Korero Hauora Health Talk - Taranaki District Health Board

Post Graduate Study Leads to Nurse Led EczemaClinicBy Brenda Sturgeon, RN, PGCertHSc, Paediatric Community Nurse, South Taranaki.If anyone mentionedpostgraduate studies to me fiveyears ago I would have laughedand said “no way”.Now that I’ve almostcompleted my Post GraduateDiploma, I am looking at morestudies next year. Believeme it has not been an easyroad. It requires considerablecommitment in terms of time,balance to personal, busy fulltimeclinical employment andacademic endeavours.When I completed my hospitalbased nursing training thirtyfive plus years ago I neverthought I would go back tosuch complex study again.However, I have and I don’tregret one minute of it. It haschanged my way of thinkingand direction. I have developeda much increased knowledgebase accompanied by complexdecision making skills that arealways evidence based.Within my current role I haverecognised a gap in servicedelivery in one of the areasof my work. Post graduatecourses and papers havemade me more responsiveto health needs and I havebecome empowered toinitiate, lead and manage aservice development in nurseled eczema/skin clinics in SouthTaranaki.Brenda with one of her patients in clinic.The Advanced Assessmentand Clinical Reasoning courseis one of the amazing papersI have undertaken and thishas led to an advancementof my nursing practice. Thehigh degree of knowledge,skill and expertise associatedwith the paper has helpedme to progress this nurse ledproject striving for improvedpatient and service outcomes.Every patient is unique andI now see my patients ina more holistic way and incollaboration with colleagues,including our paediatricianDr John Doran, I believethe patient outcome will bebetter achieved. I have to sayI am excited about driving thisproject forward.There is an enormous senseof personal satisfaction andachievement in commencingand completing postgraduate papers, there willalways be challenges alongthe way but right now I havea desire and aptitude forlearning and if that means Ican improve my healthcarepractice and ultimatelypatient care then I will haveachieved what I set out todo. It hasn’t always been asmooth road, but if you’repassionate about your workthe way I am it is definitely aroad worth travelling.132011 Korero Hauora - Health Talk