Practice nurse Brooke Bajac is a keen learner who loves being able to support people in the region with their everyday healthcare needs, as well as in the fight against COVID-19, in her role at Picton Family Medical Centre and Picton Respiratory Clinic as a practice nurse and nurse team leader.
In addition to her passion for nursing, Brooke is instrumental to the practice in her role in leading, coaching and role modeling for the rest of the nursing team on how to carry out their daily tasks in a thoughtful, systemic manner, in order to achieve those wildly important short- and long-term goals for both the patient and for the practice. She exemplifies her practice’s values of #LoveWhatYouDo #MakeADifference #ActWithIntegrity
How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in the LGA you currently work in?
I have been a practice nurse for one year and two months but have been working as a registered nurse in Wollondilly for two years.
When/why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care?
I have a passion for helping people. I especially love caring for the elderly population as I believe they are the most vulnerable. I had epilepsy as a child and I was in and out of hospitals for most of my childhood, I always looked up to the nurses looking after me.
Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care
Every day is very different working in a general practice. We see everything from people with chest pains to people with wounds. However, I have multiple roles within my general practice such as treatment room duties, chronic disease management, respiratory clinic duties and nursing team leader duties.
Treatment room: When I work in the treatment room I assist doctors with procedures such as biopsies, excisions, nail removal and wound suturing. I also assess and attended to wound care both minor and complex. I am skilled in IV cannulation and perform numerous IV treatments such as: iron infusions, venesections, IV fluids and IV antibiotics. I am also responsible for ordering medical supplies, ordering and maintaining vaccines. Other tasks I perform in the treatment room also include ECG, adult and childhood immunisations, INR checks, observations (BP, SP02, HR, RR), ear syringing, suture removal and much more.
Chronic disease management: I am skilled at creating care plans for patients who have chronic disease. I work closely with the patient, their GP, allied health and specialists to help patients achieve their health goals. I also perform other assessments during care planning such as health assessments, diabetes cycle of care and heart health checks.
Respiratory clinic: I also work within a respiratory clinic which is part of our clinic. I have many roles within the respiratory clinic such as swabbing patients, respiratory assessment of patients, COVID-19 vaccinations, care of COVID-19 positive patients and I provide education and advice to unwell patients.
Nursing team leader: As the nurse team leader I manage our nursing staff in both the general practice and respiratory clinic. I do the rostering for general practice and respiratory clinics nurses. I ensure our nursing team are upholding our values. I assist my team with reaching our goals and improving our customer service to our patients. I help coach our nursing team where needed to enhance and improve their performance. I assist our practice principal with the development of procedures and company goals.
What do you love about nursing/what do you find most fulfilling about your role?
I love developing therapeutic relationships with my patients. I love having a direct impact on a person’s health and assisting them to achieve their health goals. The most fulfilling part of my role is to watch my patient’s health improve especially through chronic disease management. It is the best feeling to see a patient three months after their care plan and find that their condition has improved.
What is your biggest challenge as a PN and how do you overcome this?
The COVID-19 pandemic but more specifically COVID-19 vaccinations. I have had many patients who have been very uncomfortable having a COVID-19 vaccine. I overcome this by having one-on-one conversations with the patient and answering any question or concerns they have. If I am unable to answer I specific question I direct them to a doctor. I want my patients to feel safe and comfortable during this experience.
Tell me about your ideal work day.
Every day I come to work I have a great day. But my ideal day would be successfully helping all my patients with their care needs and providing great health outcomes.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to play netball and spend time with my family.
Do you have any role models and why?
I have three main role models in my life. 1) My mother. She is an independent woman who has always put everyone else before herself and her work ethic is amazing. 2) My father. I strive to be the best person I can be because of him. He has taught me the importance kindness and respect. 3) Dr Anna Pham. Dr Anna is an amazing and caring doctor who has achieved so much. She is committed to her staff and patients. I strive every day to be like her.
How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?
I re-enforce the importance of seeing your GP on a regular basis. I regularly refer my patients to useful website such as The Heart Foundation. I assess my patients and their needs, for example, in relation to weight gain, diabetes, arthritis etc. Mental health plays a big role in a person’s health outcomes so I always encourage my patients to find someone they can talk to, and I offer my ear if they need it. I also inform my patients about mental health care plans to assist them.