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Winter 2003

Alison's Dilemma

Alison Beer is a newly graduated medication endorsed EN working at Grenoch Nursing Home. Alison has a dilemma shared by many ENs.

On some shifts she is employed as a carer and other shifts as an EN. At times this means making some difficult decisions about her role and responsibilities. It also requires Alison and her co-workers to adapt to different roles.

"Working as a carer and EN, there's a big difference in what I do on those different shifts," Alison said. "There are sometimes difficulties about what I do when I am working as a carer. What happens when there is a duty that needs to be performed which is a duty of an EN?"

"I've been told that if I go to court the law says that I'm qualified and responsible. But I've also been told I'm not to do those duties. I guess it comes back to training. You need to know about vicarious liability."

Alison's dilemma is an example of exactly why ENs need proper training. Luckily for Alison, she has an understanding of her competing instructions and responsibilities. How many ENs/carers don't?

In addition to the issues of carers versus Ens responsibilities, Alison also identified difficulties with RNs knowing their responsibilities to ENs.

"Here at Grenoch we know each other fairly well and there is a broad trust. But through my training I found out some RNs didn't know what ENs needed supervision with and what we didn't. Similarly, some ENs have difficulties being recognised as responsible for some of the duties of the carers."

Alison believes the establishment of a Worksite Committee at her workplace has been very positive. She believes the Worksite Committee is also forum where EN issues can be raised.