Where the heart is
The vital role of nurses in home care .
By Claire Zhang
Amongst its many recommendations , one thing the Aged Care Royal Commission made clear is the important role nurses play in caring for our country ’ s most vulnerable .
According to the final report , having enough skilled staff – in particular , registered and enrolled nurses – has a direct impact on the quality of care people receive .
From my own experience , this is especially true when it comes to home care . In this growing industry , nurses aren ’ t just needed for their clinical training ( as crucial as those skills are ). Rarely discussed is how nurses , given their unique skillset and experience , often make excellent leaders of multidisciplinary teams delivering patient-centred care .
I ’ ve had the privilege of seeing this first-hand over the last two years . At the beginning of 2019 , after working as an RN for 12 years , I decided to try my hand at something new : purchasing and running my own home care business with HomeCaring .
So far , it has been a rewarding journey . I landed my first client after setting up a fold-out table at my local shopping centre and chatting with passers-by about home care . There have also been some daunting times – I knew little about the financial and marketing aspects of growing a business when I started , and was thankful for the
support I received from head office . After six months I turned a profit , and today I have a steady base of over 80 clients – a testament to the need for high quality home care in the community .
One thing this business has taught me is how adaptable and advantageous nursing skills are , especially when partnered with the motivation to build something special in your local community .
Being a registered nurse and former unit manager primed me for my management and leadership role . When I ’ m talking to clients during the intake process , I intuitively understand the clinical side of things , giving people more confidence to put their care under my management . When I ’ m leading teams of care workers , I can quickly identify care needs and risks so my employees are fully aware of their duties while on the job ( a valuable skill to have during a pandemic ).
Currently there are over 59,000 people waiting for a Home Care Package , while the number of NDIS participants is expected to increase to over 500,000 over the next two years . As we move towards consumer-driven services that can be flexibly integrated into people ’ s lives , there is a great opportunity for nurses to be at the forefront of service delivery . With our skills and aptitude , we are well-placed to
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There is a great opportunity for nurses to be at the forefront of service delivery .
lead and coordinate the teams that provide these services .
Thankfully there are rewards along the way . I ’ ve enjoyed the challenge of growing a business , being my own boss , and determining my own work / life balance .
The best reward , though , is helping clients experience long-term improvements . I have seen people go from house-bound , malnourished and in decline to thriving , independent and moving freely around the community . We can also be highly responsive to people ’ s needs – recently a client rang because she urgently needed medication to prepare for an important procedure . When
I delivered it , her relief was as palpable as the smile on her face . Currently , my business has opened its first supported independent living home . We are expecting to fill the house within the next few weeks , and are in the process of setting up a second accommodation .
As the Aged Care Royal Commission paves a path for reform , there ’ s much work ahead of us to ensure all Australians receive the high quality care that they deserve . Home care is a great way to be a part of this effort , while experiencing the joy of making a difference in people ’ s lives . ■
Claire Zhang is the director of HomeCaring Campbelltown .
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