Fertility Nurses of Australasia Newsletter

Transcription

1 Volume 17 Issue 1 March 2008 Fertility Nurses of Australasia Newsletter Sandra Kennedy Chairperson of FNA The executive committee are also working on a new membership package to be sent out after the memberships are confirmed It is an honour to be elected Chairperson of the Fertility Nurses of Australasia (FNA). I would firstly like to thank the outgoing committee for all their blood, sweat and tears in managing the FNA over the past 2 years. Especially Donna Close (QLD) previous Chair now newsletter editor -,Syvia Moore (Tas) RTAC Representative, Louise Younger (QLD) previous treasurer, Hillary Readings (WA) previous secretary, Julia Allan (WA), Kay Scrimshaw (NZ), Stephanie Johnson (NZ), Katrina Dowling (NZ), Sue Komazec (SA), and Karen Marcus (SA). A special mention to Sue Brown (SA) who has been our FNA representative on FSA council. Sue has succeeded in the very difficult role of keeping the executive of FNA aware of changes. This allows the executive of the FNA to disseminate the information to the members. In particular the massive move from RTAC inspections every 3 years to a Code of Practice that is easy to understand and outlines the basic requirements for each unit to be assessed on each year. Sue Brown and Liz Pearce last year gave 2 informative workshops on Quality Management and the importance of being accountable. Achieving and recording of competencies as a Nurse working in ART is mandatory and easier with the use of the Bayer Continuing Nurse Education folders. This year the midyear workshop is to be held in Melbourne on 31 st May on Presentation Skills and Public Speaking. Inside this issue: Chair s Report 1 NSW & ACT 2 Date Claimers 2 FSA & RTAC 3 Midyear Meeting 4 Sara in Saudi 5 & 6 Qld & Vic State 7 Treasurers Report 8 Vic Report 8 FNA Funnies 9 Then there is a Serono Symposium on 1 st and 2 nd of August Synchronising ART A Holistic Approach in Sydney at Novotel Brighton Beach. Finally the FSA in October in Brisbane. The executive hope to have a new evaluation form out by the May workshop to replace the current one in the FNA procedure book. The executive committee are also working on a new membership package to be sent out after t he memberships are confirmed all FSA memberships are due in at the end of March. I look forward to catching up with fellow FNA members at the May workshops. Many thanks Sandra Kennedy (skennedy@ivf.com.au)

2 Fertility Nurses of Australasia NSW State Report We had our final meeting for 2007 on November 28 th. It was hosted by Sydney IVF and the topics were Jewish Law and Reproductive Health and Surrogacy. Two very interesting talks which generated lively discussion. The Speakers were Dr Devora Lieberman and Dr Mark Bowman. It was very well attended and I would like to thank Sarah Harper for organising a great night. Our next State meeting is planned for the beginning of April 2008 and will be hosted by Westmead Fertility Centre. Date and Topic to be advised. IVF Australia North has just moved from Chatswood to a new purpose built facility at Greenwich and ACT State Report "Both clinics in The ACT are very busy with new female Drs at each clinic and more nurses to cover the increased workload. SIVF Canberra have also moved into new premises. Canberra Fertility Centre celebrated 21 years of business in November 2007 with a party for all children and their parents born over the last 6 years. It was a very happy day for all concerned, it being a bright summer day with a carnival atmosphere. Many old friendships were renewed between staff and patients. A successful FNA meeting was held in November. John Quilter spoke about "Dealing with Difficult Patients". This meeting was kindly sponsored by Organon. Ana form Bayer also sponsored a "Both clinics in The ACT are very busy with new female Drs at each clinic and more nurses to cover the increased workload. SIVF Canberra have also moved into new premises. Canberra Fertility Centre celebrated 21 years of business in November 2007 with a party for all children and their parents born over the last 6 years. It was a very happy day for all concerned, it being a bright summer day with a carnival atmosphere. Many old friendships were renewed between staff and patients. A successful FNA meeting was held in November. John Quilter spoke about "Dealing with Difficult Patients". This meeting was kindly sponsored by Organon. Ana from Bayer also sponsored a casual get together the week before Christmas to introduce Menevit. In April 2008 we are planning a meeting to discuss male infertility and Kleinefelter's Syndrome." Sue Keogh Date Claimers Midyear 2008 Melbourne FSA 2008 Brisbane Midyear 2009 Sydney FSA 2009 Perth Any comments, complaints, complements or mistakes call the Editor Articles very welcome send to fertilitygc@qfg.com.au Midyear 2010 Gold Coast FSA 2010 Adelaide Riddle of the day: If 2 is company, 3 is a crowd, what is 4 and 5? your answer to Page 2

3 Volume 17 Issue 1 FSA Board Representative Report - Sue Brown RTAC Representative Report: - Liz Pearce New Board After the failure of the constitutional changes to be accepted the new Board for the FSA has been established and we have had our first face to face meeting The make up and a picture of the Board can be seen in the recent FSA update The Board meeting was positive and LL members are very committed to ensuring the survival of FSA New Code of Practice The RTAC sub committee has been very busy re working the Code of Practice (COP) The 7th draft of the code has been completed and will be presented to the FSA Board at the May meeting. COP Process The sub committee has met 5 times a copy of the COP was sent to subcommittees for comment. There has been extensive consultation with stake holders via not all stake holders have totally agreed with changes in the COP but a compromise has been reached resulting in the 7 draft. Scheme Rules Process Scheme rules are the rules/process by which the external auditing bodies can conduct an audit. Technical Expert is person with technical expertise in ART this could be a DR / Nurse /Scientist /Counselor but they will require an understanding of all areas of ART including QA systems. The scheme rules committee including external stake holder have met twice. The second scheme rules meeting was a face to face meeting on the 13/02/08 with stake holders both internal FSA and external eg NHMRC /Auditing bodies / Insurance Industry /Medicare/State Regulatory authorities discussing the COP and the scheme rules in detail. The meeting provided an opportunity of all stake holders to address any areas of concern resulting in changes to the scheme rules and minor changes to the COP. External Auditors/ Certification Bodies (CB)/ Technical Experts External auditors known as CB will audit compliance with the COP the auditors will require assistance from a technical expert who will provide advice but will not audit Therefore there will not be a FNA / /SIRT /Doctor / Access representative on audit visits Consumer interviews will not occur but rights and responsibilities of consumers are addressed in the COP. RTAC The RTAC Committee will oversee the external auditing process A nurse representative will be required on the RTAC Committee. Introduction of new system A trial audit will be arranged to access the suitability of the COP for external auditing FSA will arrange education ses- sions regarding the new COP If We gratefully acknowledge our gold sponsors Organon (a division of Sherring Plough) For their ongoing support of the FNA. We look forward to their new logo in our next edition Know Your Committee.. Sandra Kennedy (Chair & NSW Rep) IVFA Mary O Neill ( Membership Registrar & NSW Rep) IVFA Sue Stephens (Treasurer & Vic Rep) Monash Clayton Jo Fenby (Secretary & Vic Rep) MIVF Louise Younger (Qld Rep) Monash Sunnybank Donna Close (Newsletter & Qld Rep) Fertility Gold Coast Sue Keogh (ACT Rep) CFC Emma Bingham (Tas Rep) Tas IVF Page 3 Karen Brown (SA Rep) Flinders Sue Opie (SA Rep) Repromed Linda Garland (WA Rep) Fert WA Fran Baker (WA Rep) Sydney IVF Anna Bargiacchi (NZ Rep) Fertility Plus Auckland Nicci Bargiacchi (NZ Rep) Fertility Associates Auckland

4 Fertility Nurses of Australasia FERTILITY NURSES OF AUSTRALASIA MID YEAR WORKSHOP MELBOURNE 2008 TOPIC WHEN WHERE PRESENTATION SKILLS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING Saturday 31 st May Vibe Savoy 630 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000 Corner Spencer and Little Collins St Located across the road from Southern Cross Station (Formerly Spencer St Station) Skybus goes directly from Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross Station $16 one way/$26 return START COST 0830 registration for 0900 start FNA members Free Non FNA members $95 Accommodation options Vibe Savoy from $175 (mention you are with conference) Quest Fairfax from $160 Batmans Hill on Collins from $165 Twin Hotel Enterprize from $120 Pensione Hotel from $110 RSVP by 9 th May Sue Stephens sstephens@monashivf.com or Jo Fenby jo@mivf.com.au or Page 4

5 Sarah Moser in Saudi Well here I am, back again, still in Saudi, but pleased to report there has been some progress since my last report. Finally we actually have an IVF clinic to work in. Our official name is The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Reproductive Medicine Unit. Quite a mouthful!! We of course just call it RMU much easier. It has been a battle every step of the way and continues to be that way for every little thing. It seems for every step forward we take 2 backwards, but we just keep pushing on. The lab is trying to get set up but when things happen like the company that are delivering your frozen mouse embryos manage to store them at the wrong temperature (resulting in an to our medical director stating as you know, our mouse embryos are dead ) it can take some time. We just had our ICSI equipment delivered yesterday (resulting in all sorts of internal hospital politics on the way it got delivered to us) and after 10 months or so we have managed to get some things like instrument trolleys and footstools delivered. Our footstools are in our clinic but now infection control doesn t want us to use them because they have rubber with grooves on them.. sigh.. at least we can look at them! We have also been trying for ages to get some condoms to use as probe covers for the ultrasound machine. An order for the hospital was finally approved but then it got stuck in customs (apparently they wanted a letter from the hospital!). One of the Saudi secretaries then appeared in my office last week looking quite embarrassed and telling me she was over in logistics and they gave her a sample to give to me. She pulled out of her pocket 2 condoms bright red color with lubricant not quite what we had in mind! Now I have to go over and explain to them that we would like something a little more sedate with no lubricant please! We have many other things still stuck in the purchasing process and now it is Ramadan so all Muslims are only working 6 hours a day (they also tend to stay up until 2am so not a lot gets done at this time of year). One of my staff has put on 4kg in the first 2 weeks of Ramadan in her words, all they do is eat and sleep during Ramadan. In Saudi, it is just like everyone goes on night shift for a month they sleep late, eat all night and go to bed early hours of the morning (the shops stay open until 2am). Despite all this, we have managed to start doing some IUI s and hope to start IVF in the next couple of months. There is so much to do from working out how and who patients will call (language barrier makes this a challenge!), how our paperwork will be designed, how we will do procedures and all those other little things that you just take for granted when you walk into a functioning clinic. And we have 3 consultants we need to try and get to agree on all of this also but it s hard to get everyone together for any length of time. I am now starting to realize just how difficult it is to not only start a new clinic, but to do it with no trained staff! They are an enthusiastic bunch of nurses but it s so hard not to have someone who can help you figure out everything. On top of that, the hospital is doing the accreditation thing so there a lots of extra things I also have to do outside of the clinic. We are all used to being in IVF clinics that run fairly independently even if they are within a hospital. Here we are unfortunately involved and caught up in everything that is going on in the hospital also. And did I mention that IT wants us to help them set up a whole IVF module that can integrate into the current hospital system. So we have to spend a lot of time essentially reinventing the wheel and trying to explain to IT people with no IVF background just what we require for IVF software. We have already spent months having meeting with them and have some very, very basic forms on-line (with spelling mistakes that result in things like follicies, instant eggs, fragile zone and embriyology ). Needless to say, they are not native English speakers (all from Turkey) and to make any small changes (even spelling) they have to get it done in Turkey. I interviewed a new staff member on Wednesday (one with some IVF background yay!). She was given an exam by the hospital to do and when I asked them what exam she was given, they told me the IVF exam. Mmm, some of you may remember my exnursing director trying to write an IVF exam of which I printed some examples in this newsletter. I returned it to her at the time saying it was inaccurate and inappropriate and we would be happy to write one for her if required. Well I heard nothing back but it seems that she thought she would pass it on to nursing office to use anyway!!! They thought I wrote it (if they knew anything about IVF, they would sack me if they thought I wrote that!). These a just a few of the many challenges I face every day so you can see I have my work cut out for me. If anyone ever asks you if you want to set up a new clinic that they are still building, in Saudi Arabia, in a Ministry of Health hospital, my advice would be to say no! I m sure I will look back and feel some sense of achievement but at the moment I just feel hugely overwhelmed by the task in front of me. On a more positive note, I spent a month in Alaska in August and also got married on a glacier while I was there! For anyone who wants to see some photos, go to I can highly recommend travel to Alaska it is such a beautiful place (if a little expensive!). Page 5

6 Now I have to spend the next year trying to get this clinic up and running to a point that I can walk away from it (although I don t know that it will ever be the right time to do that). It would be nice to at least be here long enough for the first baby to be born! I don t think the Head of the Unit will be terribly happy when I leave as he and I have pretty much done most of the work together, but I need to get on with life outside of Saudi. Our plan is to leave here towards the end of 2008 and head back to Oz. The immigration papers are in process for Gustaf and I need to start spending a little less money on holidays! It is quite a huge task leaving Saudi it was much easier coming over. Trying to organize visas, send things home, find good jobs in the same city, find a place to live, buy a car, move things out of storage and generally just get started all over again. We also have different contract dates and notice requirements at work and Gustaf s housing is paid a year in advance so we need to be mindful of when we actually leave. Next year may be a bit of an unknown quantity as we try to figure all this out. So hopefully, by late next year I will be looking for a job (preferably in Brisbane but will depend on where Gustaf finds work) - feel free to contact me if you have any positions coming up! I will send another update closer to the time and will let you know what my plans are. Meanwhile I hope to go to ESHRE in Barcelona next July since it will probably be my only chance to get there. I have really missed attending conferences while I have been over here. And with a bit of luck I might also see our first IVF baby before I leave. Inshallah Queensland Report We will be holding our first meeting on the 27th March at Dell Ugo Restaurant New Farm Brisbane. Dr Warren De Ambrosis will be speaking on The Poor Responder the night is kindly sponsored by John from Organon. Friday 1st March, Kirsty from Serono sponsored a meeting of the senior Nurses from Queensland Metropolitan clinics who met to organize our Nurses Day prior to the FSA conference in October. We have settled on a theme, planned speakers, and generally debated the all important social program. We hope to old our second meeting to report back on our homework tasks on the 18th April. a.. FSA Annual Scientific Meeting - Nurses Day for 2008 will be in Brisbane October 18th The Chiffley Hotel Rooms from $152 per night Page 6

7 Treasurer s Report Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Louise Younger who has been the Treasurer of FNA for the past few years and for the wonderful job she did in keeping the finances in order. Thank you on behalf of all the FNA members Lou!! FNA is always grateful for the generous financial and educational support of our Gold sponsors, Serono and Organon, and our bronze sponsor Bayer. Without such great support we would not be able to continue in the way that we currently do. In 2007 FNA sponsorship changed and one FNA member from each unit had their registration to attend the workshop attached to FSA funded. This appeared to work quite well and will continue for 2008 but please be mindful to send in a reimbursement form with receipts/tax invoice by the deadline given. FNA will also continue to cover expenses for local meetings etc but must also be submitted with a claims form and I will forward this onto WSM for reimbursement. Any large expenses can alternatively be put on to the FNA Mastercard so please feel free to contact me and I can give you the details re this. I wish all FNA members a happy, healthy and financially prosperous 2008! Sue Stephens FNA Treasurer sstephens@monashivf.com Victorian State Report Firstly, we would like to welcome all new Victorian members of FNA for 2008 and hope that you enjoy being part of our group. Please feel free to make any comments or offer suggestions to us regarding what you would like as members. We finished 2007 with a dinner meeting in November sponsored by Bayer. It was held at The Victorian in Albert Park and the topic was Menevit It was attended by approximately 25 members and was enjoyed by all. We are planning on another local meeting in April and will keep you informed of the place and venue. It is always a great time to get together and learn something over a drink and a chat. We are lucky enough to be hosting the Mid Year Workshop here in Melbourne on Saturday 31 st May on Presentation Skills and Public Speaking. The venue and area is fantastic and we have a great speaker lined up for the day that is sure to get us all enthused in wanting to get up and talk in public and teach us skills in how to overcome those nerves that most of us get. It should be a fun day and we hope that as many of you as possible are able to attend. It is free to FNA members and airfares are cheap so there is really no reason why everyone can t come! Sue Stephens and Jo Fenby FNA Victoria Page 7

8 Fertility Nurse Humour This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph. It's PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best webmail-award-winning letter. Dear Mr. Thatcher, I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants. Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing? As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying, jags, and out-of-control behaviour. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.' Are you fu*ing kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us? Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bull sh*t. And that's a promise I will keep. Always. Best, Wendi Aarons Austin, TX Page 8

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10 FNA State Report for South Australia (November 2007) I would like to thank Sue Komazec (Flinders Reproductive Medicine) and Karen Marcus (Repromed) for their hard work and dedication during their time as SA State reps. I look forward to carrying on the good work with Sue Opie from Repromed (Adelaide) and meeting other FNA reps and members. We are having a Nurse Education meeting on Tuesday 11 th December at the Hyde Park Hotel with guest speakers Dr Kelton Tremellen presenting on Menevit Dr Denise Furness present DNA Damage, Folate & Homocysteine in Pregnancy We would like to thank Bayer and Serono for their support. Karen Brown FNA Rep for South Australia

11 Farewell to Heather Denholm: A 30 year contribution Heather Denholm was Nurse Co-ordinator at Flinders Reproductive Medicine from 1977 until her retirement in July Heather was closely involved in the establishment of the IVF program at Flinders in 1979 with Professor Warren Jones. During her time at Flinders she has demonstrated immense dedication both to the Unit and her professional practice. Heather was on the organizing committee for the FSA meeting in Adelaide in 1986, served two terms ( ) on the Executive of the Fertility Society of Australia and has been a strong advocate for the specialist role of the nurse in the area of reproductive medicine. She recognised the need for fertility nurses to have a formalised national organisation through which to network, disseminate and share knowledge and experiences. In 1990 she instigated the formation of the Nurses Special Interest Group which later became the Fertility Nurses of Australia, was the first Chairperson of this organisation and was subsequently on the Executive. She has similarly supported the development of consumer support bodies in Australia; and was made a life member of OASIS, the previous SA consumer support group. Within Flinders Medical Centre, Heather has advocated for the needs of people experiencing fertility difficulty, educating colleagues and students about infertility, its causes and treatments and the social, emotional and cultural aspects impinging upon people s lives. Above all, Heather has demonstrated both courageous honesty and professional dedication and these attributes infuse her work and are respected by all who know her. At Flinders Reproductive Medicine we enjoyed a celebration of the 30 years of service of Heather Denholm and wish her lots of happy times in her retirement.