A second major Melbourne hospital is reducing the hours of junior nurses, causing concern and calls for explanation from the health minister. The Royal Melbourne Hospital has informed its 2024 intake of early career nurses to expect fewer hours next year. This decision follows a similar move by Alfred Health, where hundreds of junior nurses saw their working week reduced from 32 hours to 24.
At the Royal Melbourne Hospital, current graduates have been told to expect a 0.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) workload next year, down from 0.8 FTE. This means a decrease from a four-day working week to a three-day week. Managers cited limited positions available as the reason for the reduction, despite protests from the affected nurses.
The hospital defended its decision by pointing out that public nurses recently received a pay rise under a new agreement between the nursing union and the state government. However, affected nurses argue that a 0.6 FTE role does not provide enough income to meet the cost of living. They are concerned that they will not be able to make up for the lost hours by picking up extra shifts, as these are often filled by pool or agency nurses.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victoria is seeking more information and plans to represent the affected members. They emphasize the importance of supporting graduate nurses, as they are the future of the nursing workforce. Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier called for the health minister to intervene and provide support for the affected nurses.
The decision to reduce junior nursing hours comes at a time of tension between hospital CEOs and the government over funding arrangements. While the public health system received a significant funding boost in the recent budget, hospitals were warned that future budgets would be limited, leading to concerns about service cuts and workforce stress.
Despite government claims that the reduction in nursing hours is not related to funding, sources within the health department express worries about the financial strain on the already stressed nursing workforce. The move to cut hours for graduate nurses has raised concerns about the support and value given to new nurses entering the profession.
The issue highlights the challenges faced by the healthcare system in balancing financial constraints with the need to support and retain a skilled nursing workforce. As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for stakeholders to work together to ensure that the future of nursing in Victoria remains strong and sustainable.
