Nina’s passion carries her to the pinnacle of nursing

Wimmera’s newest Nurse Practitioner has a long-standing passion of ensuring the older population receives the best care possible. Care that is tailored to their needs to optimise their quality of life. 

When Nina Roberts learned that her unit had lost its Nurse Practitioner, she decided to make a career-defining commitment to further her studies. 

Nina started in the Wyuna sub-acute unit at Wimmera Base Hospital as a graduate registered nurse in 2015. Focused on her career and a commitment to sub-acute care in both Rehabilitation and Geriatric Evaluation and Management, Nina said she worked from the ANUM role to the Stroke Clinical Nurse Consultant and then the Sub-Acute CNC before settling at the Nurse Practitioner role. 

“It was 2020 and at the height of COVID-19 when I started my studies toward my Masters of Advanced Clinical Nursing – General Medicine,” Nina said. 

“Once I completed that Masters, I went on to complete my Masters in Gerontology so that I could provide specialist care in Wyuna. It was a five-year commitment, but I am so happy that I was able to do it. 

“My family, friends and close colleagues at work have all been extraordinary at supporting me and helping me to get through.” 

Nina said her new role had aided in creating a direct link between access to timely Geriatrician input when older persons are admitted to the hospital, with the aim to reduce the potential complications that can occur due to lengthy admissions. 

“With the formation of Grampians Health, the Horsham campus now has direct access to geriatric care. The added support of the Nurse Practitioner role means the Wimmera’s aged community can feel safer because chronic conditions can be assessed more efficiently and a plan of care can be created to fulfil a better lifestyle. 

“I’m able to give families timely updates on a patient’s medical condition. For example, if their loved one is recovering from a stroke, I can have good conversations around what the stroke recovery is looking like and what the trajectory of the rehabilitation. 

“I’ll chart any recommendations from the orthopaedic surgeons so the nurses can put things into place, or if the medical team need to follow up on something, I can help escalate that for them.” 

Nina said she was also supporting Wyuna’s Transitional Care Program. 

“That includes general overview of the program, overseeing of the patients, ensuring they’ve got the correct follow-up appointments and that the GP will receive information regarding the patient’s admission.” 

Nina wants to encourage more nurses to commit to her pathway. 

“I really would love for another nurse to read this and think ‘Yes! I can do it. I can be a Nurse Practitioner’. 

“Living in regional Victoria does not limit access to the pathway of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Studying my Masters in Advanced Clinical Nursing/Nurse Practitioner was achievable as the learning platform was delivered completely online, reducing the need to travel to study. 

“There will be times when it will feel difficult, but the end result is so worthwhile and extremely important in supporting the health of our community.” 

Grampians Health Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelly congratulated Nina on her successful escalation to Nurse Practitioner. 

“Our Horsham campus has several Nurse Practitioners in various specialty roles, and we continue to encourage our workforce to enhance their skills and knowledge to support a high performing culture” Mr Kelly said.