Trish O'Hara. Photograph by Chris Hopkins
As we take time to celebrate our professions during International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day, ANMF (Vic Branch) asked members to reflect on the art and joy of nursing and midwifery.
Trish O’Hara
Registered nurse, private practice
What do you love most about nursing?
Nursing is an art and a science. My favourite element of my nursing practice is the blend of the highest level of scientific knowledge and technical skill competencies with the art of individualised patient-centred care that includes the patient’s family or significant other.
What advice would you give to a newer nurse who may be struggling?
Stop and think about the issues that are causing you to struggle.
Is it lack of knowledge and confidence while working in a specialised unit? Is it working in a unit that is understaffed or relying on casual staffing, which impacts on the opportunity for you to deliver safe patient care? Or are you having to work extra shifts, double shifts or long periods without leave?
When you identify the issues that are impacting on your nursing care, seek to address the problems as soon as possible with the nurse unit manager, or speak to your ANMF industrial organiser or the professional officer for your workplace – they will provide wise advice.
What would you say to someone thinking of nursing as a career?
Nursing is not a vocation, it is a profession. A unique profession that not only includes elements of social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy, it allows you to follow a career pathway into many different areas or specialist fields across the country, or the world.
But fundamentally, nursing is about providing care – to the individual patient and to the community.
