Whilst working as a food services assistant, Clemente realised he wanted to become a nurse, after being inspired and seeing the work nurses do.

“Besides this, my family members are also nurses, so I studied at RMIT to become an enrolled nurse,” he explains.

After graduating in 2011, Clemente landed his first role at Bundoora Centre as an enrolled nurse on Ward One.

A year later, he got involved with geriatric evaluation management and got offered a management role as a novice coordinator.

“In this role, I advocate for safety of patients and staff, work on orientation for new staff and look after proper care of patients. I’ve also become an OHS coordinator and, at the time, felt that I reached the peak of my current career,” he said.

Being proactive and ambitious led to Clemente continuing his studies to become a registered nurse, and in 2016, he enrolled at Charles Darwin University in an Undergraduate Nursing Program.

“After graduation, I got an offer to join the Graduate Nurse Program at Northern Health and I am looking forward to starting in the cardiology unit in May this year,” he added.

Clemente feels the best side of nursing is achieving the best possible health outcomes for a patient, and developing a connection of trust with the patients, especially in cases where a patient suffers from depression.

Outside of work, Clemente has many creative interests and a huge passion for photography.

He adds that he actively trains at least four times a week at the gym to maintain work/life balance, and loves travelling.

Clemente has exciting plans for the future and, in the next five years, hopes to gain more experience especially in different acute settings.

“I am doing my first rotation in the cardiac ward and I’m hoping to get into the emergency department (ED) on my second rotation. After my graduate rotation, I would like to do a step program to work in ED. I am also looking to do a Cert IV in Assessment and Training to be able to do an educator role, as I love educating student nurses. I plan on doing an Associate Nurse Unit Manager role in the future or eventually work in Hospital In The Home (HITH),” he adds.

Professor Debra Nestel is passionate about simulation and says she just fell into that space, but feels that we all use simulation as play when we are kids, we just call it something different.

“I got exposed to different types of simulation modalities at the Imperial College in London, where I’ve spent 15 years. There, I was in the Department of Surgery where I was exposed to simulation to teach operative and procedural skills,” she explained.

Together with a colleague, they developed a new approach to simulation to help trainers teach procedural skills.

“For example, if you are learning to stitch, you can do that on a piece of simulated flesh, but what we did was put that piece of simulated flesh on one of the live simulated patients. That is how the clinicians started to integrate not only the psycho-motor skills, but also to be able to communicate effectively with a patient,” she added.

She has been in simulation ever since and has built a successful career.

At Northern Health, her presentation focussed on a couple of key points.

“The simulation is complex – people often talk about simulation like it’s one thing, but it’s actually many things. It’s important that we articulate the type of simulation we are talking about and where we are using it. I’m also speaking about healthcare simulation research and the landscape and selecting pieces that are really interesting,” she added.

“The third point I would like to touch on is that evidence also comes in all shapes and forms. There is theory-based evidence, and also experience-based evidence and we should be open to all those types.”

Professor Peter Brooks, Northern Health Research Lead, added this was a great opportunity to hear and learn from Debra’s expertise, as Northern Health has a simulation laboratory which could be used in new and creative ways.

“Besides student training, we could be doing so many other things and that is what Debra would be talking about today,” he said.

He added that he is looking forward to hearing more about doing research from an educational perspective, adding education is not researched enough.

“Debra is one of the world leaders in this area and based in Melbourne, so we are lucky to have her present. I’d say Victoria, as a state, has more simulation expertise than other states and Northern Health is proud to have a really good facility,” he said.

Debra’s presentation at Northern Health’s Centre for Education and Research included a workshop with our staff, during which they presented case studies, followed by a lecture.

Professor Debra Nestel is a Professor of Simulation Education in Health Care at Monash University, and Professor of Surgical Education, University of Melbourne. For over 25 years, she has used simulation as an educational method in the context of health care. Professor Nestel has a particular interest in human-based simulations and is experienced in research and development of several simulation modalities.

Gary Lloyd is the only male midwife at Northern Health. He loves what he does, having chosen this career over many other nursing opportunities and finding he can make a real difference in midwifery.

“During my training, I got exposed to all different areas, like ICU and ED, but eventually I felt that I wanted to specialise and focus on an area,” he explains.

During his time in the ICU, Gary realised that he would like a role where he would have the opportunity to connect with patients and get to know them better.

“After I trained in gynaecology and midwifery I realised I really liked it. Everyone was happy – there were cigars all around and chocolates! Everyone is always grateful for the work that you do, and I really enjoyed it,” he adds.

Gary started at Footscray Hospital in 1992 and for the last three years, Gary has been at Northern Hospital Epping.

“I just get the best vibe here, it’s just a nice place to work,” he said.

Gary says the best part about his job is that it’s not really a job – “I come here to have fun and deliver babies at the same time.”

He adds that he loves the multiculturalism at Northern Health, treating a variety of patients, and the team he works with, as they find time to have fun at work.

His advice to other male midwifes?

“Shave your heads. Because the babies pull your hair!”

“As a male midwife, I try to use humour and win over the dads, and that’s how I win over my patients too,” he explains.

Gary feels this is a great career choice for men who show kindness and empathy and want to take care of others, as well as show cultural sensitivity and respect.

“Sometimes it does take a while, but I do win over my patients, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. What matters to me is that my patients feel comfortable during the delivery,” he adds.

Northern Health is celebrating Nurses and Midwives Week with a range of events and a “Guess the Nurse/Midwife” competition. Head to the ground floor hallway of Northern Hospital (near the lifts) to see the display and win one of three prizes.

On Good Friday, 18 April, Northern Hospital patients and staff were treated to a special visit from the Epping Football and Netball Club (EFNC).

Both senior and junior players, along with committee members, joined forces to deliver Easter chocolates and smiles to patients in the Neonatal Unit, Children’s Ward and Paediatric Emergency Ward, and engage with staff and visitors at the hospital.

Community Engagement Officer/Sponsorship Manager of the club, Belinda Urbani, said EFNC are proud of what they do, both on and off the field.

“Many of our players, both senior and junior, have spent time here at the Northern Hospital, so giving back to the community is very important to us.”

Yvonne Amos, Northern Health Foundation Director, thanked the players and staff for taking the time to visit Northern Hospital.

“Having the Epping Football and Netball Club visit here today has helped to brighten the day of many sick children and our busy staff,” said Ms Amos.

Over 20,000 patients presented to the Northern Hospital Paediatric Emergency Ward last year (Jan – Dec 2018), with over 5,000 admissions to our Neonatal Unit and Children’s Ward.

EFNC would like to thank families who donated chocolates from Auskick, Woolworths Pacific Epping, IGA and Greenbrook.

When Chief Executive, Siva Sivarajah, enquired from Sarah Rexhepi, Quality Coordinator, how she was and if she was busy, she responded saying, “No, I never use the word busy because I don’t like it. We are all here to work – some days can be busy, but not every day, but that’s the first thing that comes out of everyone’s mouth regardless if they are busy or not.” Needless to say, he was impressed by her response. In today’s article, Sarah talks to us about her unique outlook on work, and why she loves her job so much. 

Firstly, what is your coffee order?

Soy mocha!

Can you tell us a bit about your Northern Health journey?

My journey started in 2005 – 2007. I used to work at Bundoora and then I left to become a flight attendant, but it became really hard with the kids and the shifts. A job opportunity came up here for a Cleaner/Team Leader and I became a supervisor and stayed for just under three years. Then I applied for Support Services – when I was successful it was like I won Tattslotto! It was something I really wanted to do! So I became a Quality Coordinator and Trainer.

It’s been a great journey but now I think I’ve found my home, because I’ve got great support here, great management and team in general – and I’m happy to come here every day. My colleagues and I have a good time, and we get a lot of things done – a lot of planning, and kicking a lot of goals.

What do you like most about your role and what do you find most challenging?

I like that I’m respected in my role and I like being part of a team. I’m involved in the team, which is something I’d never had the opportunity to do. I feel like my opinion is valued and it means something. Coming to work every day is really great because I enjoy it – it actually makes me happy coming to work every day because it’s a great group of people.

I get to walk around the hospital all day and meet new people and find out what’s happening, how we can improve and what we need to improve. I get my hands dirty, if we have to fix a machine or move beds – whatever it takes – I’m more than happy to help.

The most challenging part of my role is when people are negative – it’s hard to change attitudes from negative to positive. I think if everyone had a more positive attitude, we would work better. I always talk to people and say we’re lucky to work here, so we have to respect our job and represent the hospital. If we change negatives into positives, everything works.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I come in really early at around 6.15 am and read my emails quickly. Then we do a morning huddle with a few PSA’s and have a chat about what happened yesterday, what we will do today and any news – just a general conversation. After that, I walk around the hospital and go through the wards and see what the other staff are up to, see if anything’s wrong and how we can problem solve it on the spot. In the afternoon, I’ll do more auditing through the hospital. There’s a lot of meetings but it’s good because we try to kick goals with our meetings so we have a percentage of how well we’re doing.

How do you relax after a long shift?

I do have two teenagers, so…relaxing?

I think it’s getting a bit easier as they get older. I’ve gotten my son into Married at First Sight, so we sit together and watch it and I can get him off the Playstation a bit.

Other times, we go to the arcade, play basketball – I’ve got a 13-year old son and a 16-year old daughter – and we catch up with friends or family and just switch off.

What are some things people don’t know about you?

I’m always looking on holiday travel websites, always planning my next holiday. Also, I like to draw and I’m always creating – I used to paint in my younger days. I used to play a lot of sports and still occasionally play tennis.

How would you describe Northern Health in one sentence?

Challenging – the hospital is growing, so there’s a lot of challenges ahead but hopefully we can all make it a better place.

Today, Northern Health launched the 2019 Flu Vaccination Campaign in the Northern Hospital foyer.

Siva Sivarajah, Northern Health Chief Executive, said that anyone can be affected by the flu, that’s why it is so important that everyone in the community protects themselves against the flu this season and takes steps to protect their own health and wellbeing, as well as those around them.

“If we look at the number of staff vaccinated last year, we succeeded in vaccinating over 90% of staff within three weeks of the campaign. That was a record number for Northern Health, and made us third in the state,” he added.

Dr Katharine See, Head of Respiratory Medicine, said that already this year, we are seeing higher than usual numbers of cases of influenza.

“Having the flu shot significantly reduces the risk of you getting flu and is recommended for all members of the community. Northern Health is committed to maintaining the health and wellbeing of our community, and is providing free vaccines to all members of our community,” she added.

Kerryn Asbury, Clinical Nurse Educator at Northern Health, shared a personal story about her husband Trevor, who caught the flu only a couple of weeks ago and had to be admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for treatment.

“We have been told it will likely take another two to three months for Trevor to fully recover and return to work. It’s not just the physical effects of the flu that have impacted Trevor, but the emotional, psychological and financial effects felt by Trevor, myself, our three boys, family and friends,” she added.

Kerryn strongly encourages everyone to get their free flu shot this year.

“My husband was not in the high risk category being a 36 year old fit, healthy man. And yet, he was severely impacted by contracting the flu.”

Pictured above: Chief Executive, Siva Sivarajah and Chief Operating Officer, Jane Poxon.

 

End of life care has been described as an ‘undefined period of time, starting with the recognition that a person has an advanced progressive incurable illness that ends in death’.

Dr Barbara Hayes, Clinical Lead in Advance Care Planning, Northern Health, and winner of the ‘Innovation’ award at the second Northern Health Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards, would like to see greater focus on care during end of life.

“Patients should be able to trust the quality of care they receive at the end of life, as much as they trust the care they receive during their life,” she says.

Barbara has led, and continues to lead, significant improvements in clinical practice associated with end of life care, palliative care and Advance Care Planning. Her aim is to inspire and encourage clinicians to deliver great care for patients nearing the end of their life.

Innovations that she has been involved in at Northern Health are now in use across Victoria and interstate. These include an ethical CPR decision-making framework; Hospital and Residential Aged Care Goals of Care forms; and Northern Health’s Advance Care Planning in 3-steps approach.

Her efforts are supported by research that indicates how real benefits for individuals and communities can result from strengthening society’s awareness and understanding of death, dying, grief, palliative and end of life care. Advance Care Planning is one way to help people become more aware of their mortality and the inherent uncertainty of future health.

Maria Tucker, Divisional Director, Nursing, Cancer Services, who nominated Barbara for the award says, “her tenacity to seek new ways of promoting her areas of passion in end of life care are extraordinary. Reputationally, she proudly represents Northern Health at state and national levels, sharing the best ideas she discovers elsewhere to share with our staff, so that Northern Health patients benefit from her practical and innovative ways of upskilling our workforce in the delivery of great end of life care.”

Sponsored by Maxxia and BankVic, our Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards have been designed to formally recognise outstanding contributions by our employees and celebrate staff excellence. Nominations for the next Awards are now open and will close 1 May 2019. To nominate a staff member click here.

This week, Northern Health welcomes medical professionals from Mongolia as part of a study tour to encourage shared learning.

Guests included the Governor of Umnugobi, Mr N Naranbaatar, heads of health and directors of health for the province, UNFPA representatives and Dr Ganbold, head of Critical Care Medicine and Anaesthiology Department, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences for Mongolia.

Umnugobi is the southernmost province, with a resident population of about 65,000 people, and almost the same number of migrant population due to large-scale mining. Umnugobi has high rates of adolescent birth, sexually transmitted infections, road traffic injuries and mortality.

Due to geographical and other similarities with the Mongolian context, regional health services in Australia offer a good example of health care governance and effective service provision to remote and transient populations.

The purpose of the study tour is to facilitate learning and identify models and approaches to be implemented in the Umnugobi context. It seeks to identify opportunities for shared learning between the two hospitals, as well as develop a plan for possible knowledge and staff exchange to improve capacity and formation of working groups. It also helps to develop and implement areas of mutual interest and or benefit, particularly relating to rural and remote health practices.

The delegation was met by Dr Amanda Baric, who is no stranger to Mongolia, having first visited there in 2005. In 2008, along with Associate Professor David Pescod, Dr Baric was responsible for signing an MOU with the Mongolian government to improve anaesthetic training.

The following year, an 18 month training was first delivered in Mongolia. The training program was developed by A. Prof. Pescod, Dr Baric and other Northern Health anaesthetists. Since 2009, eight groups of 28 to 30 trainees have passed through the program.

“Part of the attraction of coming to work at Northern Hospital is that it has a worldwide reputation of providing education and service in low to middle-income countries,” said A. Prof. Pescod.
Since 2008, a combined MSA/ASA scientific congress (ASC) is held annually in Mongolia. Each year, the team includes at least six doctors from Northern Health.

Dr Baric said it was great seeing Dr Ganbold again and building on the good relationship that Northern Health has with Dr Ganbold and his team.

“It was great to have an opportunity to show the Mongolian team our hospital and how it works. The unit managers of the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Theatre were happy to share the inner workings of our hospital. The visitors were very pleased to learn our model of care and it was a pleasure to be able to share some of our insights into the workings of a busy metropolitan hospital,” said Dr Baric.

Main image shows Dr Ganbold with Dr John Ferguson, Northern Health Chief Medical Officer