Today I taught at a workshop for twenty registered nurses working in residential aged care facilities. When asked how many residents they were responsible for on their usual shift, answers ranged from 40 to 70.

What an overwhelming responsibility. Not just to have that many people in your direct clinical care, but to also be supervising the work of enrolled nurses and carers at the same time.

That’s between 40-70 sick older Australians IN ONE SHIFT who need medications administered on time, wound dressings completed, pain assessments and a range of other clinical assessments to be done.

Then add those who have a sudden clinical deterioration, fall or significant event requiring extra monitoring, or assessment and transfer to hospital (extra transfer paperwork to complete).

Mid shift one or two different general practitioners arrive and want verbal updates, medication charts and to have the RN accompany them on their round.

A family member comes to them to voice a complaint about the care of their loved one. They have two residents actively dying requiring symptom management and syringe drivers, and the family need emotional support.

Add to that the burden of COVID restrictions, infection control, documentation, family case conferences, staff meetings, ACFI funding assessments and policy development.

The majority of these nurses were less than five years out from graduation. They get paid less than their hospital counterparts and work longer hours. They do not have the clinical support of an on-site medical team. They often answer to profit hungry directors and boards.

They try so hard, but are really struggling. They really care and want to provide good person centred care, but it’s not surprising that they are burnt out and wanting to walk away from their jobs.

Let’s hope tonight’s budget reveals funding & a real plan for policy & practical change in aged care including mandated staff ratios. Lives depend on it. The future workforce depends on it. Real change, is that too much to ask? @anmf_federal @acn_tweet @k_eagar @acnp_national