Page 3302 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 18 September 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
between the ACT Community and Health Service and the Australian Nursing Federation - ACT Branch.
The review of the nurses' career structure is one of the most comprehensive of its type to have been undertaken within the ACT health system. The diverse methods used by the review panel to gather and assess information were exhaustive in scope and included a call for public submissions via the local media; workshops, which canvassed the opinions of all levels of nursing staff; oral and written submissions; worksite visits and open hearings.
This level of consultation has resulted in a comprehensive report which acknowledges the indispensable contribution of nurses to the efficient working of the health system and to the continuing health and well-being of the general community, a nursing service which is highly valued for its level of expertise and dedication. The report objectively examines all the involved issues and provides recommendations which have been designed to streamline and enhance the career structure for nurses, as well as improve the overall efficiency of the health service. It supports the continuation of the existing career structure of five levels and three streams - clinical, management and education - of nursing expertise.
The significant changes recommended are designed to improve the efficiency of the structure; to achieve the desired outcomes as identified in the terms of reference; to bring about alignment with structures in other States in line with the move to national standards; and to provide guidelines for the implementation of the nursing career structure once the principal hospital is achieved. The report recommends a greater focus on the clinical role and actual service delivery. There will be a reduction in the layers of management and education. As the reviewers state, they are firmly of the view that:
The Clinical Stream represents the zenith of the nursing profession: the Structure should work to ensure that both the Education Stream and the Management Stream operate to support clinical practice.
They go on to say that they have found:
... resulting from the number of positions and streaming between the management and clinical functions of nurses (at this level): a tendency towards growth in bureaucratic procedures; a lack of role clarity; a fragmented approach to leadership and management; inefficient decision making processes; inequitable spans of control and spheres of responsibility; and a decrease in accountability at each level of practice. Lean, flexible, supportive structures are most appropriate for a service industry such as nursing.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .