Reform of Healthcare in Australia

This assignment discusses the need for reform in the Australian healthcare system, specifically addressing the issue of neglect and mistreatment by nurses. It highlights the importance of proper training and adherence to standards to prevent such incidents from happening again. The assignment also touches on the need for strict action against negligent nurses and the implementation of strategies to ensure patient safety.

Nursing Assignment

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
In Medical Science nursing has become one of emerging field. The field is mostly about
the care and assistance to the doctors in their specialized fields. It is considered as one of the
noble profession, and requires professionalism for the assistance (Summers, 2015). Under
healthcare protection, nursing is about taking care of people in the society through the process of
diagnosis and treatment. It may involve individual, communities, families and society members.
Following report is about the critical reflection on the nursing practise in Australia and case-
study at that place. For evaluating the reflective Gibbs reflective models is used.
Description:
I am working in Department of Health & Human Services as Clinical nurse specialist.
When I heard about the case of Zdenek Selir, it made me think that my profession is not
followed as seriously as it needed to be. The case was about an 88-years-old who went to
Leamington nursing for minor pressure wounds but after his stay there his condition deteriorated
(Lewis, 2016). Pressure wounds have affected his buttocks for which doctors have send the
images to their family members. He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital where his
operation was going to take place. Unfortunately, Mr Selir died due to those wounds. As per the
given data there was no initial response taken by nursing home operators ,then his matter was
taken to Aged Care Complaints Commissioner (Cashin & et.al. 2017). There were no words for
me at that moment when I heard such news. However, now I have summoned enough spirit to
oppose such cases in the nursing areas.
Feelings
I felt too bad that such incidents happen due to carelessness and irresponsiveness of
nurses. I joined the profession as it is considered among noble profession, but now I am feeling
embarrassed about it. Opal Aged Care managing director, Gary Barnier, accepted that mistake
had taken place but it was from both the side. The nurses should have followed the standards and
he should have been referred to specialist (Birks, M. & et.al., 2016). All the people in my
profession were feeling sorry for the person. I think now people working in this field are not
taking their jobs seriously, their minds have diverted. In my opinion, training and ethics must be
taught to the people working in these areas. When Ms Selir had filed case for elder abuse
suggesting that failure and neglect in care was provided, in response to this, Mr Barnier said that
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it’s an irrelevant case. However, such laws are acknowledged by Law Reform Commission as
suggested by Chief executive of ADA Australia (Aged and Disability Advocacy) (Katelaris &
et.al., 2014).
Further, a per the NMBA, the standards code were nor followed. It is professional
relationship of every nurse that they must engage with patients, they should have conducted
assessment which might have saved that person. Code of ethics and nursing standards were also
broken. Complete healthcare was in grief to such situation and different reactions were seen on
everyone's face. It was an unexpected emotion when such wounds were shown by the doctors to
the family. The department was feeling Guilty for their mistakes and they have suggested that
ethics, values and training must be provided to each person. Family of Zdenek Selir, had gone in
depression but they want to get justice and had filed case against the concerned authority.
Further, there were different methods adopted by Aged Care Complaints commissioner to reduce
such issues (Thompson, 2016). They also got feedback from people in which details regarding
Mr Selir was mentioned and the responses he received from the hospital. Some more points were
highlighted after that feedback. Different actions were taken by the authority to regulate proper
care and satisfaction to customer in the field. Moreover, they too felt atrocious at that period of
time and supported Selir family.
Evaluation
The case has raised the issues which might have been faced by other patients as well.
There is only one thing which can be evaluated from the case, that healthcare was not properly
maintained and regulated in the country. Moreover, it provided challenges to the healthcare
department and other authorities. I too felt bad, there was no role which I could have played at
that time. Nevertheless, I am pleased that mentioned department will be taking care about such
issues in the healthcare services. Through the case, I have studied that such cases must be raised
and supported so that changes can be implemented. However, for the family I have complete
condolence sympathy with them. Moreover, I would like to help the department in all possible
ways. Along with this, there should be new nursing practises and their outcomes must be
evaluated. Professional boundaries must be set to prevent all patients from such cases.
Analysis
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There are many cases of pressure Ulcers in today's world (Cusack, 2015). Being a nurse, I
know that it affects whole system. It can be prevented but requires special care. According to me,
improvements must be made in the healthcare services. There should be proper governance
structures and system so that preventative measures can be taken for pressure injuries. Moreover,
patients must also overlook their injuries through presentation and the ways the treatment is
provided to them. Furthermore, they must be provided best practice & guidelines so that they too
can manage it. The risk must be taken care and preventative strategies must be adopted as soon
as such cases come. Proper guidelines from the Pan Pacific Clinical Practise must be
recommended so that standards can be maintained in it. There is also role of NSQHS (National
Safety and Quality Health Service) in developing the healthcare safety and quality in Australia
which they must maintain.
CONCLUSION
As per the incidents, the person responsible for the action must be punished. Further,
proper treatment must be provided by all the members of healthcare. Other than this, authority
and organisation related to healthcare and social services of every age group should implement
standards and set of rules which needs to be provided to every member related to group. Patients
must also take care about the operation and standards are adopted by the doctor/nurse or not.
Training, ethics and values must be taught to every person involved in this profession. Through
the above it can be concluded that healthcare in Australia needs to be reformed to save people.
Action Plan
If such action is repeated in future, the licence to practising nurse must be banned and
authorities must take strict action against them. Patients and other members in the profession
should also take care about such things. Proper strategies must be made so that such incidents
does-not happen again.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Birks, M. & et.al. (2016). Registered nurse scope of practice in Australia: an integrative review
of the literature. Contemporary nurse. 52(5). 522-543.
Cashin, A. & et.al. (2017). Standards for practice for registered nurses in Australia. Collegian.
24(3). 255-266.
Cusack, L. (2015). Update from Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Australian
Midwifery News. 15(3). 12.
Harrison, C. A., Hauck, Y., & Ashby, R. (2017). Breaking down the stigma of mental health
nursing: Qualitative study reflecting opinions from western Australian nurses. Journal of
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.
Katelaris, C. H., & et.al. (2014). Pholcodine consumption and immunoglobulin E-sensitization
in atopic from Australia, Korea, and Japan. Asia Pacific Allergy. 4(2). 86.
Martin, T. (2017). Development of a career pathway in child and family health for midwives
who are not registered nurses. Australian Midwifery News. 17(1). 46.
Summers, A. (2015). Continuing professional development in Australia: Barriers and support.
The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing. 46(8). 337-339.
Thompson, J. (2016). Nursing update: Continence Nurses Society Australia standards for
practice. Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal. 22(1). 17.
Online
Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle, (2017). [Online]. Available through
:<https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/upgrade/study-skills/reflective-writing-gibbs/>.
[Accessed on 5th August 2017]
Lewis, D., (2016). Elder abuse inquiry: Man dies in hospital after Gold Coast nursing home staff
fail to properly treat wounds. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-27/man-dies-after-nursing-home-staff-fail-to-
properly-treat-wounds/7877820>. [Accessed on 5th August 2017].
Standard 8 Preventing and managing Pressure Injuries, (2012). [PDF]. Available through:
<https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Standard8_Oct_201
2_WEB.pdf>. [Accessed on 5th August 2017].
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Preventing and Managing Pressure Injuries Standard 8, (2016). [PDF]. Available through:
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-27/man-dies-after-nursing-home-staff-fail-to-
properly-treat-wounds/7877820>. [Accessed on 5th August 2017].
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