Working Life - Marian Connolly, nurse manager

6.40am I’ve a short drive from my home, in Templeogue, to Tallaght Hospital.

7.15am

The night manager gives me the nursing and operational report, an outline of what happened during the night.

8.30am

I meet with clinical nurse managers from clinical areas, emergency department (ED), outpatient department and day ward, and relevant clinical-nurse specialists. A consultant from the ED, and an in-house consultant, are also present. We look at overnighters in our ED, and try to allocate them beds, as discharges occur. We look at elective/booked admissions. The last 24 hours are discussed and we look to identify risks for the day ahead, trying to be proactive, rather than reactive. Afterwards, I check in with colleagues at Temple St Children’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, in Crumlin, to get an update on their bed status.

9.30am

Local child protection meeting, attendees include social workers, consultants, nurse specialists and representatives from Tusla.

11am

Interviews in HR. We’re going through a very exciting phase, at the moment, as we are the first children’s hospital in lreland to open a short-stay observation unit (SSOU) and, today, we are interviewing for staff. The SSOU will allow children with conditions, like gastroenteritis or asthma, to be monitored for a couple of hours. It’s designed to make a child’s hospital stay shorter and delivery of care more efficient.

1.30pm

I break for lunch.

2pm

We have a repeat of our morning ‘heads up’ to see how the day is progressing. The ED can be very busy and we review how best to place the patients. Further contacts take place with the other children’s hospitals

2.30pm

Travel to St James’s Hospital to meet with colleagues from other children’s hospitals and the Children’s Hospital Group. We are discussing activity across the three sites, looking at waiting lists, efficiencies, and how best to integrate the services, when we move to one site in the new children’s hospital. A very exciting meeting.

5pm

Back to base in Tallaght, check emails and clinical areas. Head home satisfied, try to go for a walk and relax.

- Marian Connolly is directorate nurse manager, National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght.