Growing up in Eden, a small town within the Bega Valley Shire, rural nursing has always been my passion.   Living in a small community with limited health services, my vision is to positively impact the health service industry in rural and regional areas.   Experiencing the lack of resources within a rural area, my peers and family have to travel long distances for basic health care needs and staff shortages, I view these challenges as an opportunity for personal and professional growth and it would be an accomplishment to overcome these.   I wish to become a rural nurse for the deep level of person-centred care developed within these unique settings.   Fostering a sense of belonging and connection with patients creates a sense of belonging in a close-knit community which I believe would be highly fulfilling.   Working within a culturally diverse rural community will enable me to experience a broader scope of practice compared to metropolitan hospitals, this offers invaluable and ongoing learning which I strive for throughout my career.

Throughout my degree, I have had the privilege to complete several clinical placements in rural/regional NSW which has been a major influence.   Undertaking the unique challenges and opportunities these hospitals have had to offer, I have felt the most supported and welcomed by all healthcare professionals.   As a result, I am extremely grateful to be offered a full time new graduate position.

I am aware, however, that rural/regional nursing comes with its challenges which I have experienced throughout my degree.   Attending university just months after graduating year 12, I have found the past 3 years to be significantly financial challenging, balancing part-time work, studying fulltime and independently supporting myself.

1st-Semester Placement
In the first semester of my 3rd year of nursing, I attended placement in the Intensive Care Unit at South East Regional Hospital, Bega. The placement was for 4 weeks, and I completed a range of AM and PM shifts. Although a high-needs unit made me nervous, within the first week I found myself thoroughly enjoying the workload and the influx of new skills and knowledge. With the opportunity to practice my skills on more critically ill patients, I was required to use critical decision making and I learnt how to efficiently manage my time. With a broad scope of practice, I was able to take on a patient load and felt supported when caring for patients with complex needs. Some highlights include watching a cardioversion, tracheostomy care, and providing care for a patient experiencing severe anorexia nervosa. All the staff were part of a close-knit team, they were extremely welcoming and willing to teach.

2nd Semester placement
My second semester and final placement was in the Vascular and Urology ward at Wollongong Hospital. The placement was 5 weeks long and I completed AM shifts. Although it was a distance to travel (5 hours) it was a great experience, and I learnt a lot. Having the two specialties together, I gained a more in-depth understanding of the two areas as all the patients were experiencing similar illnesses. Throughout my placement, I took on patient loads and I made the most of the last learning as a student. Some highlights include learning wound care of various amputations, gaining competence and confidence in several clinical skills, and building rapport with a range of interesting patients, one being a psychic. Attending placement in a metropolitan hospital, however, made me appreciate the uniqueness of regional and smaller hospitals. I recognised there was not a close-knit community bond and unfortunately, some staff were not enthusiastic about teaching students. Overall, it was a great experience, and I had the opportunity to attend some great in-services run by incredibly skilled staff members and specialists. I learned and grew a lot as a student during this placement.

For my first rotation at South East Regional Hospital, I was placed in the mental health inpatient unit. It has two sections, the high dependency unit, and the low dependency unit. So far, for most of my shifts, I have worked in the low-dependency unit as high dependency is open only when it’s required. It is mostly an adult unit; however, I have cared for consumers as young as 15 who are required to be specialled by one nurse. Experiencing a different side of nursing, although the area isn’t as clinical, I have developed a wide range of skills including de-escalation techniques, assessment of mental states, effective communication and participated in violence prevention management training. Part of mental health nursing includes participating in code blacks which is when a patient or other person poses a serious safety risk to others in the organisation.

Although I was nervous being part of the code black team, I have been able to experience different parts of the hospital and interact with a wide range of health professionals and external members including paramedics and police to provide mental health care to those in need. On the ward, I have found there is a large amount of paperwork which has taken a while to wrap my head around. So far, I have been caring for 2-5 patients per shift and I have experienced a wide range of mental health illnesses and disorders, and I am fascinated to observe the different presentations in people. Some of the many mental health illnesses/disorders I have cared for include consumers experiencing depression, generalised anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoia, suicidal ideation, and withdrawal from a wide range of drugs and alcohol. From making appointments, accommodating leave, communicating with family members, attending reviews, tribunals, and Community Treatment Order (CTO) hearings, shifts can get very busy.

The aspect I enjoy most about mental health is spending time with consumers and building a strong rapport to provide person-centred care. Consumers can stay for a few days up to months on the ward which has allowed me to build strong rapport and observe the treatment process over a long period. The team on the mental health ward including nurses, HASAs, doctors, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, social workers, and more multidisciplinary members have all been extremely kind and welcoming which has made my first few months as a registered nurse very enjoyable. The team has supported and provided me with a wide range of education, skills, and knowledge which I am extremely grateful for and has allowed me to thrive within my role. As a specialty area, the fascinating nature of mental health nursing has changed my way of thinking and has already taught me so much that will be utilised moving forward onto my next rotation and in my everyday life.