JourneyOnline
Blue Care nurses are being hailed for their contribution to the Queensland community on International Nurses Day today, May 12, with more than 70,000 home visits made each month to those in need.
Blue Care Director of Community Services Linda Dawson said Blue Care nurses are at the forefront of community nursing and are recognised for their invaluable contribution not only as carers but also as clinical leaders, researchers and policy makers.
“There are more than 650 Blue Care community nurses across Queensland and northern New South Wales and International Nurses Day is a great opportunity to reflect on the important work they do and say thank you,” Ms Dawson said.
“Community nursing visits not only encourage maximum independence and enhance quality of life but they provide companionship which can have a profound positive impact on the lives of isolated clients.
“Our community nurses have come a long way since 1953 when the first house call was made to a patient by Sister Olive Crombie in an iconic blue uniform.
“In the 50s trams were the mode of transport used to get to clients, now the fleet of Blue Care vehicles have become eminent on Queensland roads, travelling more than 30 million kilometres each year.
“The theme of International Nurses Day this year focuses on nurses leading chronic care, an area Blue Care is keen to develop further given about 75 per cent of our community clients suffer from three or more chronic conditions at any one time.”
Earlier this year, Blue Care partnered up in an Australian-first chronic disease program which appoints a community nurse as the central contact for the coordination of client care with service providers and health professionals.
Blue Care started as the Blue Nursing Service in 1953 and has grown into one of Australia’s largest providers of community health and residential aged care. Blue Care staff and volunteers support the elderly, people with a disability and others in need in the community to remain independent for as long as possible.
