May 22, 2024 • 24 mins
Nick loves being part of a team that cares for aged care patients, especially those with dementia. Nick spoke to Frances before starting his shift as a wardsperson at a local hospital. Nick helps our nurses and doctors however he can, and cares deeply about being a calming reassuring presence for patients with dementia on the ward. Nick talks about what brought him to health and how he actively contributes to a culture of kindness in his team.
If talking about dementia brings up uncomfortable feelings for you, please be kind to yourself and consider listening to another episode. If you feel you need support, Lifeline offers 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention to all Australians. Phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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(00:00):
Music.
(00:46):
And helping our nurses and doctors to de-escalate and redirect some of those
challenging behaviours that can come with having dementia.
Music.
If that's something that's a little bit upsetting for you, then please feel
free to be kind to yourself and listen to another episode.
For those of you who are going to be staying on and listening to the chat with
(01:10):
Nick, I know you're going to really enjoy it.
And he shares his secret to happiness and kindness at work, but also in his personal life.
So let's dive in and speak with Nick.
So Nick, what brings you to hospital? Well, for me, it was a change of job because
I come from an aged care background and I wanted something different.
(01:32):
Yeah, I applied for a hospital job as an awards person and here I am. Okay.
So what does it mean to be awards person and in a hospital?
I suppose a lot of things. I look at it mainly, not just my own welfare,
but just to keep nurses safe, patients safe, keep the ward clean.
I suppose I sort of value what I do with it highly only because I like to keep
(01:58):
it clean. I like to be prepared.
I like to nurses to have everything at their disposal. I don't like them asking
for anything because I like them to be ready to go.
And if I can do that, then I'm doing my job and And that means the ward will
run smooth and everything will be good.
I think it's something most people wouldn't, you know, when you think of who
works at a hospital, you sort of think your doctor, your nurse.
(02:19):
And I think with wards people, maybe the thought could be that they just move
patients around hospital, but there's so much more to the role than that, isn't there? Yeah.
I used, I was talking to a patient once and I said, because they said, what does a wardie do?
Doing as I said to them I said I'm going to use a Star Trek analogy
(02:41):
which is we're like the Scotty of
the Enterprise without us the wards
probably I'm not saying this in a way where nothing would be organized because
we're in the morning we go and get the linen we do all the linen skips we straighten
up the ward we make sure as I said to you previously it's all ready to go so
yeah if you take pride in that and do that then I believe the nurses the doctors
(03:04):
and if computers are up and running.
There's no delays. They can get straight to what they've got to do.
And if they do that, well, then they can provide the best possible care.
So I take some satisfaction out of that, that I play a small part in that.
I'm not saying I play a big part at all because what nurses and doctors do is fabulous.
We just play a minor role in that. And I think what's coming through and what
(03:26):
you're saying is that you really care about the people you're working with in
that team and the patients that you're here to care for.
As I said to one nurse a while ago, and I said, look, I sort of put the OINs,
the doctors and the nurses, up here and myself down below them.
And as the nurse said, well, you shouldn't do that. I said, no,
(03:48):
only because it's about keeping them safe and providing for the water.
And if I have everything organized and you guys are safe and you're doing your
job, that means everything's going fine. It's running smooth.
And we're delivering a service that, you know, we're paid to do.
Now, I do love it. That's why I suppose in some ways the funny side is I'm always early to work.
(04:10):
But like I said, I like to come in early, make sure everything's set up, ready to go.
So when those first nurses walk in, they're having handover.
By the time handover's done, everything's ready to go.
I can help shower. I can shower for people, do things like that.
Look, you just blend in, you help. If you help where you can,
it keeps the ship sailing smooth.
And what's your approach to teamwork because it obviously sounds like you're
(04:33):
working with lots of different people in a really dynamic ward environment how
do you go about that what's your approach,
for me i can't i can't speak for others but for me it's like
i work on the thing if you can
remain invisible then you're doing a job and by that i mean if
nurses ask me for help i'm more than happy to say
yes where do you need me what do you want i'm happy
(04:55):
to help because that way because i'm
a a believer in one they wouldn't ask for help if they
didn't need it so if they're asking you they obviously need
help so provide help them if you help
them you keep them happy you're happy the ward's happy productivity keeps moving
forward there's no issues uh so and i like to do that with all all that everyone
(05:17):
on the ward so even if there's a behavioral issue with patients or you know
there's trouble on the ward it's about you know stepping in the front line sort of.
Pushing, not pushing, but moving the nurses to the side or the aliens to the
side and just trying to quell a cautious situation before it gets out of control.
Yeah. Take them out of the danger.
Because as I said, it's not negating my own danger, but I don't like to see
(05:41):
nurses, doctors or anyone like that, that's providing a top tier service in
the line of fire or danger.
To me, it's like you're sort of, we have a role, yes, but my also role is,
is that I've I've worked in pubs and clubs, so I consider myself having people
skills and being able to deal with situations.
So I like to talk to people, and then I'll sort of move people aside,
(06:04):
and then I try and handle it. And most of the time, I do.
It's a great way to de-escalate and distract.
Yeah, and as I said, it's not that I have a nursing ability or a doctor's ability,
but if something was to happen with a nurse and we lose one off the floor,
that causes a lot of problems.
We lose a doctor, it causes problems as well. You lose a warty,
well, you can make a phone call and get someone else in, but they can survive.
(06:27):
Doctors and nurses to me, that's why I put them up there. That's why I do what I do.
So I put them up there that they're important, that we can't afford to lose
them, even be injured or off the floor.
So for me, it's about doing what you can, helping where you can,
keep everything moving forward.
And if you're doing your job, they're happy. If they're happy, I'm happy.
(06:48):
And it actually sounds like you have to have quite a specific skill set,
you know, doing that de-escalation, being able to help with some elements of patient care,
using medical, certain medical equipment, the beds, all of that safely.
You know, there's actually a lot in there you need to learn and know how to be competent in.
Coming, well, for me, coming from an aged care background, because I had seven
(07:12):
years experience, I primarily worked in a dementia ward. So,
you know, and then I did a diploma of dementia at UTAS, University of Tasmania.
And so from that, I learned validation therapy, you know, where you can,
you're talking calm, clear, soft tones to a patient.
You can use redirection, you know, situations where I think for me coming in
(07:36):
to the ward, it was like, well, I can say to a nurse, the nurses,
because sometimes we have a trouble, trouble with a patient.
We might have three, four nurses just trying to control the situation,
which makes it hard for them because they've got other patients to look after
and they need to sort of keep going.
I'm lucky that because of the background I've come from, I've said to the nurses,
look, leave them with me.
Because sometimes when too many people are in front of a behavioral patient
(08:01):
with dementia, it's like they're looking at which one they're going to hit,
looking at which one, well, who's dumb enough to come in range so I can hit
you because I don't know who you are, why you're touching me,
why you're coming near me.
For me it's like the experience of just let me talk to the person one on one
let me treat them as a normal person.
And then we go from there. And luckily, you know, we've had a few like that.
(08:22):
And, you know, luckily for me, we've had good results.
And not just me, other staff members as well have learned to do that.
And we have a pretty good rapport with everyone.
You know, wardies are happy to help where they can.
It frees the nurse up to keep their shift going because obviously they've got
lots of medications to give. They've got lots of patients to attend to.
(08:42):
Yeah, so if we can help in that way, then by all means we do.
And some might say we're probably not supposed to. But we like doing it because
it keeps the ward going, keeps it moving forward.
Everyone's happy. So, yeah. And because I have that experience,
I'm more than happy to do it.
And what is it about caring for older people and people living with dementia
(09:04):
that has really attracted you to work in that space?
When I started in aged care, it was based on the fact that I had a lot to do.
I was brought up with my grandparents and had a lot to do with them.
So it was always, I look at, I suppose you could look at it and laugh in some
ways, but it's like looking at all of them as your nana and granddad. Yeah.
(09:26):
And you think, you know, even though they might swear at you,
they might try and hit you, they try and bite you, all that aside,
it's just, it's like a coping mechanism for them because they don't know who you are.
But you know the value you get from helping people like that.
If you can help calm them down by just talking to them. you get a you get reward
(09:47):
out of it sometimes you know a lot of the time you're not meant to do that but
it's just the one-on-one time sitting down helping a nurse freeing them up because
they've had a hard day in a high vis room where it's just dementia patients constantly on the go,
as i said our ward all the wardies are good like that more than happy to help
the nurses gives them a little bit of freedom to go and just get out have a
(10:09):
breath have a cup of tea whatever.
Because, you know, dementia behaviours can be challenging. So,
and that's for everyone.
Yeah. Even doctors when they go in there, you know, like, if they don't know
who you are, they're not going to cooperate. So.
Bringing that empathy and that humanity back into it. You know,
they're not a patient, they're Bob.
(10:30):
And, you know, Bob is someone's dad and granddad and could be us one day in that situation.
I've even said to the nurses, I'd like someone just to be nice to me.
Me funny with me because i said i'm one of those guys that as i said when i've been in the ward.
We had a troublesome patient and i was
just i'd walk up fist bump him say you know treat him like
(10:51):
a bike yeah now because and then he was worried about where people were i'd
be like don't worry about that i've locked the door they're gone it's me and
you now and only you talk to him in those calm clear tones the validation therapy
i was talking about where you sort of say look your wife's coming in at lunch
you need to have a shower she said you need to have one because as As I said,
it's hard when it's the nurses on the ward because a lot of the time they've got five, six patients.
(11:15):
And that's only if all the nurses are there. If there's one nurse short, they've got more.
So they're on a truncated time schedule where they've got to do things.
So it makes it hard to sort of get it all done at once. But if you can help
in a way where you relieve some of that pressure, it makes the shift more enjoyable.
It makes it better. I like the example you provided there because you've taken
the time to understand what would matter to that patient and what would motivate that patient.
(11:39):
Rather than saying you're having a shower because it's on our schedule to have
a shower, it's you've identified it's going to matter to him to be fresh and
presentable for that loved one coming in.
And that's that personal patient-centered care you're providing.
And I'm not putting a time limit on it. I'm not saying we've got to have one in five minutes.
(11:59):
I'm happy to sit there for 20, 25 minutes if it takes that for him to have a
shower because I've got that time.
It's hard for the nurses to have that time because they've got other people
they need to look after they've got medications to give you know so for me uh
very rewarding you know in a lot of areas.
I like like i said a lot coming in early you know like setting up i like being
(12:20):
able to help the nurses because it just makes you feel important i suppose because
some like you said before it was personal not many people sort of oh what do
you guys do push wheelchairs move in the hospital. Yeah.
You know, but no, there's more that we do that a lot of people don't see.
I think that's the thing with how health has changed over years.
(12:42):
It truly is a multidisciplinary team approach now.
You know, you've got your hospital and security assistants, your wards people,
like your allied health, your nurses, your doctors, your cleaners.
It's a whole team that it takes to provide safe quality care.
No, no, that's true. And if you can keep that team happy, if we can keep the
(13:04):
team happy and we move forward together and we keep achieving things together
and cross off goals, then you're going to have a great team.
You'll have a great team that can keep it moving forward, keep the patients
happy, keep the colleagues happy.
Yeah, so no, I'm all for that. I'll try to play a part in that.
(13:26):
So like I said, it's good to have a bit of sense of humour on the ward too.
If we can walk in and have a laugh in the morning, puts a positive vibe on things.
So, yeah. Well, Nick, we're here to look on the kind side, and I think you're
certainly helping us to do that in terms of the importance of just connecting as people,
whether we're having a chat and a laugh or just helping each other out,
(13:47):
taking a bit of extra time with a patient.
But I'm wondering if specifically you can tell me about an act of kindness that
you have observed or experienced in hospital.
At all i suppose you pretty
much see it every day if and that's not
just buttering me up that's the whole team i
mean the way they go about stuff you see
(14:09):
some staff members might be struggling a bit you can go on if you can relieve
them for 20 minutes on a ward just say look go and breathe go and see the the
nun go and you know just get your thoughts get your bearings i suppose for me
it's about the observation of the ward uh you just keep an eye on everyone you
can see when certain Certain people are stressed.
I've seen nurses, you know, a little bit off because you sort of gauge their
(14:33):
character and you can see when nurses are off.
And, you know, like I saw one once and all I asked was just, are you okay?
Because if you're not okay, then we've got a problem.
Because if, is it, I said, it's none of my business. If it's a home problem, is that what it is?
Then I said, that's fine. You don't have to share. You don't have to talk.
I said, but if you need a break, take a break.
(14:54):
Take half an hour, take as long as you want. Go and see the nun.
Tell them, shut the door.
Because, you know, with everything going on out in the world today and mental
health and are you okay, Dan, all that, if we don't sort of address things where
you see people sort of slightly off, how do you make the situation better?
How do you improve their happiness or their health?
So for me, it's all, even though they might not see it, I do constantly watch
(15:19):
everyone and see how they're going and see the character of people.
I have a lot of nurses on our ward that are shy and quiet.
I like to give them the confidence to speak up because I'm like,
well, if you keep accepting this and you keep getting down and you're upset,
you're never going to sort of, I said, you are important.
I said, you're a nurse. I said, and as much as it, I said it,
(15:40):
it probably upset me and I was laughing when I said it. I said, but you're above me.
I said, you're in a higher position than me. I said, we need you functioning.
I said, we don't need you crying. We don't need, I said, I said,
I need you more than you need me.
I said, if I could put it like that, I said, so I said, They don't ever feel
you're not valuable because I said you are.
I said, so for me, kindness is, and you see it from my perspective,
(16:03):
you see it every day in different ways.
Not just me, but nurses with other nurses, the numb, you know.
The ward we're on is, if I could say, most days we're in happy spirits.
There's always laughter. I like to bring hazelnut coffees in when I can, when I get paid.
A lot of the ladies on the ward love the hazelnut coffee. So it's just,
(16:27):
you know, it's, you know,
Trying to keep it, as I said, moving forward, keep everyone happy.
We have a bit of laughter before you know it, the shift's over,
you've done your job, you can go.
I love how you're bringing that situational awareness.
You're not just coming into work and blinkers on, I'm here to do a job, I'm here to do tasks.
You're walking in every day with that broader, how's everyone feeling?
(16:53):
And you've got that awareness and speaking out and reaching out when you feel
something's not quite right.
Well, as you've probably experienced, probably a lot of our listeners experience,
is that when you work with a team for so long, eventually you understand that team.
You learn things about them, not because they've shared them with you,
through observation you learn and you understand things and you see their habits
(17:16):
and their behaviours and how they, and then you know when something's not right.
So, as I said to you, if you're aware of that and you can brighten someone up
or address a situation and help them and say, look, I'm here if you want to talk, let it out.
There's none over there if you want to go and talk or someone talk to someone.
What do you mean? Talk to someone.
So, Nick, outside of work, what do you do to be kind to yourself so that you
(17:40):
can, I guess, keep showing up
and have that, you know, the empathy and the resilience to give to others?
You're probably going to laugh at this my secret to my happiness kindness and just being,
me is i normally just monday to friday if it's not three out of five or four out of five,
(18:01):
it's going for a coffee at pod's at glendale i go down there mostly with my
sister-in-law sometimes with my daughter we just sit down we talk about events
gone by because if depending if it's my daughter i haven't seen her for a while
we have a catch-up my sister-in-law she She fills me in with everything that's
going on in her life. So it's just being aware of current events.
(18:22):
Yeah, and I find that if I can sit and have a coffee and relax,
I'm more ready to go than anything.
Yeah. I just feel that, yeah. It's human connection, isn't it?
Yeah. We know, you know, how bad loneliness is for our health.
And having those constant positive good connections with people really does make you feel good.
(18:42):
Yeah. And if you, like I said, it's just for me, that's the most common thing I do in my week is that.
As long as I have that, I'm good. I'm good. I'll be able to catch up with friends, I'm good, you know.
So it's, the more I have that in my life, and more, you know, I can't forget my ma.
Oh, don't forget her. No, no, but, you know, like, we have each other and,
(19:04):
yeah, and, you know, you try and sort of, you know, move forward from that.
So as long as I have all that in my life, then, you know, I'm happy, so.
And coming here's a bonus, really. early. And lastly, Nick,
if there was one more thing, because it sounds like you work in a really good
team and you're generally very happy here at work, but if there was one thing
(19:25):
that anyone coming here, hospital, patients,
visitors, staff could do to show you kindness, what would that be?
Well, it's probably what most of the nurses on my ward say, thank you.
If you just say thank you, you think is enough. A lot of the time it's easy
to come in and have a go at people and say this and that when you don't understand
(19:45):
a situation where, like I said before, could be one or two nurses down.
Things might be stressful. Things might get done.
But when they do and people go above and beyond or go out of their way,
thinking means everything. Yeah. And I've seen it, you know.
Most nurses, when I finish a shift, thank you, Nick.
Thank you for today. No problem. And when you get that, you'll go through brick
(20:10):
walls for them. You'll do anything for them.
Well, Nick, thank you for joining us and helping us look on the kind side of health.
This has been a really great conversation and I hope you've enjoyed it too.
Thank you. Thanks for having me. I hope you enjoyed that conversation with Nick.
I think his passion for caring for older people and particularly those living
(20:33):
with dementia really shined through.
And as I said during the conversation, I really loved
how he talks about coming into work and
just having that broader situational awareness with
how his team members are feeling and going
out of his way to ask if they're okay and really
being ready to listen and help whether it's to
(20:56):
offer some guidance to go and
and speak to their manager or just to take a break to
reset and and just have a moment away from
whatever it is that is causing them
stress I thought that was really wonderful and I
definitely encourage you to think about is there
(21:16):
something from this conversation that you could take into your day whether it's
being that person that reaches out to your team members or maybe you're the
team member that really needs to talk to someone and share how you're feeling
and I hope that this podcast gives
you the courage to do that and I just love that Nick really just highlighted
(21:41):
that we are all people just working together caring for people and we really
need to take care of ourselves in that space.
Thank you for joining us on the kind side of health and I wish you well.
Music.
If you feel like you need to talk after listening to
this episode please reach out and speak
(22:01):
to someone trusted in your life or you
can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 24
hours a day seven days a week take care
this podcast was recorded on Dharawal country
I'd like to acknowledge and pay my deep
respects to the elders past present and future and extend that respects to any
(22:24):
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people listening I'd also like to acknowledge
the lived experiences and the the wisdom of all the people who spoke to me for
this podcast and those listening. Thank you.
Music.
(00:46):
And helping our nurses and doctors to de-escalate and redirect some of those
challenging behaviours that can come with having dementia.
Music.
If that's something that's a little bit upsetting for you, then please feel
free to be kind to yourself and listen to another episode.
For those of you who are going to be staying on and listening to the chat with
(01:10):
Nick, I know you're going to really enjoy it.
And he shares his secret to happiness and kindness at work, but also in his personal life.
So let's dive in and speak with Nick.
So Nick, what brings you to hospital? Well, for me, it was a change of job because
I come from an aged care background and I wanted something different.
(01:32):
Yeah, I applied for a hospital job as an awards person and here I am. Okay.
So what does it mean to be awards person and in a hospital?
I suppose a lot of things. I look at it mainly, not just my own welfare,
but just to keep nurses safe, patients safe, keep the ward clean.
I suppose I sort of value what I do with it highly only because I like to keep
(01:58):
it clean. I like to be prepared.
I like to nurses to have everything at their disposal. I don't like them asking
for anything because I like them to be ready to go.
And if I can do that, then I'm doing my job and And that means the ward will
run smooth and everything will be good.
I think it's something most people wouldn't, you know, when you think of who
works at a hospital, you sort of think your doctor, your nurse.
(02:19):
And I think with wards people, maybe the thought could be that they just move
patients around hospital, but there's so much more to the role than that, isn't there? Yeah.
I used, I was talking to a patient once and I said, because they said, what does a wardie do?
Doing as I said to them I said I'm going to use a Star Trek analogy
(02:41):
which is we're like the Scotty of
the Enterprise without us the wards
probably I'm not saying this in a way where nothing would be organized because
we're in the morning we go and get the linen we do all the linen skips we straighten
up the ward we make sure as I said to you previously it's all ready to go so
yeah if you take pride in that and do that then I believe the nurses the doctors
(03:04):
and if computers are up and running.
There's no delays. They can get straight to what they've got to do.
And if they do that, well, then they can provide the best possible care.
So I take some satisfaction out of that, that I play a small part in that.
I'm not saying I play a big part at all because what nurses and doctors do is fabulous.
We just play a minor role in that. And I think what's coming through and what
(03:26):
you're saying is that you really care about the people you're working with in
that team and the patients that you're here to care for.
As I said to one nurse a while ago, and I said, look, I sort of put the OINs,
the doctors and the nurses, up here and myself down below them.
And as the nurse said, well, you shouldn't do that. I said, no,
(03:48):
only because it's about keeping them safe and providing for the water.
And if I have everything organized and you guys are safe and you're doing your
job, that means everything's going fine. It's running smooth.
And we're delivering a service that, you know, we're paid to do.
Now, I do love it. That's why I suppose in some ways the funny side is I'm always early to work.
(04:10):
But like I said, I like to come in early, make sure everything's set up, ready to go.
So when those first nurses walk in, they're having handover.
By the time handover's done, everything's ready to go.
I can help shower. I can shower for people, do things like that.
Look, you just blend in, you help. If you help where you can,
it keeps the ship sailing smooth.
And what's your approach to teamwork because it obviously sounds like you're
(04:33):
working with lots of different people in a really dynamic ward environment how
do you go about that what's your approach,
for me i can't i can't speak for others but for me it's like
i work on the thing if you can
remain invisible then you're doing a job and by that i mean if
nurses ask me for help i'm more than happy to say
yes where do you need me what do you want i'm happy
(04:55):
to help because that way because i'm
a a believer in one they wouldn't ask for help if they
didn't need it so if they're asking you they obviously need
help so provide help them if you help
them you keep them happy you're happy the ward's happy productivity keeps moving
forward there's no issues uh so and i like to do that with all all that everyone
(05:17):
on the ward so even if there's a behavioral issue with patients or you know
there's trouble on the ward it's about you know stepping in the front line sort of.
Pushing, not pushing, but moving the nurses to the side or the aliens to the
side and just trying to quell a cautious situation before it gets out of control.
Yeah. Take them out of the danger.
Because as I said, it's not negating my own danger, but I don't like to see
(05:41):
nurses, doctors or anyone like that, that's providing a top tier service in
the line of fire or danger.
To me, it's like you're sort of, we have a role, yes, but my also role is,
is that I've I've worked in pubs and clubs, so I consider myself having people
skills and being able to deal with situations.
So I like to talk to people, and then I'll sort of move people aside,
(06:04):
and then I try and handle it. And most of the time, I do.
It's a great way to de-escalate and distract.
Yeah, and as I said, it's not that I have a nursing ability or a doctor's ability,
but if something was to happen with a nurse and we lose one off the floor,
that causes a lot of problems.
We lose a doctor, it causes problems as well. You lose a warty,
well, you can make a phone call and get someone else in, but they can survive.
(06:27):
Doctors and nurses to me, that's why I put them up there. That's why I do what I do.
So I put them up there that they're important, that we can't afford to lose
them, even be injured or off the floor.
So for me, it's about doing what you can, helping where you can,
keep everything moving forward.
And if you're doing your job, they're happy. If they're happy, I'm happy.
(06:48):
And it actually sounds like you have to have quite a specific skill set,
you know, doing that de-escalation, being able to help with some elements of patient care,
using medical, certain medical equipment, the beds, all of that safely.
You know, there's actually a lot in there you need to learn and know how to be competent in.
Coming, well, for me, coming from an aged care background, because I had seven
(07:12):
years experience, I primarily worked in a dementia ward. So,
you know, and then I did a diploma of dementia at UTAS, University of Tasmania.
And so from that, I learned validation therapy, you know, where you can,
you're talking calm, clear, soft tones to a patient.
You can use redirection, you know, situations where I think for me coming in
(07:36):
to the ward, it was like, well, I can say to a nurse, the nurses,
because sometimes we have a trouble, trouble with a patient.
We might have three, four nurses just trying to control the situation,
which makes it hard for them because they've got other patients to look after
and they need to sort of keep going.
I'm lucky that because of the background I've come from, I've said to the nurses,
look, leave them with me.
Because sometimes when too many people are in front of a behavioral patient
(08:01):
with dementia, it's like they're looking at which one they're going to hit,
looking at which one, well, who's dumb enough to come in range so I can hit
you because I don't know who you are, why you're touching me,
why you're coming near me.
For me it's like the experience of just let me talk to the person one on one
let me treat them as a normal person.
And then we go from there. And luckily, you know, we've had a few like that.
(08:22):
And, you know, luckily for me, we've had good results.
And not just me, other staff members as well have learned to do that.
And we have a pretty good rapport with everyone.
You know, wardies are happy to help where they can.
It frees the nurse up to keep their shift going because obviously they've got
lots of medications to give. They've got lots of patients to attend to.
(08:42):
Yeah, so if we can help in that way, then by all means we do.
And some might say we're probably not supposed to. But we like doing it because
it keeps the ward going, keeps it moving forward.
Everyone's happy. So, yeah. And because I have that experience,
I'm more than happy to do it.
And what is it about caring for older people and people living with dementia
(09:04):
that has really attracted you to work in that space?
When I started in aged care, it was based on the fact that I had a lot to do.
I was brought up with my grandparents and had a lot to do with them.
So it was always, I look at, I suppose you could look at it and laugh in some
ways, but it's like looking at all of them as your nana and granddad. Yeah.
(09:26):
And you think, you know, even though they might swear at you,
they might try and hit you, they try and bite you, all that aside,
it's just, it's like a coping mechanism for them because they don't know who you are.
But you know the value you get from helping people like that.
If you can help calm them down by just talking to them. you get a you get reward
(09:47):
out of it sometimes you know a lot of the time you're not meant to do that but
it's just the one-on-one time sitting down helping a nurse freeing them up because
they've had a hard day in a high vis room where it's just dementia patients constantly on the go,
as i said our ward all the wardies are good like that more than happy to help
the nurses gives them a little bit of freedom to go and just get out have a
(10:09):
breath have a cup of tea whatever.
Because, you know, dementia behaviours can be challenging. So,
and that's for everyone.
Yeah. Even doctors when they go in there, you know, like, if they don't know
who you are, they're not going to cooperate. So.
Bringing that empathy and that humanity back into it. You know,
they're not a patient, they're Bob.
(10:30):
And, you know, Bob is someone's dad and granddad and could be us one day in that situation.
I've even said to the nurses, I'd like someone just to be nice to me.
Me funny with me because i said i'm one of those guys that as i said when i've been in the ward.
We had a troublesome patient and i was
just i'd walk up fist bump him say you know treat him like
(10:51):
a bike yeah now because and then he was worried about where people were i'd
be like don't worry about that i've locked the door they're gone it's me and
you now and only you talk to him in those calm clear tones the validation therapy
i was talking about where you sort of say look your wife's coming in at lunch
you need to have a shower she said you need to have one because as As I said,
it's hard when it's the nurses on the ward because a lot of the time they've got five, six patients.
(11:15):
And that's only if all the nurses are there. If there's one nurse short, they've got more.
So they're on a truncated time schedule where they've got to do things.
So it makes it hard to sort of get it all done at once. But if you can help
in a way where you relieve some of that pressure, it makes the shift more enjoyable.
It makes it better. I like the example you provided there because you've taken
the time to understand what would matter to that patient and what would motivate that patient.
(11:39):
Rather than saying you're having a shower because it's on our schedule to have
a shower, it's you've identified it's going to matter to him to be fresh and
presentable for that loved one coming in.
And that's that personal patient-centered care you're providing.
And I'm not putting a time limit on it. I'm not saying we've got to have one in five minutes.
(11:59):
I'm happy to sit there for 20, 25 minutes if it takes that for him to have a
shower because I've got that time.
It's hard for the nurses to have that time because they've got other people
they need to look after they've got medications to give you know so for me uh
very rewarding you know in a lot of areas.
I like like i said a lot coming in early you know like setting up i like being
(12:20):
able to help the nurses because it just makes you feel important i suppose because
some like you said before it was personal not many people sort of oh what do
you guys do push wheelchairs move in the hospital. Yeah.
You know, but no, there's more that we do that a lot of people don't see.
I think that's the thing with how health has changed over years.
(12:42):
It truly is a multidisciplinary team approach now.
You know, you've got your hospital and security assistants, your wards people,
like your allied health, your nurses, your doctors, your cleaners.
It's a whole team that it takes to provide safe quality care.
No, no, that's true. And if you can keep that team happy, if we can keep the
(13:04):
team happy and we move forward together and we keep achieving things together
and cross off goals, then you're going to have a great team.
You'll have a great team that can keep it moving forward, keep the patients
happy, keep the colleagues happy.
Yeah, so no, I'm all for that. I'll try to play a part in that.
(13:26):
So like I said, it's good to have a bit of sense of humour on the ward too.
If we can walk in and have a laugh in the morning, puts a positive vibe on things.
So, yeah. Well, Nick, we're here to look on the kind side, and I think you're
certainly helping us to do that in terms of the importance of just connecting as people,
whether we're having a chat and a laugh or just helping each other out,
(13:47):
taking a bit of extra time with a patient.
But I'm wondering if specifically you can tell me about an act of kindness that
you have observed or experienced in hospital.
At all i suppose you pretty
much see it every day if and that's not
just buttering me up that's the whole team i
mean the way they go about stuff you see
(14:09):
some staff members might be struggling a bit you can go on if you can relieve
them for 20 minutes on a ward just say look go and breathe go and see the the
nun go and you know just get your thoughts get your bearings i suppose for me
it's about the observation of the ward uh you just keep an eye on everyone you
can see when certain Certain people are stressed.
I've seen nurses, you know, a little bit off because you sort of gauge their
(14:33):
character and you can see when nurses are off.
And, you know, like I saw one once and all I asked was just, are you okay?
Because if you're not okay, then we've got a problem.
Because if, is it, I said, it's none of my business. If it's a home problem, is that what it is?
Then I said, that's fine. You don't have to share. You don't have to talk.
I said, but if you need a break, take a break.
(14:54):
Take half an hour, take as long as you want. Go and see the nun.
Tell them, shut the door.
Because, you know, with everything going on out in the world today and mental
health and are you okay, Dan, all that, if we don't sort of address things where
you see people sort of slightly off, how do you make the situation better?
How do you improve their happiness or their health?
So for me, it's all, even though they might not see it, I do constantly watch
(15:19):
everyone and see how they're going and see the character of people.
I have a lot of nurses on our ward that are shy and quiet.
I like to give them the confidence to speak up because I'm like,
well, if you keep accepting this and you keep getting down and you're upset,
you're never going to sort of, I said, you are important.
I said, you're a nurse. I said, and as much as it, I said it,
(15:40):
it probably upset me and I was laughing when I said it. I said, but you're above me.
I said, you're in a higher position than me. I said, we need you functioning.
I said, we don't need you crying. We don't need, I said, I said,
I need you more than you need me.
I said, if I could put it like that, I said, so I said, They don't ever feel
you're not valuable because I said you are.
I said, so for me, kindness is, and you see it from my perspective,
(16:03):
you see it every day in different ways.
Not just me, but nurses with other nurses, the numb, you know.
The ward we're on is, if I could say, most days we're in happy spirits.
There's always laughter. I like to bring hazelnut coffees in when I can, when I get paid.
A lot of the ladies on the ward love the hazelnut coffee. So it's just,
(16:27):
you know, it's, you know,
Trying to keep it, as I said, moving forward, keep everyone happy.
We have a bit of laughter before you know it, the shift's over,
you've done your job, you can go.
I love how you're bringing that situational awareness.
You're not just coming into work and blinkers on, I'm here to do a job, I'm here to do tasks.
You're walking in every day with that broader, how's everyone feeling?
(16:53):
And you've got that awareness and speaking out and reaching out when you feel
something's not quite right.
Well, as you've probably experienced, probably a lot of our listeners experience,
is that when you work with a team for so long, eventually you understand that team.
You learn things about them, not because they've shared them with you,
through observation you learn and you understand things and you see their habits
(17:16):
and their behaviours and how they, and then you know when something's not right.
So, as I said to you, if you're aware of that and you can brighten someone up
or address a situation and help them and say, look, I'm here if you want to talk, let it out.
There's none over there if you want to go and talk or someone talk to someone.
What do you mean? Talk to someone.
So, Nick, outside of work, what do you do to be kind to yourself so that you
(17:40):
can, I guess, keep showing up
and have that, you know, the empathy and the resilience to give to others?
You're probably going to laugh at this my secret to my happiness kindness and just being,
me is i normally just monday to friday if it's not three out of five or four out of five,
(18:01):
it's going for a coffee at pod's at glendale i go down there mostly with my
sister-in-law sometimes with my daughter we just sit down we talk about events
gone by because if depending if it's my daughter i haven't seen her for a while
we have a catch-up my sister-in-law she She fills me in with everything that's
going on in her life. So it's just being aware of current events.
(18:22):
Yeah, and I find that if I can sit and have a coffee and relax,
I'm more ready to go than anything.
Yeah. I just feel that, yeah. It's human connection, isn't it?
Yeah. We know, you know, how bad loneliness is for our health.
And having those constant positive good connections with people really does make you feel good.
(18:42):
Yeah. And if you, like I said, it's just for me, that's the most common thing I do in my week is that.
As long as I have that, I'm good. I'm good. I'll be able to catch up with friends, I'm good, you know.
So it's, the more I have that in my life, and more, you know, I can't forget my ma.
Oh, don't forget her. No, no, but, you know, like, we have each other and,
(19:04):
yeah, and, you know, you try and sort of, you know, move forward from that.
So as long as I have all that in my life, then, you know, I'm happy, so.
And coming here's a bonus, really. early. And lastly, Nick,
if there was one more thing, because it sounds like you work in a really good
team and you're generally very happy here at work, but if there was one thing
(19:25):
that anyone coming here, hospital, patients,
visitors, staff could do to show you kindness, what would that be?
Well, it's probably what most of the nurses on my ward say, thank you.
If you just say thank you, you think is enough. A lot of the time it's easy
to come in and have a go at people and say this and that when you don't understand
(19:45):
a situation where, like I said before, could be one or two nurses down.
Things might be stressful. Things might get done.
But when they do and people go above and beyond or go out of their way,
thinking means everything. Yeah. And I've seen it, you know.
Most nurses, when I finish a shift, thank you, Nick.
Thank you for today. No problem. And when you get that, you'll go through brick
(20:10):
walls for them. You'll do anything for them.
Well, Nick, thank you for joining us and helping us look on the kind side of health.
This has been a really great conversation and I hope you've enjoyed it too.
Thank you. Thanks for having me. I hope you enjoyed that conversation with Nick.
I think his passion for caring for older people and particularly those living
(20:33):
with dementia really shined through.
And as I said during the conversation, I really loved
how he talks about coming into work and
just having that broader situational awareness with
how his team members are feeling and going
out of his way to ask if they're okay and really
being ready to listen and help whether it's to
(20:56):
offer some guidance to go and
and speak to their manager or just to take a break to
reset and and just have a moment away from
whatever it is that is causing them
stress I thought that was really wonderful and I
definitely encourage you to think about is there
(21:16):
something from this conversation that you could take into your day whether it's
being that person that reaches out to your team members or maybe you're the
team member that really needs to talk to someone and share how you're feeling
and I hope that this podcast gives
you the courage to do that and I just love that Nick really just highlighted
(21:41):
that we are all people just working together caring for people and we really
need to take care of ourselves in that space.
Thank you for joining us on the kind side of health and I wish you well.
Music.
If you feel like you need to talk after listening to
this episode please reach out and speak
(22:01):
to someone trusted in your life or you
can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 24
hours a day seven days a week take care
this podcast was recorded on Dharawal country
I'd like to acknowledge and pay my deep
respects to the elders past present and future and extend that respects to any
(22:24):
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people listening I'd also like to acknowledge
the lived experiences and the the wisdom of all the people who spoke to me for
this podcast and those listening. Thank you.
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