Nurses have a special impact on people’s lives each and every time they go to work and, once a year, we have the opportunity to celebrate their extraordinary contribution to society and our health care system.
Ahead of International Nurses Day on May 12 – held annually on the birth date of the world’s most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale – InsideR sat down with local nurse, Phil Mackie, to hear more about this amazing profession.
Phil is the Nurse Unit Manager, Adult Mental Health, at the new Robina Private Hospital and tells us about his experience in the industry.
Why did you decide to get into nursing and how long have you been a nurse for?
I was always interested in philosophy and sociology, how communities work and interact and why people do what they do in relationships, so when I heard about mental health nursing as a career it seemed to be the ideal way for me to learn more about people and myself. I have been a mental health nurse for 33 years.
Could you please tell us a bit about the day-to-day workings of being a nurse?
As Nurse Unit Manager, Adult Mental Health, at Robina Private Hospital my day consists of engaging with my patients to ensure that their emotional wellbeing needs are met, monitoring mental state and clinical status and supporting their individual management and treatment.
Essentially day-to-day is about partnering with my patients in their recovery and in addition to individual consultations with their treating Psychiatrist and attendance at group therapy programs.
In my Nurse Unit Manager role, I’m supporting my staff in maintaining sound clinical practice and attending to the operational management and quality improvement activities for the unit.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job currently is ensuring I’m available for both clinical care while carrying out my operational responsibilities as a manager.
I am fortunate that at Robina Private Hospital we have a strong and supportive team of experienced nursing professionals to ensure quality patient care at all times.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part is being able to mentor younger nurses in providing comprehensive mental health care and influencing work culture.
What is your biggest accomplishment as a nurse to date?
During my career I have had the privilege to have made a positive difference in many people’s lives.
What do you love about working in Robina?
It’s exciting to be a part of a new facility and a new team of like minded people. We share a common vision of delivering, and growing, leading private mental health services to the Gold Coast community with Healthe Care Australia – an established and highly regarded private hospital operator.
Do you live in Robina – if so what do you love about living here?
I live nearby in Varsity Lakes and love being close to both the beaches and mountains and spending a lot of time enjoying nature.
