New nurse practitioner candidate Bronwyn Beadle is helping to provide an extra level of care for residents of Harbourside Lodge.
A nurse practitioner is an advance practice registered nurse with the experience, expertise and authority to diagnose and treat people with a variety of acute or chronic health conditions, and can prescribe medication, undertake assessments, develop treatment plans and order tests.
In her new role, Ms Beadle provides an important link between residents and their GPs. She is being supervised by endorsed nurse practitioner Kam Benton and is also working at Heywood Rural Health.
With more than 35 years’ experience working as a registered nurse in emergency and critical care and forensic and rural health, Ms Beadle most recently worked with primary mental health and aged care in-reach in the Shepparton region and prior to that was CEO/Director of Nursing at Nagambie HealthCare.
Ms Beadle is in the final year of her nurse practitioner master’s degree and is no stranger to Portland. “My husband and I have a holiday home in Portland and really enjoy spending time here so I was keen when the role came up,” she said.
“It’s a program that is really well supported by local clinicians and the management team. I have a background in mental health and aged care and love working in the area, so this role really ticks all the boxes.
“It also has quite a bit of diversity as I get to work at Harbourside Lodge and at Heywood, with the option to pick up shifts in Urgent Care.”
Ms Beadle says nurse practitioners have an important function in aged care facilities.
“To be able to provide appropriate medical supportive care in residential aged care can be a real challenge,” she said. “Portland is lucky because we’ve got really good GPs here supporting residential care and nurse practitioners can work as a conduit between the residents and their practitioners.
“It’s a great team at Harbourside Lodge and everyone has been very welcoming and supportive of the role.”
Portland District Health Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Aged Care, Ros Nagorcka, said nurse practitioners play an important role in ensuring residents get the care and attention they deserve.
“Nurse practitioners have extensive skills and training and help GPs and our aged care residents and staff,” she said.
