Practice nurse Sharni Xuereb from Our Medical Home Gregory Hills says she was always meant to be a nurse – a role she loves. She says the most fulfilling part of her job is knowing ‘I have helped an individual whether it be something minor or major’.
How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in the LGA you currently work in?
I began my practice nursing career at Our Medical Home Gregory Hills in January 2021.
When/why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care?
When I finished high school in 2013, I was unsure what career path I wanted to take. For as long as I can remember my mum kept telling me “you should be a nurse Sharni, one day you will realise it and become a nurse” and I brushed her off about it for years.
Then, one day a light bulb went off in my head and I decided I would do a TAFE course and see how I went. I started out by doing my Certificate II in Health Services Assistant and I loved it and decided to study an Enrolled Nursing Diploma. I was enjoying the course but was still unsure.
Unfortunately, my grandmother received news – she had pancreatic and lung cancer. My heart broke. I was fortunate enough to help my family take care of her. I took my grandmother to all her chemotherapy appointments and would help take care of her. As time went on eventually my grandmother needed to go into a palliative care ward. I would be with her every day and that is when I knew being a nurse was the only career I wanted. I was meant to be a nurse. When my grandmother passed away, I headed to university to complete my RN degree. I am still studying, and working in a primary care environment has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and apply everything I have learnt in the clinical environment.
Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care
I work in a very busy medical centre. Altogether I work alongside 16 doctors. No two of my days are the same. I see a variety of patients for different reasons every day. Working directly with GPs I am able to assist them to have things organised and prepped ready to ensure their day runs smoothly. Some patients I see daily, this can take a lot of the pressure off the hospital system as I am able to build a strong rapport with the individuals on a daily basis.
What do you love about nursing/what do you find most fulfilling about your role?
I love being a nurse. The most fulfilling part of my job is knowing I have helped an individual whether it be something minor or major. Being a nurse, I see some people in their most vulnerable times in life and being able to talk to them and build a relationship with them makes me love being a nurse even more.
What is your biggest challenge as a PN and how do you overcome this?
My biggest challenge would have to be not knowing what’s about to come through my treatment room door. I see a variety of medical things such as vaccinations, asthma attacks, chest pain, chronic wounds, lacerations and so much more. Being ready and prepared would have to be my biggest challenge because I need to be ready and focused to assist in any medical case I may see.
Tell me about your ideal work day
My ideal workday would have to be a day that runs smoothly. Sometimes medical emergencies can come in at the same time. Being able to adjust myself and be organised to triage all of them appropriately, and ensuring a smoothly run day, is definitely my ideal workday.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I currently am studying my RN degree at university. While I spend a lot of time on my degree, I enjoy spending quality time with my parents. They are so proud of me and I love how close I am with them and can tell them about what I do at work. I speak to my Mum every day and am grateful I am able to do that.
Do you have any role models and why?
One of my biggest role models would have to be my treatment room team leader Kelly Andronicus. The support she has given me is incredible. I talk to Kelly about everything, what I might have seen within my shift or what’s been happening at university and Kelly has always given me words of wisdom and encouraged me to continue my path as a nurse.
How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?
When it comes to educating my patients about a healthy lifestyle, I always reflect on what I do too. I would never ask my patients to do anything that I don’t believe I could do myself. I feel as though patients asking for advice would want to know what I do myself to also maintain a healthy lifestyle.