I recently completed a two-week remote placement as part of the Flinders University Graduate Certificate in Remote Health Practice.
As a registered nurse working in a South Australian hospital, the remote placement provided the opportunity to experience life and work as a remote area nurse.
The prospect of working in a remote area felt daunting at first. My emotions were part excitement, part apprehension, however, all those fears melted away the moment I arrived at the Ti Tree Health Centre, 200 kilometres north of Alice Springs. The staff there were welcoming and supportive, making me feel part of the team from the very beginning.
The health centre is located on Anmatyerre Country and serves not only Ti Tree community, but also two outlying remote communities, Six Mile and Wilora. Having the chance to work in these communities gave me an understanding of the challenges of providing health services in such remote locations. I worked with skilled remote area nurses, Aboriginal Health Practitioners and doctors who all readily shared their knowledge, skills and experiences.
Coming from a fast-paced work environment, this experience offered a refreshing change. I had the time to thoughtfully consider individual presentations, the information shared with me and my clinical findings. As part of my studies, I had learnt to follow the Remote Area Nurse (RAN) Model of Consultation model which helped me consolidate my clinical approach, ensuring every aspect of patient care was thoroughly addressed.
Studying the Graduate Certificate in Remote Health Practice and my placement at Ti Tree Health Centre has deepened my desire to pursue a career as a Remote Area Nurse and I am looking forward to making that dream a reality.
Author:
Jessica Mitchell is a registered nurse working at the Tumby Bay Hospital in SA. She has worked in healthcare for 12 years, commencing as a carer in disability and aged care, after completing a Certificate IV in Disability. In 2018, she completed a Diploma of Nursing and began working as an enrolled nurse in Adelaide. In 2022, she completed a Bachelor of Nursing through Charles Darwin University and has since been working as a registered nurse. She is currently undertaking post-graduate studies in Remote Health Practice through Flinders University
