McCallum Ward has been through an incredible journey of transformation over the past 12 months. From a general medical ward to a ground breaking restorative, rehabilitative Ready To Go Unit. The nursing team embraced the new model and as the concept took root, they new learnt different ways of facilitating the patient experience.

There were new goals for patients beyond medical stabilization but more about what a discharge from the hospital would look like to my patient. The nursing team dusted off physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and social work skills and engaged with patients to identify what needed to happen to leave McCallum on their terms. The nursing team joined forces with our Allied Health Professionals like jigsaw pieces. It is the best of relationships to achieve the best outcomes for McCallum patients. Through all these changes, the nursing team has retained a sense of humanity for each patient.

The individual stories of patients are numerous. One particular journey comes to mind. A patient was unable to return home despite her most ardent wishes. However, for her safety, mental health, and life preservation, an alternative was found. Her long admission was filled with upset, hurt, and distress at losing her home. Yet, the nursing team navigated her through this tough outcome with genuine compassion and kindness. She was made to feel very special and given small daily jobs: watering ward plants, inducting new ward volunteers, and guiding them in interacting with patients. Whilst the discharge was planned as difficult and with contingency needed, the kindness of the nursing team availed. The discharge was sad, yet there was a feeling of sincere contentment at the best outcome achieved.

Another long and complex discharge of a patient that could have been judged and was never judged. The smallest and what the nursing team thought the nursing team went unnoticed. The hair trim, the beard trim, the nail care, the donation of clothes, the washing of clothes, the time taken to take a patient outside to feel the sun, wind, and even rain when the admission is long and, at times, hard. A ward never intended to care for the last journey of a person rises every time with humanity and excellence in nursing care. The nursing team thought about what the patients and families wanted even though, sometimes, it felt difficult.

A wife’s last wish was that he stay in the bed space he was in (as he had requested) and not be moved. This was one of their most difficult moments. They stood their ground. The patient had his final wishes respected. In the greatest of contradictions, McCallum, the Ready To Go Hospital Discharge Unit, held an afternoon tea to talk with our patients and families about making decisions about end-of-life care. What better time than when a patient no longer needs medical intervention to talk about difficult decisions? A team award is for that: a nursing team asked to deliver excellent nursing care in a time of change delivered.