BLOG: Another gruelling, gratifying day as a nurse

 It is not easy, but it is gratifying to know that you make a difference to someone’s life each time you enter their presence. 

I have been a nurse for over eight years now and still find great enjoyment in the role because of its diversity and the opportunities it provides. What makes this job even more enjoyable is that you never stop learning. 

Pressure cooker: one nurse's 12-hour shift in ED

I have worked in both a community and clinical setting in mental health, surgical and emergency - both government and non government - and taught at the University of Wollongong. 

Working with young people in mental health, as I do at headspace Wollongong, is always interesting as you never know what you might see or what might happen. It could be a young person experiencing a psychotic episode to a young woman who needs help with her prenatal care.

Nurses can adapt to many different roles.  At headspace Wollongong and also at Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local (the lead agency for headspace Wollongong)  nurses are working in clinical, management and  project worker settings all with the same goal: to benefit and attend to community needs. 

Here’s a brief outline of my day, beginning at 8.30am:

• The morning begins with a case conference that involves myself, the treating team doctor, the client if they wish to participate, and other service providers involved in their care.

• I then conduct a mental health assessment of a young person in need. Care planning will occur following this.

• Then I’m off to a home visit or, if a young person has been admitted, to the hospital.

• The rest of the day is spent completing more client visits, providing family education, making phone calls to refer or assertively monitor a young person at risk.

• My day can also consist of running a group with another mental health nurse that might include a relapse prevention group.

• What is also important is that I take out time in my day to have lunch. 

It can be emotionally draining listening to sad stories all day and frustrating not being able to take away people’s distress. 

Yet we are rewarded when a family gives us a hug, or a thank you, for what we do.

Susan Connolly is a mental health nurse at Headspace Illawarra, a support service for teenagers and young adults.