BCHS Community Newsletter - November 2024 - Other - Page 5
NURSING A CRITICAL ROLE
They deliver essential services to the community.
They address gaps in healthcare and increase
flexibility in the workforce. They work
autonomously and collaboratively to provide
holistic, end-to-end care. They are there for you.
They are nurse practitioners!
Meet just one of BCHS’ nurse practitioners
Louise Holland.
How long have you been a nurse practitioner?
I completed my Masters in 2019 and have worked
for last 5 years.
What's unique about your role at BCHS?
I have had the privilege of being the first NP in a
state funded Sexual and Reproductive Health
(SRH) hub. I have been able to have continuity of
care with clients that I saw as an adolescent many
years ago and now are supporting their children. I
love that I can work autonomously and also with
our amazing team at the SRH hub and headspace.
What's a typical day for you?
Not one day is predictable or the same! I work
regular hours and I will see people across all
spectrums, from puberty issues to providing
comprehensive contraception information and
management to pregnancy, where my role can
include supporting to navigate the health systems
and being able to order investigations such as
blood tests and ultrasounds. I see many people
who identify as LGBTQIA+ and help them connect
to available networks. I also see many women as
they transition through midlife and menopause –
my greatest capacity is to listen and provide
information for people to become knowledgeable
and to be able to make informed choices.
What do you wish people knew about nurse
practitioners and their role in patient care?
I think the main barrier is the lack of general
knowledge in the community. Nurse practitioners,
through our endorsement program, have to be
senior nurses who have worked at an advanced
level of nursing for a long time and this experience
is the framework for a nurse practitioner to become
more experienced as an autonomous practitioner.
How are nurse practitioners leading the change
for the future of health care?
Nurse practitioners are facilitating roles where the
