RNSH’s 9E dementia ward rocking their fun scrubs
Fun scrub fridays brightening the day for dementia patients Fridays at RNSH’s dementia ward are now a bit brighter. Staff have taken to wearing all sorts of
colours and patterns?” she said. The ward has 30 patients in total but the high dependency unit has eight beds and specialises in caring for aged care patients who have behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and a high risk of falling over. One large wall is covered with wallpaper depicting a large tree with green leaves, dappled sunlight, and a bus stop and taxi sign. It was also Rina’s idea to put up the image, which some patients have found comfort in, as they can sit in front of it and imagine going to the shops.
colourful scrubs, some featuring cats wearing hats, unicorns with purple manes, and green cheetahs. Rina Santos, a nursing assistant who has worked on the ward for 18 years, suggested staff wear fun scrubs to cheer up their dementia patients. “We really see the difference when they see us in our new scrubs,” said Rina. “We are more approachable.” Rina was inspired to do the fun scrubs after hearing about clinicians in Ireland caring for dementia patients wearing different-coloured aprons. “We wear Christmas scrubs so why can’t we wear a different scrub with different More than 50 nurse practitioners, transitional nurse practitioners and doctors from across the state recently came together for Hornsby Hospital’s inaugural Emergency Nurse Practitioner Education Day. The event covered topics ranging from anatomy and physical examination to fracture types and management, non-bone injuries, antibiotic choices and regional anaesthesia. Hornsby Hospital Director of Nursing and Midwifery Drew Hilditch-Roberts said the day was a great success. “The day was an opportunity to bring staff together and learn from one another,” Drew said. “The event was hosted by emergency department nurse practitioners and guest speakers included hand surgeons, orthopaedic registrars, and infectious
“It’s really good,” said Rina of the wall, adding that she has plans to decorate other parts of the ward. “It’s another way to cheer up the patients.” EMERGENCY NURSE PRACTITIONER EDUCATION DAY AT HORNSBY
diseases consultants, as well as members of the emergency department team. “We have received excellent feedback and staff are already brainstorming ideas for next year’s event.”
Hornsby ED Nurse Practitioner Megan Greig
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