.
McDonald College Strathfield student: I think it's like a green kind of suit.
McDonald College Strathfield student: They wear like a big blue costume sort of thing.
McDonald College Strathfield student: The heartbeat thing around their neck sometimes.
McDonald College Strathfield student: One of those weird white hats.
McDonald College Strathfield student: The little headband thing is where they have like the little plus sign on it.
McDonald College Strathfield student: They always have their hair tied back.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Some people think that there's just only women but can be boys as well.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Anyone can be a nurse except a kid might not be mature enough.
Text on screen: What's the hardest part of being a nurse?
McDonald College Strathfield student: Like the stress and pressure.
McDonald College Strathfield student: If their surgery goes wrong it would be very bad.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Finding my way around the hospital, I'd be like which way do I go?
McDonald College Strathfield student: Staying calm we're seeing gross stuff.
McDonald College Strathfield student: They have to do with blood.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Blood.
McDonald College Strathfield student: You're scared of blood?
McDonald College Strathfield student: Sometimes getting like moles off.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Pus, ew.
McDonald College Strathfield student: I probably would not like to help people like go to the bathroom and stuff like that.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Wipe their butts.
Text on screen: What would a world without nurses be like?
McDonald College Strathfield student: If there weren't any nurses in the world, I don't think that the world would be as good as it is because there wouldn't be that extra help.
McDonald College Strathfield student: It would probably have a lot of sick people and lots of plagues.
McDonald College Strathfield student: If nurses didn't exist then the doctors would be super stressed out.
McDonald College Strathfield student: If I had to say one thing to all the nurses in Australia, what I would say is thank you for all your work that you've done, you're helping other people live a better life and I appreciate that.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So there you have it, the real key insights on nursing.
Choosing the finalists for this year's Nurse of the Year Award was a tough job, and despite the help of an expert panel of judges we simply couldn't narrow it down to three finalists, so here are the five inspirational and outstanding finalists of the Nurse of the Year 2020.
Text on screen: Nurse of the Year.
Anna Law, Clinical Risk and Resource Nurse, Lismore Base Hospital: I love being a nurse, like it's a good job, you know it's physical, you're on your feet which is good, and you're around people. It's not a chore to go to work, like except night shifts.
You never know what's going to happen when you turn up to work every day is a new day. I'm honoured that my colleagues would put this nomination in, it's amazing, I'm gobsmacked.
The end of life project, what i was doing was just looking at what the barriers were for why people weren't getting end of life care, and communication is the main thing. Death literacy is really important, improving death literacy.
When you're doing this job, it's like watching a movie where you see someone that needs a lot of help who doesn't believe in their abilities start working on themselves, and see that they start getting that hope and that influence, but sometimes they might have a couple of steps back but they ultimately achieve their goal, and it's such a great feeling when you see that transformation.
Nikita Donnelly, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Prince of Wales Hospital: I think I was nominated for Nurse of the Year because I'm very passionate about patient safety, you know preventing deterioration during the hospital stay is really what I'm passionate about.
I'll often work tirelessly behind the scenes. In my role currently, I'm putting in strategies and improvement opportunities to prevent that deterioration.
Trish Lemin, Clinical Nurse Consultant: Trauma, Mid North Coast Local Health District: In Emergency Department I quite liked the unexpected, I liked that challenge, I always have.
So I'd been home from the bushfires for only about a week. Because COVID was now developing, there was a lot of Australians caught in Wuhan and they needed to be evacuated and there was a very short turnaround time, so they needed a team to leave the very next day, in fact, they wanted to go me that night so I said yes, didn't have to think about it too long, and with my family support and off I went the next day.
We were there and were there to do one job which was to bring the Australians home.
Pia Lambert, Nursing Unit Manager, Lithgow Community Health Centre: In the last year, there's been lots of challenges both as healthcare professionals and in the broader community. Lithgow was very much affected by the bushfires it was a time that was quite scary for people personally and professionally and then we had COVID-19.
As a team, we'd hardly drawn breath after the bushfires diminished before we were hit with COVID and so my approach was to really encourage the nurses to see themselves as part of the solution.
I might come to work and there might be a family caring for a loved one dying at home, initially they may feel that they can't do it, the wonderful thing about doing a job like mine is that you work with a family and you provide them with the tools and with the support that they need to support their family member and there's just so much job satisfaction in that.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: I'm sure now you can see why we had so much trouble with this award. All those finalists exemplify excellence in nursing, which is why this year we've also chosen two winners.
So the winners of the Nurse of the Year are Patricia Lemin from the Mid North Coast Local Health District and Keiran Preston from Wagga Bay's Hospital.
Trish Lemin, Clinical Nurse Consultant: Trauma, Mid North Coast Local Health District: To have won this Nurse of the Year Award for 2020, I feel very thankful for having a very exciting and fulfilling nursing career over the years.
Trisha's exceptionally strong work ethic, commitment to safety and quality and ability to perform under intense pressure are recognised and sought after within the health and emergency sectors. I feel quite honoured that my Manager and the Director I work under feel that of me.
I'd like to thank a couple of few people, Janette Mills who's my Manager, who is incredibly supportive and always encouraging and Vicki Simpson, our District Director of Nursing, who's an inspiration.
And also my family, my husband and my children, who have only ever been supportive of everything I do.
So the first comment I've got is Keiran is passionate about nursing care, he's always non-judgmental in his interactions with consumers, Keiran's most recognised and appreciate traits is his empathy to others.
Having won this nomination, I think is a surprise to me because there's so many amazing nurses out there, I don't see this award for myself, I see it as award for me and my team.
There's multiple people I'm thankful for to be in this position, I've got a lovely wife, my Managers, my team, the people that we look after, like they've made such an impact to me as I feel I've made to them.
With me winning this award, i hope this inspires more people wanting to work in mental health either as a nurse or other associated roles because it's such a rewarding position.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Up next the Judith Meppem Leadership Award.
McDonald College Strathfield student: And the Healing Heart Award.
Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health: My congratulations to all the finalists and winners so far today, and to all those who are watching today, I want to thank you for your interest and support of our wonderful nurses and midwives.
Our second last award today is the Judith Meppm Leadership Award, the award is named in honour of the first Chief Nurse in NSW, Judith Meppem, whose own leadership and insight helped raise the profile of nursing and midwifery, setting the scene for days like today.
I'm sometimes asked what makes a great leader, there are many things I could say, but I do believe it is someone who can recognise and nurture the potential in others, someone who is able to share their wisdom and knowledge with others and has the ability to inspire teams.
We also asked a group of leaders from across NSW Health to give us their thoughts on leadership especially in times of challenge.
Voice on screen: What makes a great leader?
Carrie Marr, Chief Executive, Clinical Experience Commission: From my perspective, and thinking of the great nursing leaders I've met in my time, I think it's about purpose, vision and the ones that I truly remember, inspiration.
Helen McCarthy, Director Nursing and Midwifery, Royal Hospital for Women: I think it's somebody that's approachable, that's understanding, that's consistent with their actions, and the way that they present themselves.
Karen Tuqiri, Director Nursing and Midwifery, Prince of Wales Hospital: For me, a good leader is around commitment, having courage and they simply care about what they do.
Deborah Cameron, Executive Director, Illawarra Shoalhaven: It's being with their own teams, being seen, I always think a smile, you know regardless of how difficult things can be.
Deborah Wilcox, Chief Executive, Northern Sydney LHD: There's a certain generosity of spirit, a warmth that makes people want to be with them and to work with them, and to be better themselves for them as well as for the work they're doing.
Phil Minns, Deputy Secretary NSW Health, Workplace Governance and Culture: The essence is that you find your own voice, you figure out why I want to lead, what I'd like to say, how I'd like to do it, what I'd like to achieve, and what I'd like to be remembered for.
Deborah Cameron, Executive Director, Illawarra Shoalhaven: My advice is, take opportunities, push yourself, don't just pigeonhole yourself into one area, and be brave, be bold and just take that step.
Carrie Marr, Chief Executive, Clinical Experience Commission: Seek out mentors, seek out coaches, you've got lots of them in NSW Health.
Deborah Wilcox, Chief Executive, Northern Sydney LHD: One person that I deeply admire who I work for a number of years, one day I was going for a job interview and she rang me and she said Willie be yourself, and it was the best advice that I think I've probably been given in my professional life.
Phil Minns, Deputy Secretary NSW Health, Workplace Governance and Culture: Develop that deliberate habit of reflecting on my practice of leadership, not to beat yourself up, no one's perfect, but to see it as, your life as a leader is something that keeps unfolding and you're always going to learn.
Helen McCarthy, Director Nursing and Midwifery, Royal Hospital for Women: I think it's a wonderful thing to be able to recognize such great nurses and midwives that we have within our profession.
Carrie Marr, Chief Executive, Clinical Experience Commission: So I think it's really important that we do this as often as we can, and celebrating not just success in terms of outcomes for our patients, but success for ourselves and for our teams, is actually part of what leadership is all about.
Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health: So now to the finalists for the Judith Meppem Leadership Award 2020.
From public health to emergency disaster response, they are shining examples of health professionals at their best.
Text on screen: Judith Meppem Leadership Award.
Andrew Ingleton, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Communicable Diseases, Public Health Unit, Sydney: So my role in public health is to manage the team, and our role is to respond to notifications of communicable disease, and with the response to COVID we had to surge very quickly, probably almost doubled or tripled in size within the space of a couple of weeks.
What a good leader is, somebody that supports their staff, that encourages their staff to be the best that they can be. As a leadership skill, you've you've got to be resilient, particularly in things like COVID, so I try to be resilient or try to make sure that my staff have got things in place to sort of build on that as well.
I think being nominated, I feel really honoured, it was a real surprise to get the email, I didn't know that my team had nominated me, so yeah, it's amazing.
Lisa Wilson, Nurse Manager, Batemans Bay Hospital: The real threat to Bateman's Bay was on New Year's Eve and the sky changed and it went really, really scary. It went on for days, but my role basically at the end of the day, if I think about it now, was to make sure the patients were cared for in the best possible way, so safety and quality and that the staff were also considered in every way.
We still had our New Year's Eve sips, there was sparkling water, the staff all had a cheer, everyone had a cuddle, and it put a bit of life back into a horrible, horrible day.
Raj Gujraz, Nursing Unit Manger, Fairfield Hospital: Being nominated for the Leadership Award, very, very humble and very thankful to all my team and especially my peers for nominating me.
Back home, like nursing is not a career for male. My dad was a little bit, quite upset when he was like, where are you going with career? You know, it's something very female dominated back home, but when he came here, he got to see how it's completely different. Like you're really helping and making a difference to those patient's life.
I told my parents that I was nominated for the Leadership Award, they were very, very proud of my achievement, but mainly you know, I told them I was featured on the local newspaper, so I cropped that article and sent it back to them and they were very proud, so they printed out, had it framed, showed it to the neighbours, the family and everyone back home.
Monica Dale, District Disaster Manager, Illawarra Shoalhaven: If I had to describe 2020 in three words it would be: unpredictable, frantic and rewarding.
So some of the challenges that I faced as a Disaster Manager in the last 12 months has been the fires that the Shoalhaven experienced, we had the East Coast slow, which there was a lot of flooding, and then the pandemic started and that was probably what was most challenging in the last 12 months.
But I'm proud that I've been nominated, I'm proud that I'm a nurse. You know I've said this before, I'm a third generation nurse, I have a daughter that's a fourth generation nurse, so I'm proud to be a nurse. I think it's the only profession I've ever wanted to do.
Elizabeth Koff, Secretary, NSW Health: The Judith Meppen Leadership award goes to Lisa Wilson from Batemans Bay Hospital.
Lisa Wilson, Nurse Manager, Batemans Bay Hospital: A good leader to me, is open and honest and respectful, respectful workplace.
So during a time of immeasurable fear and loss, the Batemans Bay community turned to their local hospital in need, there they found the unwavering strength and resilience of Lisa as she, the first sentence does hit me because it's not about me, this was about the team and we did look after vulnerable, and we did look after unwell, and stranded people but together we did it as a team not just Lisa.
I'd like to thank the ED team at Batemans Bay Hospital, I'd like to thank Leanne Ovington, who was guiding me from the Emergency Operations Centre and Lisa Kennedy, the General Manager coming in, leaving a hubby at home who'd just had surgery and coming in, Beck O'reilly, the NUM. All of the staff, the ward staff, the ED staff, the staff coming up from Moruya to help us in ED via police escort, and I'd like for them to be standing here with me now, because it's a team effort.
McDonald College Strathfield student: Coming up is the Healing Heart Award, and that sounds like a very nice one doesn't it?
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Everything we do as nurses and midwives is for patients, women, their families and carers, and of course our communities.
As many of you would know, Louisa and her mother survived the terrifying Lindt Cafe Siege in Sydney almost six years ago, and it was a subsequent time spent by being cared for by nurses in hospital that inspired Louisa to ensure something good would come from that experience. In fact my old stamping ground, the Prince of Wales Hospital.
So Louisa, I'd love for you to talk to you a little bit about your story and why you're so passionate about nurses.
Miss Louisa Hope: Well you know Jacqui, after the siege, it was just such an awful thing for our whole country really, that I just felt that we had to get something good out of it. So after having been cared for the nurses, for you know, three months, a long time, and I realized that you know they really were special and deserve to be acknowledged, so we started the Louisa Hope Fund for Nurses at Prince of Wales and it's now also at the Nepean Hospital.
So yes, that's been my absolute joy.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: And look you've been an absolute advocate for nurses and for midwives across the state, and we love having you as our consumer representative.
I think you've been on the panel right from the word go, what are some of the highlights for you around when you're looking for the consumer of the award, what are you looking for?
Miss Louisa Hope: Oh Jacqui, I have to tell you that the consumer award and actually the whole nursing award process is terrifying because you know all of these nurses, they do such incredible things and I'm just a patient you know, but I come and I look for the nurse that brings just that something else, that's something of her own heart or his own heart you know, that makes all the difference when you're lying in the bed and you're totally dependent.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: So thinking back to that time when you're at Prince of Wales Hospital, what would you say would be the top three what were the things that stood out for you around nursing care.
Miss Louisa Hope: Well first of all, I just was astounded at nurses of their professionalism, you know right, they absolutely have their clinical care down pat, they've nailed it, so there was that but also there was that gentle kind of compassion, where they really thought about me and you know, with everything that was going on at the time, they really protected me in lots of ways, but also I have to say Jacqui, that you know, the nurses who came with a bit of a laugh you know, we shared that moment, it was really just lifted the whole thing, so I was grateful for that.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: I think as nurses we find it really hard to talk about what we do, but you've summed it up so beautifully and it's so nice to hear the difference that they made for you during that really difficult time.
Miss Louisa Hope: Thank you.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: On that note, let's meet the finalists for the Healing Heart Award for 2020.
Text on screen: Healing Heart Award.
Jamie Shields, COVID-19 Clinical Nurse Specialist, Royal North Shore Hospital: By being nominated for the Healing Heart Award, I feel really overwhelmed and I just can't believe it to be honest.
In April I was asked to go out to assess an elderly couple, Fred and Julie. So during Fred's six-week stay at Royal North Shore Hospital, I knew that he was alone, his family were unable to visit him due to the COVID-19 virus that he still had, so I knew that doing those small little gestures of just popping in to say hello and making sure that he was all right, and I knew that would probably make him feel more at ease.
So what was just an average day to me being a nurse turned out to be something really special to Fred and his family.
Ange Newtown, Clinical Nurse Specialist Palliative Care, Armidale Hospital: So often we have a plan for birth, which is a normal process, we should also be thinking that it's normal to have a plan for death because that also is a normal process and we need to normalize those discussions.
The fact that this family or this lady has thought to nominate me when she's had such a massive loss is just humbling, really quite humbling. I think palliative care has quite a bad name, so I think the fact that a palliative care nurse has been nominated has been you know, it's quite humbling. And you take it for everybody that you work with. They've all had a part in sort of helping this family.
Mike Smith, Clinical Nurse Consultant, HIV outreach program, Prince of Wales Hospital: To be nominated for the Healing Heart Award for Nursing Excellence is really humbling and amazing and when I found out as a finalist I was trying not to cry in the office because I was that sort of yeah, humbled.
What I've learned in my time as a nurse, the best resource we can have is the person we're working with. He's taught me a huge amount along the way about his life and the challenges, and we've worked through some really challenging issues which have included homelessness, significant physical health problems, mental health challenges, and just adjusting back to living in society after 30 years of jail. And I don't think there's any higher recognition that you can get from work than someone's life that you've helped them to change.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Stories like that remind me of why I'm so incredibly proud of the nurses and midwives of NSW and how important it is for us to all reflect on the impact and the influence that we have on the care that we provide to our patients, their families and to our community.
So Louisa, I'd now like to hand over to you to announce the winner of this year's award.
Miss Louisa Hope: Thank you Jacqui, so now the winner of the Healing Heart Award for 2020 is Mike Smith from the Prince of Wales HIV Outreach Team
Mike Smith, Clinical Nurse Consultant, HIV outreach program, Prince of Wales Hospital: I'm really humbled and honoured to receive the Healing Heart Award for 2020. It's overwhelming but also a very, very proud moment for me.
Mike has helped me to adjust to life after serving 33 years in jail, Mike has never judged me for my crimes and has listened to me and helped me make decisions that have helped me to stay healthy and not return to jail. I can think I'm doing a good job and I can tell everyone I'm doing a good job but when someone who I'm working with tells me I'm doing a good job, I know I am.
And I think finally I'd like to acknowledge my wife Rose, who supports me you know, when the job's good but also when it's tough.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Congratulations to our first ever Healing Heart Award recipient Mike Smith, a nurse who lives and breathes the core values of exceptional care every time. And a huge heartfelt congratulations to all of our winners and finalists for 2020.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: Louisa thank you so much for being here with us today and for being such a strong advocate for our nurses and midwives.
Miss Louisa Hope: Oh Jacqui, my absolute pleasure.
Jacqui Cross, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, NSW Health: And thank you to all of you, for your company, for watching and helping us to celebrate the awards, wherever you happen to be around NSW today.
Most of all I'd like to thank all of the nurses and midwives in NSW for your daily dedication and the difference that you make to patient care. You should all be very proud of the work that you do, how you do it, and why you do it. These awards are for you, so we'll see you next year, and that might even be face to face.
Voice on screen: So under your chair is your nomination form.
Michael Bone, Registered Nurse, Metropolitan and Remand Centre, Silverwater: Do you want me to read this out?
Trish Lemin, Clinical Nurse Consultant: Trauma, Mid North Coast Local Health District: Oh so I've got to read this about me, oh that's hard.
Jamie Shields, COVID-19 Clinical Nurse Specialist, Royal North Shore Hospital: Oh god, I have to read it out loud, what now, oh god, I don't want to read it, I'm going to cry.
Michael Bone, Registered Nurse, Metropolitan and Remand Centre, Silverwater: Michael is a kind genuine person.
Neisha Manning, Registered Midwife, The Maitland Hospital: In conjunction with these traits, Neisha, can't even say my name.
Jo Masri, Clinical Midwifery Educator, Auburn Hospital: She always goes the extra mile to ensure that every woman receives the highest level of care.
Andrew Ingleton, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Communicable Diseases, Public Health Unit, Sydney: He truly leads by example he's the glue that holds this unit together.
Raj Gujraz, Nursing Unit Manger, Fairfield Hospital: He has worked hard to improve the workplace culture.
Pia Lambert, Nursing Unit Manager, Lithgow Community Health Centre: Leading her team with integrity enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.
Anna Law, Clinical Risk and Resource Nurse, Lismore Base Hospital: Her strength of character and acceptance in the face of setbacks is inspirational.
Voice on screen: How do you feel about that?
Andrew Ingleton, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Communicable Diseases, Public Health Unit, Sydney: Um a little bit teary actually.
Monica Dale, District Disaster Manager, Illawarra Shoalhaven: Very humbling actually, it's very humbling.
Kaarina Paasila, Registered Midwife, Liverpool Hospital - Women's Health Outpatient Unit: And I think I'm going to cry again.
Voice on screen: Is it awkward reading about yourself like that?
Nikita Donnelly, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Prince of Wales Hospital: It is, because you think oh that's me.
Alexandra Penn, Registered Nurse, The Children's Hospital Westmead: I wish I'd read this beforehand, I feel like then it wouldn't be quite so dramatic.
