Newsletter

Welcome to PNA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER  version of the Staff Newsletter.

CONGRATULATIONS

There are a number of staff and their families that I would like to take the time to congratulate over the past 2 months.

Firstly I would like to congratulate Donna Sims, from the Officer, her husband, RN Lucy Taylor and her husband in participating and completing the City to Surf Fun Run at the beginning of August.  Even though there was 85,000 competitors it was good to see our small group beat entries from our larger national agencies like Ramsay, Healthscope and Nursing Australia as well as some of the major Hospitals in Sydney.  We will all be competing next year and those interest in participating should stay in touch with the Office around March or April next year.

Donna, Lucy and thier families together with myself are all undertaking the Canberra Times 10Km Fun Run on Sunday 12 September.  Jo, Teagan and 3 of the Shift Coordinators from Canberra Hospital are all undertaking the Canberra Times 5Km Fun Walk/Run also on the same day, any staff interested in participating should register on-line with the Canberra Times before midnight on Sunday 5 September.  The funds raised are going to the ACT Section of the Heart Foundation.

Secondly we would like to show our appreciation to the Personal Carers who have recently completed their Certificate IV in Mental Health to better improve their abilities in dealing with people suffering with Mental Illness.

NEW STAFF 

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome over the past 2 months a number of new employees, these are in each of the employment levels within our organisation.  We hope they all feel part of our organisation and if any of you do see a new person please introduce yourself and assist them to understand the processes at the variour locations.

TRAINING 

Any staff wanting to book any training and know what they would like should contact Roxanne on her mobile on 0424 138642.

Professional Development is not only a responsibility of the employer to ensure staff are proficient in their various fields of employment, but it is also an Individual Staff Person's responsibility to be proactive and ensure that their skills at their level of employment is current to meet necessary standards within the Health Industry. This is clearly paramount with the current processes being undertaken through the ACT Nurses and Midwifery Board to ensure Nurses at all levels meet the required competencies and maintain training records. 

For PNA Personal Carers/Assistant Nurses those who attended the training on Wednesday 18 August and Wednesday 1 September with Key to Learning will have found that the delivery and interaction was of a very high standard.  This training that was undertaken has been already recognised by Management and Supervisors at all the Hospitals and Age Care Facilities that PNA staff are placed.

Feedback has been so positive that the professional standards and demand of PNA staff at all levels especially at AINs for the Hospitals has increased three fold and is a credit to the staff that have participated.

Those Personal Carers/Assistant Nurses that only partially completed or have not undertaken the training will need to contact Roxanne so that you meet the PNA requirements for Professional Development to meet our Quality Standards to remain working with the agency.

Any training undertaken by a staff person as a form of Professional Development and is paid for by the staff person can be claimed on their tax.  So if you are wanting to undertake some training get it paid for before 30 June so you can claim it on your current Tax Claim.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

All employees in all their work life and personal lifestyles will come across some form of situation that causes anxiety, anguish, tiredness and worry that if not dealt with properly and quickly can undermine an individuals ability to function normally especially within a workplace or dealing with their family.

Each person needs to look at themselves and see if they fit with any of the symptons, if so maybe some simple suggestions could assist with changing your ability to deal and handle these stressful issues.

1.  Watch your diet and the amount of fatty and sugary food products, (being shift workers it is very easy to focus on take away food which the body is unable to process propery.)

2.  Take on some form of exercise 5 - 10 minutes 3- 5 times a week to a level that it increases the heart rate, then gradually increase this to 25 - 30 minutes.  A good exercise is walking with minimal stress on the joints of the body and with the warm weather coming on is easier to fit into a daily routine.

3.  Increase the regular intake of fresh fruit in preferance to chocolates, sweets and lollies to keep the sugar levels at reasonable level.

If the symptons do not improve over the following 4 - 6 weeks it would be recommended that you visit your doctor and seek additional support and guidance.  If unchecked this can result in long period of sickness where counselling and medication will need to be undertaken to bring you back onto a level situation.

PNA is passing on this advise to assist our staff develop and deal with the ever changing environment we all live in and to be better able to handle the different issues that may arise within our life time.

Current PNA Discounts at: 

Club Lime Fitness Centres- Belconnen, Gold Creek, Gunghalin, Kaleen, Kingston, Tuggeranong and Mawson

Special Corporate discount rate.

Haig Park Service Centre, Mitchell

10% Discount to PNA Staff on production of PNA Photo ID Badge

Hair by Julie

10% Discount to PNA Staff on production of PNA Photo ID Badge

Whisk - Belconnen and Woden Westfield Centres

10% Discount to PNA Staff on production of the PNA Photo ID Badge.

Sharon Wood Massages (Mobile Service)

Special rate charged to PNA staff on production of photo ID badge.

Contact Number 0419 479440.