ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital

St. Vincent's Private Hospital
Nursing Division
Overview
The Annual Review of Nursing Division encompasses the contributions of staff in all of the following areas:
• Patient Care areas (8) • Operating Theatres
• Day Care including Day Care Oncology • Endoscopy
• Day Surgery • Urodynamics
• Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy • Portering Service
• Admissions • Nursing Education
• Clinical Nurse Specialists
Thanks to a high level of commitment and dedication of staff every effort was expended to continue providing
quality patient care while facing the many challenges with vigour and enthusiasm. The New Hospital
Development provided opportunities to review long term strategies while remaining true to our traditional
values, knowing and believing that we must uphold these values in our new hospital.
Activity levels in all patient care areas showed a steady increase in 2007 with a shift from inpatient to day
case management occurring in certain specialties. Much effort was spent in Day Care Oncology to allow for
increased patient throughput with a resulting decrease in waiting time from referral to first treatment. The
Cardiac Step Down Unit on Redwood Ward proved a successful development with evidence of continuous
efficient bed utilization.
The nurses ‘work to rule’ in April provided a challenge to senior management and nurses in SVPH in terms
of ensuring the safe provision of patient care, management of staff relations and the threat of revenue loss.
Fortunately the organizational culture facilitated a smooth navigation throughout the course of the industrial
dispute.
We welcomed twelve new graduate nurses in July whose orientation to SVPH was facilitated by a
comprehensive programme developed by Ms. Rita Leamy (Clinical Nurse Facilitator). Many of these graduate
nurses were students of St. Michael’s Hospital.
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