KEY POINTS:
Name: Diony Wood.
Age: 43.
Role: Rural practice nurse for Coast to Coast Health Care in Wellsford.
Working hours: Three to four days per week, plus sometimes do weekend roster.
Average salary: $38,000-$52,000, depending on experience.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) and Diploma in Midwifery from AUT.
Describe what you do.
As a rural practice located between Whangarei and Auckland, we cover everything from immunising new babies and caring for the terminally ill, to dressings, plastering, ECGs and suturing. We do a lot of triaging (assessing and prioritising about treatment). I'm a registered ACC provider and run clinics for women. I'm also part of the PRIME (primary response in medical emergencies) call site.
What is your role with PRIME?
I answer the PRIME pager, evaluate the call and decide, often with the doctor on call, what our response will be. We may send a doctor, a nurse, or a doctor and nurse, or not send anyone. St Johns Ambulance always respond to the PRIME pager too. Calls could be about anything from a five-car crash to a heart attack or an overdose.
What is involved in PRIME training?
You do one week of intensive training, followed by biannual weekend updates. Training covers things such as how to cut people out of smashed-up cars. We practise life-saving techniques, such as tracheostomy on sheep, so if we are in a situation where somebody has a compromised airway we have the skills to carry it out.
Your history?
I travelled after school for five years. My dad was a doctor and used to tell me I'd be a wonderful nurse, and since I had no other ideas, I thought I'd give it a go.
I trained as a nurse and, three years later, I did my midwifery training through National Women's Hospital. I was particularly interested in women's health, so it seemed a natural step. I was lucky to be sponsored through the midwifery training by National Women's Hospital and was "bonded" for two years in return. I worked with the high-risk team for over four years, rotating around antenatal, delivery and postnatal care for women with high-risk pregnancies.
I loved this job but I had always hankered to live in the country so when I had a baby it was the ideal opportunity to take a year's maternity leave and move.
My partner Mark was very amenable. He gave up his manufacturing jeweller career and began life as a dairy farmer. However, much to my surprise I struggled with being a stay-at-home mum, so when Rosa was about 5 months old I approached Coast to Coast Health Care to suggest they employ me for a couple of days a week; hence life began as a rural practice nurse.
I continued working at National Women's in the weekends. I then moved to an A&E role in the weekends at North Shore Hospital because I thought that would complement this role and give me the opportunity to learn new stuff. I did that until Rosa started school. I now work three to four days a week. We've been here over six years and love living outside the city.
What's the difference between primary and public health nursing?
In a hospital situation, people come in and are treated for an acute episode and then they're gone. Here we know the before, middle and afterwards of treatment. Also, if we can manage people successfully they may be able to stay in their own home, surrounded by family and friends who can support them. One of the negatives of primary health is that the client or patient has to be charged when they see us. When people are struggling financially it is hard to talk about costs and charging.
What skills or qualities are important to nursing?
It is very important that nurses are non-judgmental, open, caring and respectful of clients. You need empathy for people and to genuinely like people and want to be involved. You also need very good planning and organisational skills.
Best part of the job?
The variety, autonomy and collegial support. I also really enjoy the relationships you can develop with clients over time and the ongoing involvement in their health and treatment. I also like the sense of unknown when the PRIME pager goes off.
Most challenging part?
Sometimes life just isn't fair. We are a small community and when someone has a terminal illness the whole community is badly affected.
Advice about primary health nursing?
When on practicum, try and experience a variety of nursing environments so you get an idea of where you feel most comfortable.
Primary health is attractive to some nurses because it is not hospital-based and there is usually no night duty - although PRIME makes that a bit different here.
