Bincy Abraham wins Nurse of the Year

Bincy works in the Aged Services Emergency Team (ASET) at Blacktown Hospital which proudly took out the Team of the Year Award at the District’s annual nursing and midwifery awards, in celebration of International Nurses and Midwives Day in May.

The team supports patients aged over 70 years of age who are admitted to hospital through the emergency department to ensure they have adequate care after discharge.  

“Our aim is to keep our elderly independent, happy and as safe as possible in the community,” Bincy said.  

She works with a network of doctors, nurses, allied health staff and has formed relationships with local government organisations and aged care facilities.  

Bincy said that learning people’s stories helps her understand what type of supports will be required after their hospital care is complete.    

“I'm very passionate about older people, getting to know them. Most of the elderly have a story and it's wonderful to get to know it. Understanding their psychosocial background helps you to plan their care better,” Bincy said.

Her focus is providing the best pathway for every patient – whether that is to return to their home, living with relatives or seeking a placement in a residential aged care facility.  

“Western Sydney caters for a greater number of non-English speaking population and there are vast differences in health literacy and cultural perspectives on how an elderly person is treated,” Bincy said.

Having grown up in India and working as a nurse in Kerala before moving to Ireland, Bincy found herself in Australia when she began working at Westmead Hospital before this role in geriatrics at Blacktown Hospital.  

Her experience working different countries and with cultures has given her insight into the impact of providing culturally safe care as we age.  

While some families or cultures may expect or choose to have an elderly family member move in with them, that won’t be possible or desired by all families.  

“My team sees elderly patients with complex family dynamics, differing expectations around care, mostly around the cultural aspect and language barriers,” Bincy said.

Bincy said these discussions around care planning are being addressed with patients well before their discharge, from as early as when they are admitted to the emergency department through collaboration with a range of partners, including the Emergency Department teams and Aged Care Assessment Team.

“We strongly believe that if we work together as a team and collaborate with our stakeholders, we can bring a wonderful outcome for our elderly population,” Bincy said.

Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Maria Lingam, says the award recognises a nurse who has made an outstanding contribution in providing and coordinating safe, quality and compassionate patient care.

"Bincy is known for her genuine empathy and her ability to connect with patients on a personal level, ensuring they feel heard, respected, and supported during challenging times.

"Bincy’s commitment to quality, professional and patient-centred care is reflected in every aspect of her practice," Maria said.

Bincy credits past and current mentors for her achievements and is hopeful for the future.  

“I'm blessed with some great mentors who helped me and guided me,” Bincy said.  

The Nurse of the Year reflects that each pathway starts with a conversation.

“Having that conversation and building that trust with patients and families at the start is the key,” Bincy said.