RDNS 2009 Annual Report - Royal District Nursing Service

8.11 pmFreda has contended with her fair share of physical difficulties in herlife. A problem with her bones has meant a raft of complications,including hip replacements. They have helped, but they haven’tsolved her underlying problem and at 88 years old, it is now amatter of managing her pain. She sits in bed, a plasma TV in frontof her, as Max enters her room. She is matter of fact about her painand Max is determined to help her manage it. The aim is to get herthrough the night with as little discomfort as possible. Max noticessome of her medications need replenishing and completes theappropriate paperwork before handing her painkillers. The night canbe long and unforgiving and Freda’s doctor ensures via Max and hisRDNS colleagues that she receives exactly the right combinationof medicines. There are other things to attend to: Max ensures sheis comfortable in bed and her feet are correctly placed in a supportframe. There is a wheat bag to prepare for added pain relief and anight-time drink to sustain her. The world outside is quiet and Maxcompletes his task with calm assuredness. For Max, it is all part ofhis evening’s work; for Freda it is an essential conclusion to her day.8.51pmMax re-enters the dimly lit street and completes some client noteson his mobile computer. There is one more client to see. He lovesthis work, he says, and in the evening there is a tranquillity which heenjoys as he undertakes his tasks. Soon he will be back at RDNS,completing outstanding client notes and making sure people likeFreda have their medication orders faxed off in order to alert thepharmacist first thing the following day. Max smiles under the streetlights: it’s all part of a day’s…a night’s…work.9.03 pmThe night is still, apart from a light breeze that rustles the lightly perfumedtrees. Across the city people settle into their regular night-time activities:reading, watching television, cleaning up after a long day. The RDNS siteis different at this time of day: there is no bustle of nurses preparing toundertake morning visits; no heightened chatter or the mechanical droneof computers, printers and faxes. Instead, the office area is quiet, gently litand calm. Sitting in front of their mobile computers are nurse Jackie andCommunity Care Aide Lorna. It is the night shift, and ahead of the duo aremany hours of client visits. The nature of what they do is slightly differentfrom their daytime colleagues, but just as vital. They travel as a pair –mainly for security – but it is clear that as most of Melbourne sleeps, theybenefit from having each other’s company. There are clients across a fewsuburbs to see tonight, and a range of care to be provided.9.53 pmIt’s already been a long day for June Evelyn. After a nasty fall and a periodin hospital she has returned to her warm and cherished home. She is stillvery sore and bruised, but well enough to be discharged. But this is herfirst night back at home, and without any other support, she is grateful forthe arrival of her night visitors, Jackie and Lorna. June Evelyn’s mobilityis limited and she walks slowly with a frame: there are medicines to takeand she requires help with medicated creams and with preparing herselffor bed. An artist all of her life, her many works of literature, drawingand painting adorn her home and provide a fitting background for themethodical work of Jackie and Lorna. Despite her recent trauma, thereis a knowing look in her eye, as if she has learnt at least some of life’ssecrets over her 82 year journey. Her movements, and that of her visitors,are measured and watchful, but she is eventually ready to retire to herown bed after an enforced period of absence. It is a simple pleasure thatshe cherishes and she acknowledges the role Jackie and Lorna haveplayed in helping make it possible once again.14 |Royal District Nursing Service – Annual Report 2009