Nursing a profession



By Janaki Chellam

The New South Wales Nurses’ Association is one of Australia’s largest unions and its agenda for members is clear – professional recognition, competitive wages, a diverse and varied career path and a chance to make a difference in the lives of patients and communities.

The General Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses’ Association Brett Holmes – a former nurse – says nurses are professionals in their own right and not hand maidens to doctors.

He says the NSWNA is a large and respected organisation committed to championing causes that are not only integral to the nursing profession but also to the healthcare system as a whole.

Current campaigns include lobbying for the introduction of nurse-to-patient ratios in NSW – something that has only been done in a few places in the world. The NSWNA has also been working with the Australia Nursing Federation on the Because We Care campaign designed to get a better deal for aged care patients/residents and staff.

Nurses took their message to Canberra in person but also in the form of signed postcards from nurses and aged care residents from key electorates demanding the Federal Government make aged care a priority in 2010. It paid off. Aged care was a big winner in last week’s Federal Budget.

As well as lobbying for a better deal for nurses, the NSWNA also works to create a professional community where nurses feel connected and supported.

The association publishes a monthly magazine The Lamp, hosts information and news on its public website www.nswnurses.asn.au and also supports a blog ‘Nurse Uncut’ – http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/ – where members can post comments, view videos and discuss issues they feel passionate about.

NSWNA History

The NSWNA was formed in 1931 by two nurses – Evelyn Nowland and a Miss Clancy. Both had attempted to start separate unions but were then brought together by Australian human rights activist Jesse Street to lobby for better wages and conditions for nurses.

Until the NSWNA, nurses had been represented by the Australasian Trained Nurses’ Association (ATNA), which was controlled by doctors.

Over time, the NSW Nurses Association has merged with a number of other organisations including the Trained Mental Nurses’ Association (1945) and the Australasian Trained Nurses’ Association (1972). In 1988 NSWNA created an alliance with the Australian Nursing Federation (1988) to jointly campaign on vital issues for nurses.

As a result, the influence of the NSW Nurse’s Association has grown exponentially.

Professional Achievements

Since the first Award for nurses was achieved in 1936, the NSWNA has continued to win respect and better pay and conditions for nurses including the establishment of Nurses Practitioner positions in NSW – a first for Australia.

Other wins include:

• Greater career opportunities for nurses.
• Professional rates of pay.
• A 38 hour week for nurses.

Over the last 10 years the NSWNA has improved nurse’s wages by more than 60 per cent and have been instrumental in creating in achieving improvements in the career path for nurses that includes, clinical, educational and management roles within the healthcare system.

“We’ve been able to focus the attention of many new nurses not only on the financial rewards of nursing but the professional rewards as well and being able to make a real difference to patients and to improving the community’s health through our campaigns,” said Brett Holmes Secretary General of the Association.

Future Goals

“We want to continue to improve the working lives of nurses and midwives and to balance proper reward and recognition with a decent and fair workload opportunity,” says Mr Holmes.

“We also want to continue to promote nurses to play their full role in the healthcare system,” he explains.

CareerOne.com.au, May 17, 2010.