Practice Nurse Profile – Clarissa Cuellar

Although she has only been a practice nurse for six months, Clarissa Cuellar is passionate about patient care and the difference she can make in people’s lives. Working at Eagle Vale Medical Centre, the qualified paediatric nurse loves the fact she can build a rapport with her patients through the many phases of their lives.

How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in South Western Sydney? 

I have only been a practice nurse for two to three months. I am still in my new graduate year and my background is in paediatric nursing. I have been working as a registered nurse in South Western Sydney for six months now and I am loving nursing.

When/why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care? 

I decided to pursue a career in nursing because my grandparents were registered nurses and they’ve been inspiring with their rewarding job and the hard work they put into it. I’ve always wanted to make a difference in someone’s life and being a patient can be a challenging and confronting experience.

Although I do not have kids yet, having a background in paediatric nursing has allowed me to gain many clinical skills and to empathise with parents and families, and look after patients at vulnerable ages.

Since my passion is in children’s and family health, I pursued a career as a primary care nurse as you get to develop ongoing care from babies through to the elderly. It’s also a better work life balance compared to the hospital.

Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care

The major role of nurses in primary care is chronic disease management, which includes monitoring and managing conditions such as wounds, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease and cardiovascular issues such as hypertension.

We educate patients on managing chronic conditions, medications and healthy lifestyle choices. In GP land as practice nurses, we are very big on health promotion and early prevention. I endeavour to promote preventive care through vaccinations, health assessments, screenings and lifestyle counselling.

We are heavily involved in the coordination of the medical practice, working alongside doctors to ensure there is an efficient workflow. We advocate for patients, support and guide them and their families.

What do you love about nursing/what do you find most fulfilling about your role?

The one thing I love about nursing is the relationships and rapport built with patients, which is essential in maintaining an effective nurse/patient relationship and establishing long-term patient centred care.

The most rewarding thing is seeing their quality of life improving.

Tell me about your ideal work day…

As a GP nurse, my ideal work day centres around my patients, the doctors and the appointment book.

At the start of the day, I perform cold chain management and fridge temperature checks. I sanitise all surfaces and make sure all supplies are stocked up and the equipment is working well.

I see my patients who are booked in for the day for things such as vaccinations, spirometry tests and health assessments and assist doctors in procedures such as cervical screening tests, nail resections, biopsies, iron infusions and Mirena insertions.

I triage patients when they arrive at the clinic if they are feeling unwell and need urgent medical attention. My ideal work day consists of adequate breaks and leaving on time to avoid long term burnout.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends. I love going out for brunch and going on beautiful hikes in nature.

I love music. I sing and play keyboards and I’m part of my church band which performs every Sunday. I have a passion for baking cakes and fondant cookies. I even baked my own wedding cake.

I also have a passion for travelling the world. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to different parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia. I cannot wait to keep travelling the world and exploring new things. 

Do you have any role models and why?

My role models are my husband and parents. My parents worked hard to bring my brother and I to Australia where we could have a better education and life. This has paid off as we both have rewarding jobs. My brother is a physiotherapist.

Both my parents poured their heart and soul into providing for us when we were growing up. They are both hard working and continue to offer endless support.

My husband is also my role model as he continues to show me love and compassion. He wholeheartedly serves others and always shows compassion and kindness, which exemplifies the way I treat my patients. He’s my best friend and partner in crime and my number one supporter through my nursing career and everything.

How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?

I help educate my patients by using visual aids as this really helps them to understand. I also use simple layman’s terms and reduce my use of medical jargon so they can understand their diagnosis better and how to manage their health conditions without feeling overwhelmed with big words and lots of information. This leads to better health outcomes.

I also employ methods such as the “teach back” method which is a process where I explain a process to a patient and then they tell me what they have learned to ensure understanding. I reiterate if they are uncertain about something. I also give out pamphlets and refer them to websites for more information.