Jessica Adams
Rotary Club of Sale
Rural Nursing Scholarship 2018/2019
Federation University, Gippsland Campus, Vic
Final Rural Placement – Bairnsdale Regional Health Centre
Post Grad Placement – Central Gippsland Health (Sale)
Why do I wish to do rural and remote training?
I have always wanted to practice in an environment that is challenging, interesting, rewarding and makes a difference in an individuals life on a daily basis, therefore, I want to pursue my nursing carer in a rural community from birth, I am aware of the limited resources available. I have a good understanding of the health and social issues within my rural community and want to intervene and make a difference. I am aware of the distance people need to travel to attend appointments in metropolitan areas to manage their acute and chronic conditions. I really want to support these people within the rural community to lessen the need to make these trips.
With education and ongoing care provided in the rural setting by rural nurses, many people will be able to lead a healthy lifestyle and remain close to home. Through a diverse range of placements in rural communities, I have thoroughly enjoy developing strong relationships and patients, families and follow colleagues. I have enjoyed delivering high quality nursing care to the rural community and loved working in an environment that is culturally diverse, increasing my knowledge about different beliefs and values, and being able to provide culturally competent care to individuals. In all my rural clinical experiences, I have felt valued, and have achieved patients heath care goals through liaising with the multi-disciplinary team. Rural nursing has always consumed my interest due to the variety of complex health care opportunities. I am very passionate about caring for people with a variety of different illnesses and chronic diseases, which rural nursing offers.
Furthermore, I understand that client education and professional development is a vital component of rural nursing, which also increases my interest immensely. Rural nursing has already offered me a wide range of clinical experience and is constantly challenging me. Everyday as a rural enrolled nurse. I learn something new from my colleagues or patients, which inspires me to build on my current knowledge and explore new procedures and techniques.
I love the opportunity to work in diverse clinical settings as a rural nurse, learning the difference procedures and routine in each individual ward. I am very enthused to commence my extensive registered nursing career in my rural community, and am very excited to make a positive change to the health of the community.
Final (University) Rural Report
During my last clinical placement as a student Registered Nurse, the experience and knowledge I gained was incredible. I was placed in the Emergency Department at Latrobe Regional Health where each day was a new learning experience and was full of great opportunities. The thrill of not knowing what was coming through the doors was exciting but also frightening. I was constantly thinking to myself, what illness is coming in next? What if I do not know the condition? What if I cannot help them? Thankfully, the nursing team were exceptional and were able to help guide me in the right direction, putting my mind at ease.
Each day was different in the Emergency Department, and each cubicle would provide me with a different experience. When a patient first comes into the cubicle, the clinical team needs to determine what illness or condition the patient is suffering from. To determine this, there is a diverse range of different diagnostic techniques that can be utilised, for example DRABCDE format, clinical assessment, history taking, head to toe examination, and completing vital signs. Being able to complete this several times a day had increased my confidence and had developed my clinical and documentation skills immensely since learning the skills at university. Furthermore, treating multiple conditions at once had helped me develop efficient time management skills and had given me the opportunity to provide high level of care individually, and in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
There was so much to learn in the Emergency Department. I really enjoyed learning how to assess a patient, the different documentation techniques, and the triage system. Furthermore, I learnt what to do in an emergency situation where time is critical. It was amazing to see the team work together effectively and provide life saving treatment quickly and efficiently. Each different person within the room had a different role to play, which was visibly displayed with a sticker stating their job, for example ‘scribe’. It was great to be involved in emergency situations and being able to learn and administer the various advance life support medications.
It was incredible to see patients coming into the Emergency Department critically ill, some in excruciating pain and not being able to move, to then walk out of the Emergency Department with a smile was so rewarding. This placement has provided me with so many opportunities and has increased my knowledge base immensely. Being able to consolidate my skills in such an intense and fast paced environment was just incredible. I have learnt to stay focused and self-governing in stressful situations from the diverse range of clinical experiences. It was an amazing experience that helped me immensely in my final days of university and had made me extremely excited to commence my graduate program at Central Gippsland Health.
Post Grad Rural Placement Report
This year has been so educational and has been a great experience in all my clinical rotations. I first started in Maffra where I increase my skills with venepuncture and vein selection. In addition I had plenty of opportunity to perform subcutaneous, intravenous, and intramuscular injections on clients, which has increased my confidence significantly. My second rotation was in the Emergency Department (ED). This rotation would have to be my favourite out of the three. I have learnt so much, especially how to administer ALS medications safely and rapidly, how to read an electrocardiogram (ECG), and how to perform a thorough head to toe assessment. Currently, my final rotation is in theatre where I have been assisting the anaesthetist with airway management, administering medications, and putting in artificial airways. Furthermore, I have scrubbed and scouted where I have learnt all the different surgical equipment and dressings.
Following my graduate year, I have been accepted in the high acuity program. In this program, it offers eight months in the ED working in the resus bays and four months in the critical care unit looking after very unwell and ventilated patients. I chose to do this program as I want to develop and increase my clinical skills, and I am still unsure of what I want to do in the future. All I really know is that I want to specialise in a high acuity area and become the best possible nurse I can be.
To conclude, I would like to thank ARH and Rotary Club of Sale and all my sponsors for all for the support throughout this year and for the scholarship. It has provided me with many opportunities to attend education seminars without worrying about the costs involved. My favourite workshop would have to be Simon Plapp’s recognising and responding to clinical deterioration. Thank you for contributing to my nursing career and making me the enthusiastic and eager nurse I am today. I will never forget the financial support and kindness you have all showed me. I am forever thankful.