Toni Hoffman on Whistleblowing in Nursing

If you ever wanted to know how far the rabbit hole for our mandate as patient advocate goes, then Toni’s story will answer that question. After working internationally, she started her Master of Bioethics and took a position at Bundaberg Base Hospital as the Nurse Unit Manager of a small ICU. The small country ICU appealed as she thought it would allow plenty of time to study.  This was not to be the case when surgeon Dr Jayant Patel came to Bundaberg Base Hospital. For two years Toni raised concerns about his practice, outcomes and behaviour but these fell on deaf ears. In fact discrediting Toni was apparently easier than addressing issues surrounding Dr Patel.  Sue talks to Toni about what whistleblowing in nursing looks like, and what the future holds, as Toni wants to continue to contribute to the profession of nursing by advocacy for patients and nurses by improving patient safety and in the education of nurses in Australia.