Nurses are at the heart of our health system – caring for lives, families, and communities every day.
Today, 12 May, Northern Health proudly celebrates International Nurses Day.
In line with this year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” we’re sharing reflections from Milly Frezghi, Clozapine and Physical Health Nurse Coordinator, Mernda Community Mental Health and Noogal Clinic, Northern Health.
Q: What does International Nurses Day mean to you?
A: International nurses’ day means a lot to me. For centuries, nurses have been the most caring, compassionate and kind human beings on Earth, even through wars, plagues and human devastations. It has been nurses who have been there for all humans, no race, politics nor religion being a barrier to care for vulnerable people, only pure humanity. This is not something you learn but innate within each person who choose to become a nurse. I have worked and still work with some amazing, kind and compassionate nurses. These nurses go above and beyond to care for their consumers. While we have chosen the profession and get paid to do our job, pay is not the main reason nurses chose the field. It is rather the satisfaction that nurses get from witnessing patients improve physically and mentally, by being there for them through the most difficult time of their lives, at times even through their last breath. The experience is priceless and difficult to explain unless you have been there.
Q: What motivated you to choose a career in nursing?
A: When I migrated to Australia on my own at the age of 21, I had to choose an education pathway that will allow me and my family to migrate permanently. My father had instilled in me the importance of education, especially as a female. I initially enrolled in Bachelor of Nursing and moved into the new Psychiatric Nursing degree at Deakin University. I was very intrigued by the course and naturally gravitated towards psychiatric nursing, especially being raised during war in my hometown, and witnessing trauma and mental illness.
Q: Can you walk us through your professional journey in nursing?
A: I started my Bachelor of Psychiatric nursing at Deakin University in 1991 and graduated in 1993, following which I was accepted into the Gradate program at Northeastern Metropolitan Psychiatric services. I completed rotations in various areas, such as rehab, geriatrics, admission and acute as well as speciality units. I gravitated towards inpatient psychiatry, working with the most acutely unwell patients. I worked in acute setting for many years, including while raising two children and doing 14 years of night shift to balance my career and duties as a mother.
I have worked with many experienced and competent senior nurses throughout my career. I have worked across various roles in Northern Health since its opening in 1998. In 2012, my then Nurse Unit Manager Gary Ennis, who is our current Director of Nursing (Mental Health), encouraged me to apply for the Clinical Nurse Unit Manager (CNUM) role as he believed in my capability to be a future leader of the ward. After five years as a CNUM, I felt I needed a change and moved to Emergency Mental Health and worked at the emergency department (ED), including PACER, until 2020. When COVID happened, working in ED became exceptionally challenging physically and emotionally. Being inspired by my colleagues in the community mental health setting, I decided to explore a career there. I joined Noogal clinic as the Senior Nurse before moving into the Clozapine and Physical Health Nurse Coordinator role. I love my job as I feel I have been part of many consumers’ lives, from their acute to community journey. It cannot get better than this!
Q: Is there a patient story or moment of care that has left a lasting impact on your heart?
A: When I was in my graduate nursing program, I was working in Mother/Baby and Mood Disorder Unit (speciality ward). My role was to look after new mothers experiencing post-natal depression. I remember a very young mother with twin boys, who was struggling with grief of losing her own mother and had become severely depressed. I was not only looking after her but her babies as well, as she was not able to bond with them. After a few weeks of supporting her through electro-convulsive therapy to treat her depression, she started to hold and feed her babies. I still remember the day she walked out of the ward with a smile on her face, in the company of her family. We all hugged and cried in happiness. I will never forget this experience as it made me realise the level of compassion and care we as nurses have for our vulnerable patients with mental illness.
Q: What message would you like to share with your fellow nursing colleagues?
A: Nursing is not an easy profession; it is challenging and exhausting but also very rewarding. So, no matter how difficult it gets, please remain kind at all times.