Verna Rathmann (nee Geriecke) was from country South Australia and went on to have a distinguished career in nursing. She went on to become Director of Nursing of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Early Childhood
Verna Dorothy Gericke was born on 22nd October 1933 in Peterborough to parents Lewis Benjamin Gericke and Dorothy Rose Willmott. Her early childhood was spent on a farm in Oodlawirra in South Australia’s far north. Along with her older brother Ron (born 1932), she was home schooled via “School of the Air” program. As a former teacher her mother was able to help with schooling. During the depression the family moved to Port Pirie where Verna attended the local school.
By 15 years old she was showing interest in healthcare by gaining her first St John’s First Aid certificate. This was followed by a Home Nursing certificate.
A Career in Nursing
A career in nursing began in 1952 when Verna began nursing training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) graduating in 1954. She was then appointed as a Staff Nurse at the RAH on 21st November 1954. Within 2 months she was promoted to position of Charge Sister on 31st January 1955. Her work took her to a variety of wards including medical, surgical and casualty. She remained in this position until 1967.
In 1957 Verna took time away from RAH to train in Midwifery at The Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital in Rose Park.
From 1967 to 1970 she worked as Supervisory Sister at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Within this position she worked in Intensive Care, High Dependency Care, General Surgery, Casualty and Orthopaedics.
Having been awarded the Florence Nightingale Fellowship for College study, which allows students to gain further qualifications at other institutions, Verna completed a Diploma of Nursing Administration in Melbourne.
From 1971 to 1973, Verna was seconded to the Public Service Board as a Work Studies Officer.
From 1973 to 1975, she was a Management Services Officer (Nursing) in the Hospitals Department, undertaking staffing and method studies in government, government subsidised and private hospitals throughout South Australia, covering all categories of professional and non professional staffing.
From 1975 to 1982 She was an Assistant Director of Nursing at the RAH.
Her appointment as a Justice of the Peace dates from 23rd December 1976.
Later (1978 – 1979) Verna would complete the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration at the Uni of SA, then still called the SA Institute of Technology.
Verna was granted the RAH Travelling Fellowship for Overseas study; visiting Melbourne and Sydney prior to her departure for America, Canada and Britain on August 30th, 1980. The trip included visits to major teaching and University hospitals in San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto, Rochester, Boston, New York, Baltimore, London, Oxford and Edinburgh, and her study encompassed patient dependencies, quality assurance and staffing patterns.
For many years she held offices at the RANF – now the Australian Nurses Federation (ANF). These included Vice President and President of the Administrator’s section (1977-81 and 1981 – 1984). She was also VP and President of the Nurses Memorial Centre (1978 – 1984).
Director of Nursing
1975 saw Verna appointed Assistant Matron at the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Verna was appointed as Director of Nursing at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1982. Prior to leaving for TQEH the staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital put on a farewell dinner for Mrs Rathmann.
She always brought the Nursing Division in on budget – a rare achievement in the public service. There were 3 Assistant directors of Nursing which later increased to 7 with the advent of the new Career Structure in 1986. She was responsible initially for approximately 1000 Nurses and in excess of 600 beds. Soon after she arrived at TQEH she changed the skill mix in the wards by increasing the numbers of Registered Nurses.
Verna ensured that job descriptions were prepared for all levels of staff, and that nurses received their correct salary even when this meant the payment of arrears.
She fought hard when a move to see nursing as a business led to pressure to reduce Nursing staff numbers and she managed to prove that the department was already under staffed as shown by the Booze-Allen review.
She introduced a Quality Assurance programme and led TQEH Nursing service in 3 successful reviews for accreditation. Verna supported the introduction of new technology, namely computers, and ensured that staff had appropriate training. In 1985 Verna travelled to London to recruit Registered Nurses with additional qualifications to work at TQEH, also taking some leave that enabled her to tour England.
Verna travelled all over Australia for the Australian College of Healthcare Standards as a member of accreditation teams assessing hospital services to ensure that they met Australian standards.
In 1990 she introduced the delivery of meals on pre – set trays, prepared in the new kitchen, which then left nurses free to concentrate on feeding and supporting patients. Another practical change was in the area of security, where improved external lighting and security alarms increased safety on hospital grounds.
In 1986 Verna directed the implementation of the new Career Structure for Nursing at TQEH. Staff development was another of her passions – when Verna arrived at the hospital only one member of her staff had a degree. She encouraged nurses to pursue tertiary education and provided opportunities for that to occur. She also streamlined clinical placements for student nurses, and oversaw the move from hospital based training to University education. The hospital took in its last group of students in 1991. These nurses were later encouraged to gain Bachelor and Master level degrees via continuing education. A system of providing placements for University Students was developed. As the employment of University students increased, Nurse Educators were relocated into the wards in order to support them. A preceptorship program was also introduced.
Her contributions to improved patient care included the purchase of new beds, bedside lockers and chairs as well as the planning of the High Dependency ward.
She introduced triage nursing in the Emergency Department and, with the assistance of Ms Diane Beveridge, ensured the refurbishment of the Midwifery section and approved the establishment of Birthing Units.
Projects included Nursing Outreach Services, such as the setting up of dialysis services in regional areas, so that patients had better access to quality care.
Verna established links with the University of S.A. to develop Post Basic courses in Emergency care, Critical Care, Coronary care, Perioperative and Renal Nursing. While she saw the theory as the province of the University, she insisted that the lecturers were clinically based at TQEH. This meant that the courses were relevant to real practice.
Verna worked hard in conjunction with the ANF to introduce Ward Clerks to assist nursing staff.
Retirement
After a long and distinguished career Verna retired on 12th July 1996.
On 26th January 2004 Verna was awarded Member for the Order of Australia (OAM) “for service to nursing in South Australia as an administrator, and through the development of nursing skills and knowledge to ensure quality patient care”.
Mrs Vera Dorothy Rathmann nee Gericke passed away on 23rd January 2012.
Written by Kellie Branson, CALHN Health Museum
