Normanton’s Jen Greenhorn has recruited 25 patients into the Nurse Navigator program, with the aim of keeping them in good health and out of hospital.
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“I have transitioned one patient into a nursing home, who had been in the hospital for four weeks, which is not ideal for the patient,” Ms Greenhorn said.
“It takes a lot of communicating, chasing up of referrals and making the most of resources.”
Fresh from Brisbane to Normanton only months ago, Jen is quickly adjusting to nursing in the Outback.
“Things are done very differently here, and you have to be flexible,” she said.
“You have to look at the patient, and look at the environment and work out the best solution for them.”
The community health workers are a huge help.
“They know the patients. One of my young male patients went walkabout half way through his treatment,” she said. “I got some help from the lovely aunties and uncles and eventually I found him and brought him in for attention.”
“That probably prevented later hospitalisation, and that’s what Nurse Navigators do: get the right treatment for the patient, keep them out of hospital and keep them on their proper health pathway.”