HK Medical Centre, Fairfield’s Courtney Daley is new to practice nursing and loving her role learning about and caring for her patients, and educating them about healthy habits and taking good care of themselves.
How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in the LGA you currently work in?
I am very new to the practice nurse community. I have currently been working as a practice nurse for four weeks but I have been working within Fairfield LGA for about a year.
When/why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care?
I don’t think I ever really decided to be a nurse. It was just something that I always wanted to do. I have always been a big science fan and found health and the human body fascinating so maybe that played a role in my career choice. I chose primary care as I want to expand my knowledge and experience through working in all different sections of the healthcare system.
Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care
I feel the role of nurses in primary care is based around education and observation. We are there to ensure all concerns and queries are answered in full to our patients. We complement the role of the GP by liaising with them regarding the patient’s condition, create care plans together and assist the GPs with procedures.
What do you love about nursing/what do you find most fulfilling about your role?
I love being a nurse as it has made me a much kinder, patient and confident person. I enjoy meeting different people from all kinds of backgrounds and learn about the life they have led themselves. I feel every day, whether good or bad, is fulfilling for me. Every time I leave a shift I feel like I have accomplished something and hopefully made someone’s life a little bit better that day. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What is your biggest challenge as a PN and how do you overcome this?
Personally my biggest challenge as a PN currently is the language barrier between myself and my patients but our helpful receptionists help assist with this. If you work as a team there aren’t many challenges.
Tell me about your ideal work day…
My ideal workday would be a mix of physical tasks I have to perform and mental tasks. This would ensure I am practising my clinical skills so as to improve such as dressings, vaccinations etc as well as mental tasks such as overlooking care plans, histories to improve my knowledge and critical thinking skills. I feel this variation in tasks throughout the day keeps me focused on my role.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to get outside with friends and do things like hiking, going to the beach, exploring. Unfortunately, with the current circumstances I have been unable to do these things but I started taking up reading again which passes the time.
Do you have any role models and why?
I don’t have any specific role model I look up to if I’m honest. Rather than modelling after a specific person I guess I remember moments or actions of someone and use those good qualities I see in my own professional/personal situations.
How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?
I assist in helping our patients with education via ensuring they fully understand what I am informing them about. For example, utilising our receptionists and the translation and interpreting service, providing written information such as fact/advice sheets and looking at the patient holistically. I encourage the patient to practice healthy habits and ensure they understand the risks of not taking care of themselves appropriately. Also, before they leave my care I ensure they are satisfied with my information and that any further questions are answered.