Nursing students gain hands-on experience in Broken Hill

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Summer 10-12-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Sydney Campus

Publication Place

Sydney

Abstract

Four Nursing students from The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney have spent the last month in the isolated New South Wales mining town, Broken Hill, gaining hands-on experience in rural health care.

The trip was part of their clinical elective practicum component which provides students with the opportunity to experience different facets of health care in remote areas of Australia.

The third year students, Eloise Connell, Chantal Brawand, Tamzen Tooher-Burell and Ruth Mychael, spent their time working in the local hospital and learning about the local community.

Ms Connell said the four students took on many nursing functions within the hospital, including primary health care, maternal and family care, paediatric nursing, aged care and mental health care.

“We were also given many tasks within the local community such as helping with lead testing, diabetes awareness, indigenous health and the Royal Flying Doctors Service,” said Ms Connell.

All four students elected to undertake the practicum because of their interest in rural and remote nursing and their desire to experience the very special environment of Broken Hill.

“We enjoyed every minute of our time in Broken Hill. I began the practicum with the aim of learning more about rural health, and came home with respect for rural communities, knowledge of local history and insight into life outside the city”, said Ms Connell.

Media contact:

Moira Saunders 02 8204 4407

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