Helen Polley
Registered Nurse, Counties Manukau Health, Auckland, NZ
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My nursing career has spanned orthopaedics, plastic and burn surgical nursing, hyperbaric and latterly critical care. I also enjoyed a small time as a nurse at an outdoor pursuit centre where I was able to be an instructor for various activities and also use my nursing skills when required. My two specific specialities are Burns & Plastics and Critical Care.
I have always been passionate about the environment and not wasting resources; natural or manufactured. My career in healthcare has made me very aware of the amount of wastage that occurs and I have always been on the lookout for organisations and places that could use expired or unwanted products/ equipment rather than them going to waste. In the last ten years there has been a noticeable swell of individuals who feel the same and suddenly, my eccentricities have become popular! In 2016 I completed a post-grad diploma in Environmental Management which has given me some academic background to my aim in wanting to be part of reducing the nation’s carbon footprint. I now work part-time in a critical care nursing role at Counties Manukau Health and also hold a Sustainability Coordinator role in an educational facility. |
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My Practical Environmental Tips in Critical Care
Introduction: Healthcare contributes 3-8% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Last year at ANZICS I discussed the practical components of how critical care units can reduce their carbon footprints. This year’s presentation examines which of the behaviors have become engrained despite having a large turnover of staff. I also want to share a few topics that address the larger sustainability picture and how our colleagues can be part of addressing these.
Study: This case study style presentation will touch on the practical aspects of making environmental care standard procedures within a unit. We have had a rapid turnover of staff and I will discuss the implications this has had on our EPICC (Environmental Protection in Critical Care) group endeavors. The presentation will also discuss how to grow your target areas beyond the walls of critical care into other areas within the hospital.
Objectives:
-To showcase what environmental initiatives remain BAU and consider why others may fall by the wayside.
-To demonstrate why even small things done at home or at work DO make a difference
-To introduce conference goers to existing resources that can be tapped into
-To highlight how healthcare professionals can have an impact on decision making of central government.
Methods: Qualitative
Results: Counties Manukau (CM) Health was the first Australasian hospital to join the Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction programme (CEMARS_ now Toituu Carbonreduce) which is a carbon emission measurement and reduction scheme. CM Health emissions have been slowly and steadily tracking down. Efforts made by the Critical Care Complex have contributed to the success of the emission reduction programme since 2014 and more departments have since started making the necessary changes. Six years in we can evaluate what has become BAU in the critical care area and discuss reasons why some initiatives haven’t.
Conclusions: Some sustainability initiatives embed more easily into a workplace than others, it’s interesting to examine why this is. In addition, some seemingly small initiatives lead to much larger things and can influence organisational strategic planning.
As some initiatives become BAU colleagues begin to take action that effect change in larger and much broader areas.
Introduction: Healthcare contributes 3-8% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Last year at ANZICS I discussed the practical components of how critical care units can reduce their carbon footprints. This year’s presentation examines which of the behaviors have become engrained despite having a large turnover of staff. I also want to share a few topics that address the larger sustainability picture and how our colleagues can be part of addressing these.
Study: This case study style presentation will touch on the practical aspects of making environmental care standard procedures within a unit. We have had a rapid turnover of staff and I will discuss the implications this has had on our EPICC (Environmental Protection in Critical Care) group endeavors. The presentation will also discuss how to grow your target areas beyond the walls of critical care into other areas within the hospital.
Objectives:
-To showcase what environmental initiatives remain BAU and consider why others may fall by the wayside.
-To demonstrate why even small things done at home or at work DO make a difference
-To introduce conference goers to existing resources that can be tapped into
-To highlight how healthcare professionals can have an impact on decision making of central government.
Methods: Qualitative
Results: Counties Manukau (CM) Health was the first Australasian hospital to join the Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction programme (CEMARS_ now Toituu Carbonreduce) which is a carbon emission measurement and reduction scheme. CM Health emissions have been slowly and steadily tracking down. Efforts made by the Critical Care Complex have contributed to the success of the emission reduction programme since 2014 and more departments have since started making the necessary changes. Six years in we can evaluate what has become BAU in the critical care area and discuss reasons why some initiatives haven’t.
Conclusions: Some sustainability initiatives embed more easily into a workplace than others, it’s interesting to examine why this is. In addition, some seemingly small initiatives lead to much larger things and can influence organisational strategic planning.
As some initiatives become BAU colleagues begin to take action that effect change in larger and much broader areas.