To celebrate 2019 International Nurses Day Gippsland, Lakes Community Health (GLCH) shone the spotlight on the tireless efforts of nurses.
“International Nurses Day is held every year on May 12th, which is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The event provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the incredible contribution made by our dedicated nurses, who help ensure better health outcomes for our community members,” says Cheryl Bush, Executive Manager of Clinical and Nursing Services at GLCH.
“The nurses at GLCH are professionals with a wealth of skills and knowledge who, collectively, deliver a broad range of expertise,” adds Ms Bush. “They work in all areas of healthcare with a diverse range of clients, in very rewarding although sometimes challenging circumstances, so it’s important to acknowledge and give thanks for the work they do.”
GLCH currently employs around 30 nursing staff, who deliver services from its five community health centres, as well as out in the community and in people’s homes. Many of the nurses have completed post graduate studies or specialised training to enable them to provide advanced nursing services, such as advance care planning, respiratory services, diabetes services, palliative care, dementia, immunisation, lymphoedema, maternal and child health, palliative care, drug and alcohol, assessment and triage, school nurse, women’s health, and wound care.
“Nurses in the community are typically not very good at promoting what they do, which is why the impact of their efforts tend to go unacknowledged; even though they often make a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families” explains Ms Bush. “We encourage everyone in the community to give thanks to a nurse who has taken care of you or a member of your family and let him or her know how much you appreciate their support and expertise.”
GLCH provide nursing services from locations in Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale, Bruthen, Metung and Nowa Nowa, with some services extending throughout East Gippsland. To find out more contact GLCH.
Pictured: Some of the GLCH nursing team: Juana Ford, Zenaida Pendergast, Else Philbey, Peta Bassett, Kathy Dear, Selena van Overdyk, Barbara Phillips, Janie Dent, Amanda Crombie, Fiona Veith, Cheryl Bush (Executive Director of Clinical and Nursing), Julian Goss