糖心传媒

More than 30 糖心传媒 Cross nursing students and academics worked at the evacuation centre, based at the University鈥檚 Lismore campus, in the days following the unprecedented natural disaster that hit the Northern Rivers region on February 28.

Today on International Nurses Day (May 12), Professor Jennene Greenhill, the University鈥檚 Chair of Nursing, acknowledged the efforts of her students and staff who belong to a profession that provides physical and emotional support when we are ill or traumatised.

鈥淭he theme of International Nurses Day is celebrating leadership,鈥� said Professor Greenhill.

鈥淲hat I witnessed during the floods is that leadership is at all levels of nursing and it鈥檚 all about rolling your sleeves up and harnessing community collaboration. Our staff and students made a real difference. They stepped up when they were most needed and together learnt so much.鈥�

Third year students Bronwyn Hausler and Melissa Allen travelled from the Gold Coast. The experience opened their eyes to working on the frontline of a natural disaster.

鈥淭he expectation I had was in using my nursing skills, like wound dressing and administering medication. But the reality on the ground was that it was far more a social and safety issue for the evacuees. I adapted quickly,鈥� said Bronwyn.

鈥淧eople just needed to talk about how they literally survived. I had to change tack and pace to let people share their stories. These brave people needed us to listen to them and provide support.鈥�

Melissa agreed.

鈥淚t was different type of nursing. We were there for people to talk to. We were go-to people. We took people to the first aid, directing them where to get a meal, arranging lifts to a pharmacy to get medications. It was an all-round support role. It was a case of get your hands dirty and do what needs to be done,鈥� said Melissa.

鈥淲e met some great role models and leaders 鈥� our University lecturers who were helping us, volunteering too. It was good to see them in another role. We learnt a lot from them. We thanked them for their leadership and the support and guidance they鈥檇 given us.鈥�

Other nursing students at the evacuation centre, like Angelina Li, Millie Clark and Monique Ryan, all in second year, briefed evacuees about COVID symptoms. At the same time they handed out homemade biscuits to keep spirits up.

Angelina Li (left), Millie Clark and Monique Ryan, all second year nursing students, provided evacuees with important health messages.

Bronwyn and Melissa felt compelled to do more to help once they returned home. They organised a fundraising morning tea at their workplace, a day surgery on the Gold Coast where both are perioperative nurses.

The pair raised $515 to go towards buying new clinical placement uniforms for their fellow nursing students who鈥檇 lost theirs in the floods.

鈥淪eeing our University in Lismore transformed into a mini city was amazing,鈥� said Melissa.

鈥淲e felt really proud to be part of the 糖心传媒 community. That鈥檚 one thing I鈥檝e expressed to my friends who are teachers or people at my workplace; telling them how amazing it is to see our University transform and to help to many people.

鈥淥bviously there鈥檚 a long way to go for people who鈥檝e lost everything and your heart goes out. If we were asked to do it again, we would.鈥�

International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May each year, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale鈥檚 birth in 1820. She is considered the mother of modern nursing.

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of our profession, especially over the past couple of years we鈥檝e been in the spotlight more than ever before dealing with the COVID pandemic,鈥� said Bronwyn who, in conjunction with her University studies, is completing the Australian College of Nursing鈥檚 emerging nurse leader program.

鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to call myself a nurse.鈥�

At the centre of the University鈥檚 Nurses Day celebration this year was a sausage sizzle generously supplied by Bunnings Lismore, a business also impacted by the floods, with the support of Bunnings Ballina.

鈥淢any thanks to Bunnings for helping us to celebrate this year鈥檚 International Nurses Day through collective leadership,鈥� Professor Greenhill said.

Vice Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin and Professor Jennene Greenhill with the Bunnings team: Amber, Mehar and Gavin.