Illawarra nursing the fallout

Multiple shortcomings in the state’s health system are leading nurses throughout the Illawarra to abandon the profession in droves.

Between July 2007 and June 2008, 2262 nurses resigned from the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service.

This equates to a rate of 119 per month.

Acting General Secretary of NSW Nursing Association, Judith Kiejda, told the Wollongong and Northern Leader there were a number of reasons for the startling figures, including a difficult six year period when trainees earned their stripes.

“The disillusionment factor comes in when the trainee nurses realise it is a 24/7 job,” Ms Kiejda said.

“They are thrown into a unit to care for six to eight people and there is not enough support so after three or four months they just throw their hands in the air and think: ‘there has to be something better out there than this’.

“They have to get through those six years – and they are tough.”

According to Ms Kiejda, other factors include an ageing population and the need to upskill existing nursing professionals.

She said she believes that the current system is unsustainable.

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said the figures made a mockery of the State Government’s changes to nurse training. According to Ms Skinner, the changes mean Enrolled Nursing Trainees will no longer be able to earn a wage whilst undertaking on-the-job training.

“Anyone wishing to become an Enrolled Nurse will now have to pay around $10,000 to do a year’s vocational course before being able to work in a hospital,” she said.

“This will have a dramatic impact on hospitals in South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service.”