How long have you been working at St John of God Subiaco Hospital?
More than 20 years at St John of God Health Care, initially at St John of God Murdoch Hospital for nine years before moving to St John of God Subiaco Hospital in 2008.
How did you become a nurse practitioner?
I commenced my career as an enrolled nurse working in orthopaedics, undertaking registered nursing studies in 2000 and completing a Masters in Pain Management at the University of Notre Dame (Fremantle) in 2007.
With the support of a Sisters of St John of God scholarship and my nursing and medical mentors, I completed my second Masters through Curtin University to become a Nurse Practitioner.
I have been in my current role at the hospital since April 2012 and was the first Nurse Practitioner to work in pain in a private hospital in Australia.
What does your job entail?
My role can be divided into three areas: the clinical work I undertake, teaching and research, and clinical leadership. Clinically, I provide pain management consultancy to hospital inpatients who are referred to the Pain Service.
Patients referred to the pain service are experiencing high levels of acute pain on admission to hospital, postoperative pain or adverse effects to prescribed analgesia. I identify the significant association of pain and anxiety in many of our patients, which has the potential to influence patient outcomes whilst in hospital and post discharge. Often it is time spent with these patients and follow up reviews that can positively influence their hospital experience from a person centred perspective.
Establishing trust with patients, listening to concerns, and providing pain management education are key factors in successful patient pain management, in addition to prescribing a safe and effective pharmacological management plan.
I am an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame’s (Fremantle) School of Medicine, teaching the junior doctor workforce and nursing caregivers on ward rounds and providing them the latest, practical knowledge of pain medicine in the classroom.
Clinical leadership is an important part of my role. I endeavour to support my nursing and medical colleagues clinically to provide patients with the highest standard of care. I encourage my nursing colleagues to pursue ongoing professional and personal development opportunities and be the best they can be. Currently we are undergoing many changes in healthcare delivery models of care. As a role model and advocate for nursing I work to promote the diversity and value of nursing roles as key members of the interdisciplinary team.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are alike as my day is responsive to patients’ pain management needs.
I start my day by reviewing urgent cases referred to the service and providing a follow up review of patients seen the day before. An important part of my role is to assist ward caregivers in preparing these patients for discharge by providing a discharge analgesic plan and patient education.
Patients identified as at risk of developing chronic pain or prescribed high dose opioids for discharge may be reviewed in the Nurse Practitioner-led Acute Pain Discharge Clinic seven to 10 days after leaving hospital.
The rest of my workday involves, policy reviews, project roles and being part of hospital committees.
What has been a highlight of your career?
I cannot pinpoint a moment that has been my career highlight as working as a nurse practitioner is an ongoing privilege for me.
I am grateful to receive the continued support of my team to provide care for our patients. The opportunity to work alongside great nursing and medical colleagues to ensure positive patient experience from a pain perspective is the highlight of every working week for me.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
I have a wonderful husband, five now grown up gorgeous children and two beautiful grandchildren who keep us all very busy. Family time is really important to us, regardless of what is going on in our lives. We always share in a weekly Sunday evening dinner together and also catch up with close friends over coffee or dinner over most weekends.
Our family has a keen interest in sport, particularly AFL and cricket which we follow closely in Western Australia and with regular trips to Melbourne. In my spare time I enjoy lap swimming and Pilates to keep fit.
