Care for patients. Care for you.

The support I get here from the staff around me, day to day, patient to patient, makes such a difference.

Sure, they're hard working and caring, just like in any other hospital. But it's the attitude everyone here has about actively looking out for ways to help each other with procedures, patient movements - all the routine things that can often build up so quickly. It gives you the time and opportunity to focus on the patients and activities that are important to focus on at one time.

Cameron Wilson

Over the last two years there's been a real focus here on both personally pulling your own weight and open and honest communication.

It makes such a difference when you can trust completely, for example, that your CNC will give you the correct tools or advise you when you do or don't still have certain supplies. Or that you'll get all the handover information you need to make the right patient decisions throughout your shift.

It's a happy environment, where you don't get unexpected extra workloads because of oversights. You can feel secure, confident - to do your job effectively.

Henriette Greenfield

They've always looked past my EN badge, and looked for what I can bring to the table.

I do have strong ideas about how patients should be looked after and it's a great feeling to know they'll listen to you - really listen - no matter who you are, or what your level of experience or background is - and then actually act on it.

When I started here, they gave me a go in an area I had no experience in, then encouraged me get involved in lots of things and apply my ideas through suggestions and initiatives to improve processes: Like my suggestion for a different format to prevent patient skin damage on the operating table. I've even been interstate to talk to other nurses about what we've implemented.

There's no doubt the environment here has brought the best out of me.

Jenny Horwood

When you can see something being done, see the reactions of the patients and the outcomes immediately - and feel comfortable to ask questions at the time, you learn much better, and much faster.

I did a procedure the other day that I-ve never done before and it was great because I could ask questions, got immediate feedback from the supervising surgeon - and feedback from the patient as well. It was a great learning experience.

The environment here is open to that questioning attitude.

Sometimes vindication of what you-ve done is as important learning new information for the future. Often, junior nurses will present a scenario and then explain what they did. Sure, we-ll provide that vindication or support, but also talk about slightly different hypothetical scenarios where alternate responses would be more suitable.

Jill Mahr

By unloading baggage you don't take it home with you.

Keeping work and home separate is really important. My rule is nobody goes home if you have something that concerns you. Share your experience even if you don't get answers. Sometimes even just being able to say you feel unsettled, helps.

We recently had a cardiac arrest in the ward. It was the first experience for a young graduate nurse. Because of the debriefing she could ask us questions about things she found difficult, share what she felt, including the speed of what happened and the trauma of death. She at first couldn't understand how the team got the info that she required. In the end she thanked us for it - she didn't feel stupid for asking questions. Felt supported, and more welcome I think. And she sleeps at night.

It's not easy. As an organization we still have a way to go to make these formal and informal debriefings as widespread as they should be. But as a group, we've recognized how important it is and we're working towards it.

Jane Gould