SCHOLARSHIPS HELP NURSES BOOST CARE

TASMANIAN nurses and midwives are this week receiving an inaugural batch of scholarships in a scheme designed to boost the quality of the state’s health system.

Hobart nurse Stefanie Edison is among the first recipients of the Tasmanian Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships, which have been offered by the Department of Health to fund postgraduate study and other professional development initiatives.

An associate nurse unit manager in the Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department, Ms Edison said she was excited to be given an opportunity to assume greater responsibilities in the department.

“Having this financial support means I can concentrate on my Master of Nurse Practitioner course … basically as a nurse practitioner I can work a bit more autonomously,” she said.

More nurses earning qualifications to take on senior roles would release some pressure on the state’s under-siege hospital system, Ms Edison said.

“If you’re becoming a sort of advanced nurse that can see patients without a doctor requirements at times, it increases patient flow and satisfaction for people that they are seen more promptly too.

“Coming in for a script or with a laceration … that’s something that can be seen by an advanced nurse rather than the patient having to wait far longer for a doctor to become available. I’m really excited to grow my skills and try to meet the growing needs of the community – I really believe nurse practitioners can make a big difference and I’m very excited about the possibility of working in that role.”