Patricia "Pat" McLean
2020 was the Year of the Nurse & Midwife. During the global pandemic of 2020, the tireless efforts of our frontline staff and care workers became paramount. Pat is one of nine nurses nominated by our partner, the Queensland Nurses & Midwives Union (QNMU), who have gone above and beyond.
Pat McLean is an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN) who currently works as a community nurse. Originally, she started work as a ‘domestic’ in an aged care facility. Two weeks into that position the Matron of the day recognised her ability to deal with critically important issues regarding the residents and arranged to have her taught to be an assistant nurse. This was a position she held for over 30 years except for when she had her children.
Pat had a family history of dementia which led her to specialise in this area of nursing. As she aged, issues regarding safety, work conditions and wages led her to lobby on behalf of her peers and participate in Enterprise Bargaining processes.
The federal government provided the opportunity for her to upgrade her qualifications to EEN. Pat was able to obtain a position as a community nurse that allowed her to be a holistic nurse for the clients in her care. During this time, she has continued to lobby for better wages and conditions for all nurses in aged care.
It has always been her goal to strive to ensure that younger nurses coming through are supported and receive the education required to provide good quality care to the elderly while trying to ensure that nurses in aged care are recognised as equal to public sector nurses.
#inhername #yearofthenurseandmidwife
