June 2019
Regional & Remote special feature + Nurse-led models of care provide best outcomes in regional communities + Greater mental health training opportunities needed in rural Australia + Pain education vital to improving health outcomes in rural Australia + Mental health experts vital in the fight against domestic violence
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 03
June 2019 We hope you enjoy perusing the range of opportunities included in this issue. If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportuities, please contact the advertiser directly via the contact details provided. If you have any queries about our publication or would like to receive our publication, please email us at contact@healthtimes.com.au DISTRIBUTION 46,300
Advertiser list Australian College of Nursing Australian Volunteers International Breastfeeding Conferences CCM Recruitment International DV Alert Family Planning NSW
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 05
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 07
What’s on at Family Planning NSW Professional development courses in 2019
Family Planning NSW is a leader in providing reproductive and sexual health education to over 1200 professionals annually in health, community and education sectors across NSW. Our clinical education courses equip doctors, nurses and midwives to provide clinical advice and management of reproductive and sexual health to clients. Many of our programs comprise online learning, workshops, simulated practice and/or clinical practice components to provide hands-on learning experience.
Cervical Screening Program Update Webinars 7 Aug, 4 Sept, 6 Nov IUD Case Discussion Evening 8 Aug (Ashfield) Refresher Day for Doctors A one day high-level forum for doctors covering the latest research and best practices 31 Aug (Ashfield) FPAA National Certificate in Sexual & Reproductive Health for Doctors - Face-to-face Course includes online learning, five day workshop and clinical placements. Workshop dates for course: 9 - 13 Sept (Ashfield) FPAA National Certificate in Sexual & Reproductive Health for Doctors - Distance Mode Course includes a two day workshop, online learning, assessment and clinical placements. Workshop dates for course: 15 - 16 Nov (Ashfield) Reproductive and Sexual Health Clinical Accreditation Program for Nurses Course includes online learning, assessment, two day workshop and clinical placement Workshop dates for course: 5 - 6 Sept (Newcastle) Reproductive and Sexual Health Professional Development Day for Nurses and Midwives A one day course for clinicians covering contemporary reproductive and sexual health topics 13 Sept (Newcastle) Doctors Short Course in Reproductive and Sexual Health Course includes online learning and two day workshop Workshop dates for course: 30 - 31 Oct
Please check our website for full course details, course fees and to register your place. www.fpnsw.org.au. All dates correct at the time of printing.
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 09
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PROMOTING NORMAL BIRTH STUDY DAY For more info and to book tickets go to: http://bit.do/normalbirth
PROGRAM & SPEAKERS INCLUDE Tanya Farrell - Midwife. Senior Maternity Advisor to Safer Care Victoria and Chair Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM); Adjunct Professor La Trobe University
Enquiries: Fiona Faulks - Midwife. Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery at La Contact HealthTimes Trobe University Rural Health School, Bendigo 1300 306 582 Contact@healthtimes.com.au Hazel Keedle - Midwife. Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery Western Sydney Unviersity. PhD candidate. Hazel’s research examins women‘s experiences of VBAC.
PRESENTED BY
Showcase of rural and regional midwifery! Midwives who are working in midwifery-led models in rural and regional contexts will present their work. The day will conclude with a panel discussion with a focus on the future of midwifery care in rural and regional settings.
HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 11
Nurse-led models of care provide best outcomes for Parkinson’s sufferers in regional communities
S
pecialist nurse-led models of care are crucial to improving treatment outcomes for people with Parkinson’s Disease living in rural and regional areas, however myriad barriers mean the numbers of community-based neurological nurse numbers are currently too few. “In Australia, distribution of specialist neurological services is uneven, with 93% of neurologist based in major cities,” says Association Professor of Nursing, Rachel Rossiter. “It is important to recognize that optimal medical management and treatment of PD requires access to a movement disorders neurological consultant. “Health related quality of life has been identified as worse in rural and regional areas for all members of these communities. “However, for those living with PD early diagnosis is markedly reduced where access to specialist services is limited. “Management of PD has been shown to be poorer than that of people living in urban areas. “Access to specialist physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and specialist nursing services with the expertise to support people living with PD is extremely limited and often not available at all.” Although sophisticated technological interventions are constantly developing and readily available in large centres, these are not as easily accessed for those in remote regions. “Even when the person travels to Sydney for example, to access such interventions, the ongoing management and problem-solving when there are difficulties require a return to the major centre and often results in increased hospitalisation.”
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A nurse researcher and academic employed at Charles Sturt University, Professor Rossiter was approached to work with Parkinson’s NSW on a project to help identify the gaps in regional care. “The focus of many of my academic and research endeavours over recent years has been to build nursing capacity for advanced practice to address the many gaps in healthcare delivery, thus this topic immediately interested me. Some of my earlier clinical experience in an advanced practice role involved working closely with a community support organisation focused on little-known auto-immune conditions. “I thus had personal experience of the ways in which a specialist nurse can positively influence outcomes for people with chronic conditions and markedly improve quality of life.” The goal of the project is to see more specialist Parkinson nurses available to people with Parkinson’s disease and their families living in rural and regional areas. “Access to services remains limited in many regions. “When combined with the access challenges related to the complexity of the Australian health care services, carers and family members express extreme frustration as they attempt to obtain access to basic support services.” In late 2017, the collaborative arrangement was developed between the Charles Sturt University research team, nursing clinicians from the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNLCHD) and Parkinson’s NSW. Parkinson’s NSW have funded a three-stage project to provide evidence to support their advocacy measures.
Key findings of the first stage include: • Nurse-led management strategies minimising the impact of disease progression and maximising QoL will contain acute and residential care costs. • Business case for Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses must include measures of sustainability, equity of access and cost effectiveness. • Major outcome measures using a prevalence rate model are direct health system costs, loss of productivity, informal care costs, other financial costs and burden of disease. • Largest costs: acute care and nursing home costs. Indirect costs: lost productivity. • Major drivers of increased costs: disease progression, deteriorating motor, cognitive and psychological capacity. Stage two looked at Evaluating the impact of two specialist Parkinson’s disease nurse positions in regional New South Wales. For a Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse to be effective, the research found that the position must be embedded in the public health system, enable flexibility to work across health care settings and engage with community support organisations such as Parkinson’s NSW, support the people living with Parkinson‘s across the entire disease continuum. While the project still has a way to go, Professor Rossiter says there’s no doubt there’s simply not enough access specalised nurses in rural and remote areas. “No, certainly not enough access, this is why Parkinson’s NSW has commissioned this research to try and address this very large deficit
in effective care.” A great place to start for nurses wishing to improve the quality of care that they provide for people with Parkinson’s disease is to join the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association and become a member of the Movement Disorders Chapter. A free to access and use Parkinson’s disease Self-Directed Learning Package for Nursing Staff is available, along with a 6 credit point postgraduate unit through the Australian College of Nursing Parkinson’s Care Course. “It is especially difficult to find nurses with the breadth and depth of experience and the post-graduate qualifications who are based in rural and regional areas or prepared to move to such areas. “The Parkinson’s Clinical Nurse Consultant in Coffs Harbour described his role in a nurse-led model, as the ‘glue in the team’ enabling the team to work effectively in providing patient-centred care right across the continuum of care. “We are in the process of working with Parkinson’s NSW to identify the next project that will serve to improve care and services for people with Parkinson’s disease in our communities. “I believe this research is a great example of how collaborative engagement between academic nursing researchers, an economist, clinicians, community members and a not-forprofit organisation like Parkinson’s NSW can work together to improve health care for an underserved section of our community.”
HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 13
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This is a fixed term full time (80 hours per fortnight) appointment for up to 5 years. We are seeking to appoint a Senior Medical Officer to lead and manage the medical team in Carnarvon and Exmouth WA. The Senior Medical Imaging Technologist also reports to this position regarding medical imaging in both Carnarvon and Exmouth. If this is you - apply online at https://search.jobs.wa.gov.au/ and search the Ref number 00001002
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Combine your Nursing experience with state of the art equipment and aircraft to deliver aero medical and primary health care services to every corner of our state. As part of our team you will experience nursing at its extreme across some of Western Australia’s most remote and remarkable locations. With RFDS Bases situated in Broome, Port Hedland, Meekatharra, Kalgoorlie and Perth (Jandakot) the opportunities for adventure are endless You must have - Nursing Registration - Midwifery qualiications and - Post graduate qualiication or at least 3 years critical care experience. You will become part of a dedicated group of people who make a real difference. Offering competitive remuneration including subsidised accommodation, district allowance and salary packaging options, this is a unique oportunity to join Australia’s most trusted charity. Part-time FIFO options available. For further information or a conndential discussion contact Paul Ingram on 08 9417 6327 To register your interest, please submit a CV and Coverletter at ww www.rfdswajobs.com.au & enter ref code: 4509440
HealthTimes -June 2019 | Page 15
Greater mental health training opportunities needed in rural Australia
A
study into the training and development needs of mental health service providers, consumers and carers in rural Australia by the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) reveals that there need to be more local training opportunities. The survey, which received 393 responses, highlighted that while most had undertaken some level of training in mental health and wellbeing, more training opportunities need to be created for practitioners, consumers and carers in more accessible ways. Difficulties in accessing training, the cost of training programs, and in many cases, not being employer-sponsored (despite being necessary to undertake their role) and a need for a deeper level of understanding of mental health were also highlighted. “Although I’ve personally studied to fill any gaps I’ve noticed, my university training was insufficient for providing training in emotional dysregulation, strategies to help with alcohol and substance abuse, and general trauma,” said one respondent. Other areas flagged for more training included working with adolescents and children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, suicide prevention and self-harm and dealing with severe and enduring mental illness. Joanne Walker, Director Policy and Strategy Development NRHA, said the response to the survey indicates the need for significant and long overdue improvements in the quality and accessibility of mental health training for people living in rural and remote areas of Australia. “Currently, mental health training is
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usually offered at the person’s own expense. It appears that there is no system, no bigger picture. It’s very ad hoc, individualised and a personal choice. “For people in remote areas to access online courses, which is often the default these days, is reliant on quality internet connections. “We know that this is problematic in some areas when the broadband is unreliable, particularly for webinars.” The alternative face-to-face training is cost-prohibitive, as, in addition to course fees, there’s also accommodation, travel, and time off work to consider. For those who do travel to study, there is the burden of competing family priorities and time away from home. Moreover, those who return home after receiving training often find that translating the knowledge gained into practice is problematic. “So, they come back inspired, only to find they can’t change a thing. There’s no systematised approach to this,” said Ms Walker. “What was interesting about the survey is that we had people respond from outside the health sector, such as people working in primary schools or libraries. “So, mental health training is a generalised need for people in rural areas not just for health professionals,” said Ms Walker Ms Walker said she hopes to present this submission at the Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium in Adelaide in October.
OUR VISION To move forward as one, to heal our people and improve our health Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, located in Katherine and established over 40 years ago. Wurli currently delivers a wide range of primary health care services coupled with an array of Community Service programs in our endeavor to provide effective, quality, culturally appropriate and progressive health care services to our clients. Katherine is a modern, thriving regional center with as population of around 11,000. The population of the region is just over 24,000 people, of which 60% identify as Indigenous. Located 314 km from Darwin and 1180 km from Alice Springs, the town is situated on the banks of the Katherine Rive. This region also boasts magnificent Aboriginal rock art, Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park and Elsey National Park. Wurli is currently seeking appropriately qualified health professional to join the team in the following specialised roles:-: o o
Diabetes Educator (Credentialed) Optometrist
Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Services offers a supportive and team orientated work environment and is dedicated to the ongoing professional development of our staff. To apply please visit www.wurli.org.au to access a full position profile and other details required to submit your application or simply contact Human Resources on 08 89729 195
HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 17
Mental health experts vital in the fight against domestic violence
P
sychologists and psychotherapists are playing an increasingly important role in preventing violence against women, as growing numbers of men are presenting to mental health professionals for anger issues. Anger – described as the action of showing violent or self-destructive behaviour or having a pathologically aggressive nature – is one of the least well-managed mental health conditions among men, according to clinical psychologist Dr John Kearny, who cites it as one of the main perceived causes for 64 per cent of violence against women. “Anger gives us the energy to deal with difficult, sometimes threatening situations, so it’s important to be able to feel anger occasionally,” Dr Kearney said. “However, when it occurs frequently and with too much intensity – or is increasingly linked to aggression – it becomes a destructive emotion that can be classified as a disorder.” Dr Kearney said he has seen an increase in the number of people presenting for extreme anger, which is often driven by personal stressors, such as death of a family member or close relative, job instability, relationship problems, and school or work problems. When coupled with a serious mental illness, such as alcohol dependence, these stressors can lead anger to escalate rapidly, often resulting in incidents of violence
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against an intimate partner or other forms of family violence. Counselling Psychotherapist Dr Karen Philip said she too had identified an increase in men presenting with anger issues, wanting to find strategies to lower their anger and aggression. “While this is positive it is often attached to their partner, workplace or children demanding they seek help,” says Dr Phillip. “While anger is present in each of us, it becomes a problem when it escalates instantly, and the individual is unable to control their emotions. “This can be in the form of verbal abuse, physical violence, intimidation or bullying of another.” Dr Phillip says while mental health professionals had also seen an escalation of violence in women, it remains primarily a male issue as they are stronger, louder and more violent and intimidating. “The role of the male is changing as women no longer need or rely on a man and can do most jobs once reserved for a male. “This can frustrate a man escalating his dominance in anger outbursts which is no longer acceptable within the family or community.” In addition to triggering factors in adulthood, Dr Phillip says anger-based behaviours are often learned from childhood and environment in which the individual has
been raised. “This becomes the persons normal response when something does not go as they want or expect. “It can also point to a man feeling fear, hence they increase anger and aggression, so they are not seen as soft, they are viewed in control or the Alpha male.” While numbers of men seeking help are increasing, Dr Phillip says it’s crucial for the therapist to develop a positive rapport with the client, to encourage them to open up more. “There is no judgement in the counselling room, only listening, understanding and support. “Aiding the individual to understand the reason they react as they do is extremely beneficial toward reclamation control.” Both mental health professionals and the public are acutely aware of the prevalence of escalating societal violence, which has both positive and negative repercussions. “We are inundated with stories and visual news on anger, violence and poor behaviour. “We have angry and aggressive video games and this is considered part of the issue, aggressive type behaviour is normal to win these games. “It is becoming our normal. “But the fact we are now discussing this issue openly instead of being kept secret behind closed doors is positive. “Women are also understanding this behaviour is unacceptable and are no longer tolerating the wrath of their male partner.” Given the link between anger and domestic violence, the role mental health professionals play in preventing and decreasing DV has never been more important. “Psychologists and counsellors are crucial to lower anger and aggression within our community. “Those with the right training can work
very proactively and positively with those men wanting to remove their anger and aggressive behavioural displays. “This then is modelled to the children who can grow and develop into more balanced individuals without learning that violence and aggression is a normal part of living, used to make a point or get what we want.” Of course, the individual in question must want to change before progress can be made, which is why professionals must identify the source of the anger as soon as possible. “Psychologists and counsellors work with the patient who wants to change, we cannot make a person do anything they do not want to do. “If they desire to adjust their anger and regain control of self, there are many strategies they can learn. “Once the reason for this escalation is understood and defined as simply having an aggressive tantrum because they can not get their own way, we work toward strategies to release the anger when situations occur.” As violence against women continues to rise to epidemic levels, encouraging men to seek the help of mental health therapists is vital, and experts need to be on red alert for signs of potential violence. “Aggression and violence is increasing in both genders. “Steps need to be taken immediately to work with kids, families and individuals to find different and better ways to manage emotional escalation and teach methods to accept, respect and remain more composed.”
HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 19
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 21
FOUNDATIONS OF WOUND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP COMING TO BRISBANE & ADELAIDE For more information and to book tickets go to:
Designed for busy nurses, this workshop provides comprehensive, easy to understand principles and tools to support evidence-based person-centred wound management practice.
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Nurses must stay abreast of the latest knowledge, tools and wound management therapies to facilitate evidence-based person-centred practice.
Enquiries: Contact HealthTimes 1300 306 582 Contact@healthtimes.com.au
This comprehensive study day will provide clarity and useful information to incorporate and succeed in the person-centred wound management delivered in the busy modern nurses’ practice.
PRESENTED BY
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Enthusiastic and amazing ICU/PICU nurses wanted for home care for our amazing clients and their families! INTENSIVE CARE AT HOME is the first Australian accredited Intensive Care At Home nursing service, providing 24/7 ICU/PICU nursing care at home as a genuine alternative to a long-term stay in Intensive Care! We currently have a number of vacancies for our clients in the Melbourne metropolitan area, outer Melbourne area and in country Victoria! A minimum of two years ICU/PICU is a must, ideally you also have a critical care certificate and you are highly motivated! Send your CV to patrik@intensivecareathome.com or call Patrik on 041 094 2230 www.intensivecareathome.com
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 23
Pain education vital to improving health outcomes in rural Australia
I
t’s well known that people living in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia have less access to services and are at increased risk of poor health outcomes, and when it comes to chronic pain, they severely lack in both preventative and management resources, said Carol Bennett, CEO Pain Australia. As a result, there is a greater reliance on pain medication to treat acute or chronic pain, and in some regional areas, the rate of opioid prescription is ten times that of other regions. “Australia is in an epidemic of prescribed opioid misuse, yet this issue has barely made it onto the public agenda. “It is indisputable that nearly all opioid prescribing has its origins in efforts to manage acute or chronic pain, yet the public discussion about how we could manage pain better and more safely is still focussed on drug addiction and dependency,” said Ms Bennett. One way that rural, regional and remote Australia can implement best practice in pain management is through pain education programs, such as the Pain Revolution’s Local Pain Educator Program, which trains local health professionals in pain management and education. Professor Lorimer Moseley, a pain scientist, established the Pain Revolution to provide knowledge, skills and support to those experiencing acute and chronic pain and to equip healthcare providers with tools to help patients overcome persistent pain. The Pain Revolution’s annual flagship event, Pain Revolution Rural Outreach Tour, takes this knowledge to rural and regional communities and sets up local pain networks to provide sustainable capacity. Persistent pain is one the most burdensome health issues for those living in rural, regional
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and remote areas of Australia due to limited resources and health care capacity, explained Prof. Moseley. “The best evidence we have points to much better outcomes if we support the general public and health professionals to understand the best approach to recovery and how to deliver the best care locally. “Our vision is bold but not unrealistic - that all Australians will have access to the knowledge, skills and local support to prevent and overcome persistent pain. “Our strategies are playing the long game - we won’t be able to evaluate Pain Revolution for several years fully, but all preliminary markers are great. “[We have] good attendance at all events; participants indicate that they see pain differently and are more hopeful about their options; and health professionals gain the confidence to help people with persistent pain,” said Prof. Moseley. Learning about pain science is powerful, explained Prof. Moseley, with best practice guidelines recommending education, active and psychological strategies, and self-management skills as the best way to prevent and treat chronic pain. What is the Pain Revolution? The Pain Revolution is a multiple strategy movement to change the way the general public understand pain so that it is more in line with current scientific understanding. The movement also aims to change the expectations of the general public about what is best practice, to be more in line with current scientific understanding, and to build the capacity of the health professionals in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia to deliver
best practice pain education and care. Ms Bennett said the Local Pain Educator Program is a proven way to move towards bestpractice pain management by increasing the capacity of health practitioners. “The Pain Revolution’s Local Pain Educator Program embeds capacity in regional and rural communities in pain management and education. “Broadening capacity within existing primary and community health services in general pain management services is a cost-effective way of addressing issues,” said Ms Bennett. The Local Pain Educator Program (LPE) Angie Clerc-Hawke, Local Pain Educator Project Manager, said the LPE program is a community-based health promotion initiative, which focuses on capacity building. “We recruit health professionals from across disciplines and sectors in rural and regional communities, to receive scholarships into a twoyear program to become Local Pain Educators,” said Ms Clerc-Hawke. The Local Pain Educator Program includes: • Access to an online professional certificate in pain science. • One-on-one mentoring with a leader in the field to assist with consolidating what the LPEs are learning at tertiary level and translating this knowledge to a community audience. • Networking for a variety of activities (expert speaker webinars, peer-to-peer exchange teleconferences, face-to-face workshop, and online discussion forums for idea and resource exchange). • An education toolkit for delivering education sessions.
changing the way people understand and treat people in pain. “It has been inspiring to watch a growing community of committed and passionate people, supporting each other to make real change in their home towns,” said Ms ClercHawke. A first-year LPE, said: “I have learned and grown in my confidence and pain knowledge so much, and I can already see the positive impact that is having on people around me.” Physiotherapist Jason Bradley said Prof Moseley’s work in the field of understanding and educating people on pain has revolutionised the way physiotherapists work with patients. “By recognising that chronic pain is often not related to continued structural damage, we can focus on achieving better outcomes for patients. “By educating patients about the reality of their pain, the unlikelihood of causing catastrophic damage, on pacing activities and understanding their fear avoidances or anxieties, we can achieve great functional outcomes. “Without educating on the true nature of chronic pain and its divergent relationship to functional ability, therapists can unwittingly create patients as reliant on hands-on intervention as those addicted analgesic medications. “Today our patients require the knowledge and education to be an active member of their health care team,” said Mr Bradley. Help me support a 2020 Local Pain Educator! The 2019 Pain Revolution Rural Outreach Tour was an outrageous success. 20 events; 1450 participants; 700kms; 420 sandwiches. We are on $95k raised for our Local Pain Educator program. It’s not too late to add your little bit, visit https://painrevolution2019. everydayhero.com/au/lorimer
“This all culminates to the LPEs providing free pain education to fellow health professionals and the general public within their communities. “It is a whole-of-community approach to
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BE A FOSTER CARER It’s Life Changing! Could you open your home and heart to a child with complex needs? We have an ongoing need for long term and short break specialist foster carers. You can be married, de facto, single, a same-sex couple or retirees, with or without children of your own. Experience working in the disability, health or education sectors is highly desirable, but not essential. Our foster carers receive extensive training, 24/7 support and a reimbursement to cover the cost of providing care.
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HealthTimes - June 2019 | Page 27
Peadiatric Palliative Care Nursing: The bittersweet role of caring for very sick kids
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magine being a part of the remarkable team that helps makes the final years, months or days of a terminally ill child’s life a little easier. It’s the bittersweet reality for paediatric palliative care nurse Megan Pusterla, who spends her days caring for the residents of children’s hospice Bear Cottage. “We care for neonates to nineteen-year-olds who have been diagnosed with a life limiting condition and their families,” says Ms Pusterla. “Families come to stay at Bear Cottage for both much needed respite and end of life care. “In addition, we provide bereavement support and family support camps which are a really enriching and enjoyable aspect of the job.” Currently employed as a Registered Nurse and Acting Clinical Nurse Educator, a typical day for Ms Pusterla is varied. “A typical day encompasses chatting with families and listening to their current concerns and challenges, trying to ascertain how we can lighten their load, be it through direct care of the child with the life limiting illness or one of our volunteers helping to entertain a boisterous and exuberant 3 year old sibling! “Without the pressures that you have in an acute care facility, we are able to give our children and families time, whether it’s for a
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deep, soothing, relaxation bath or attending to the many and varied complex care needs.” But the care provided by a paediatric palliative care nurse goes even further than that, as they help guide children and their families through an extremely challenging and difficult time. “It does certainly have an emotional aspect. “We offer children and their families time and space to voice their thoughts, feelings and concerns without judgement, at times facilitating difficult conversations within families. “At Bear Cottage, it is very much a multidisciplinary team approach to all aspects of care. “We have a dedicated social worker, paediatrician, local GPs, art therapist, music therapist, and play therapist and we all support each other to best care for our families.” Ms Pusterla says children living in and visiting Bear Cottage come with a variety of health conditions, all which require different types of treatment and care. “Working in paediatric palliative care means I am constantly learning and encountering new challenges. “I find the connection with children and their families rewarding. “I feel it is a privilege.”
Getting into paediatric nursing was a winding road for Ms Pusterla, who originally planned to be a high school teacher. However, with a family full of nurses, she decided to try her hand and soon found it was her calling. “I did my new graduate year at Concord Hospital doing rotations in Renal, Vascular and Oncology/Haematology, whilst I enjoyed different aspects of each specialty, Renal Nursing is where I felt the best fit and so the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM) offered me a permanent position. “I continued to work in Renal and Renal Transplant both at CRGH and Royal Prince Alfred (RPAH) for the next 4 years working as a Renal Transplant Nurse Specialist. “Through this I landed a once in a lifetime position as a personal nurse for 5 years. I then returned to RPA back to the Renal Transplant Outpatients and Clinical trials.” It was after having her own two children that Ms Pusterla began considering paediatric palliative nursing. “Palliative care is a part of Renal Nursing, it is a really special and rewarding aspect of the care we provide, so given my positive yet challenging experiences with palliative care I earmarked Bear Cottage as a place I would like to work.” In Australia, there isn’t any special training required to become a paediatric palliative care nurse. “However I felt really supported transitioning from adult care to paediatric care at Bear Cottage, there was a real depth
of experience around me to draw on. “There are many challenges, however they pale in significance when compared to the challenges our families are facing. “I focus on my role of supporting the child and their family. If there are particular challenges, I lean on my colleagues through informally and formally debriefing.” Ms Pusterla says it’s important to debrief and practice self-care, due to the emotional nature of the role. “If I look sideways at my colleagues, we all come from differing clinical backgrounds, ICU, NICU, Oncology, Neurology etc. “But I think the one thing we all share is a capacity for deep empathy, not only for our patients but for each other. “Each nurse brings unique and valuable contributions to the care of children with a life limiting condition no matter what their clinical background. “In the moments where you are connecting with people through the extremes of life, through either witnessing or experiencing those extremes there can be moments of true beauty even when there is incredible sadness.” For more articles visit HealthTimes.com.au
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