Practice nurse and lifelong learner Anne Stanley brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to Wintergarden Family Practice in Bowral. Anne is instrumental to the practice through her ongoing contribution to updating policy and procedure, promoting the wellness model of health and her ongoing commitment to practice accreditation. Her vibrant and caring nature along with the years of experience in practice, the classroom and the operating theatre makes her a wonderful role model for future nurses.
How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in the Wintergarden Family Practice?
I have been a practice nurse at Wintergarden Family Practice for a year. I started at the time COVID-19 vaccination began. I quickly settled into the practice, loved the staff, the environment and the patients, and was invited to take on more work at the practice relieving the other nurse on holidays and other leave. I now work several days per week.
When/why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care?
In my last year at school, I was undecided whether to pursue a life in nursing or in teaching. I chose nursing, loving my experiences, learning, friendships and adventures nursing provided to me. After working in intensive care, theatre and recovery areas I decided to move into the world of practice nursing while living in Melbourne.
Following this I was director of an Early Childhood Education Centre attached to Monash University.
Returning to Sydney after several years in Melbourne, I decided to move into the world of education and attained a teaching degree, and Masters in Education while I worked at the University of Sydney for 17 years as a lecturer in the Faculty of Nursing. I also had further clinical experience during that time working with a well-known melanoma specialist in specialist rooms. A further career change in education saw me working as a school counsellor as well as joining the School Immunisation Program at the start of the Gardasil program. At this same time, I was also working in aged care at a local retirement village.
This was all about the time COVID-19 appeared and was recognised as a pandemic. So full circle, I am now involved in primary care in general practice at Wintergarden Family Practice and loving it! A major advantage of working in a rural area is that you quickly get to know patients and their families.
I feel privileged to be working with an amazing team of clinical and administrative staff. I have loved my journey and feel there is so much more to learn and be part of and to specifically promote the wellness model of health as a means of illness prevention and assistance with managing chronic disease.
Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care …
Primary care is a huge all-encompassing role where no two days are ever going to be the same. I love the unpredictability of the day and love the challenges which arise during a working week. I enjoy being actively engaged in primary care. While I value the role of everyone in the practice, a special mention goes out to the frontline, that is, the reception staff. They carry a vital, critical role which contributes so much to the daily life of a well-run practice.
As COVID-19 becomes more manageable in general practice, other very important issues (working with the wellness model of health) take a focus including health assessments and management of chronic disease management. Nurses work closely with all practice staff, ensuring patients receive the best management for their health needs. In our practice, a morning meeting on a daily basis prior to opening for the day is part of the overall planning for best outcomes and is part of our care model.
As nurses we are very involved in primary care at Wintergarden Family Practice including assisting with excisions, iron infusions, venesection, INR readings, planning as well as immunisations, management plans, liaising with allied health teams, stock control and ongoing education. These roles are routine and certainly do not cover the entirety of the role of a proactive nurse working in primary care.
What do you love about nursing/what do you find most fulfilling about your role?
I love both nursing and education and have blended both as part of my daily working life. I love being part of a caring, professional team and seeing success for the patient and their family. The satisfaction of knowing we have all been involved in achieving best outcomes for them is fulfilling.
It is only when a dedicated team genuinely cares for each other and the patients entrusted in our care, do we allow the best outcomes to happen. I also love that everything we do is seldom if ever wasted. I have brought many life, nursing and educational pathways into my latest career change and find it fulfilling.
What is your biggest challenge as a practice nurse and how do you overcome this?
Wanting the absolute best outcomes for all patients is paramount in my thought processes and instructs the care I provide. Therefore, while acknowledging there are many challenges in all aspects of life, practice nursing has different challenges which determine how I deal with them.
How we cope with challenges involves several known answers but importantly be open to new strategies to best deal with them. These need to be varied to assist when issues arise. Also being able to step outside the square is beneficial and helps when challenges hit. Having clear and appropriate policies and procedures in place allows a standardised methodology in practice management and care.
Addressing the accreditation process this year was a challenge in the middle of pandemic management but being part of a wonderful team achieving such favourable commentary is paramount to the success of our practice.
Tell me about your ideal workday…
My ideal workday is one that is busy and meaningful. Having patient contact is important to me and knowing I am part of such a caring knowledgeable team where community is the major focus, is my ideal day.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love learning, so part of my spare time is involved in ongoing education and research. I am very fortunate to have a wonderful supportive family, children, and grandchildren to fill my life. I enjoy gardening, reading, and creating healthy recipes.
Do you have any role models and why?
Yes, I do. There are many and varied. Starting with my family, they are role models to me for many reasons and make me aspire to keep achieving new benchmarks. Another is a valued friend, an educational visionary who is doing it ‘his way’ who had a dream about how education should be, had the resilience and drive to make it happen. Also, there are many work colleagues, who have been role models who have been part of my journey for the various qualities they generously shared.
How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?
The wellness model of health underpins many health-related programs. Evidence based practices and treatments supporting this model when tailored to the individual patients is where education is vital in providing the best outcome for my patients.
I utilise evidence-based practice using the following principles in my interaction with patients and, it is when the patient accepts ownership of the treatment by becoming actively engaged in their care is when best outcomes can occur.
First, I form a clinical question to identify a problem, and then work closely with the patient to:
- Gather the best evidence
- Analyse the evidence
- Apply the evidence to clinical practice, specifically the patient
- Assess and review the result