Bush Bursary students end ‘great experience’

Tayla Fehon and Emily Clisdell returned to their homes on Friday, February 14 after the pair completed two-weeks of nursing work as part of the NSW Rural Doctor Network Bush Bursary program.

Tayla, a third-year midwifery student at Newcastle University’s Port Macquarie Campus, and Emily, a third-year nursing student at the University of Notre Dame’s Darlinghurst campus, experienced the reality of being a rural nurse when they travelled across the North-West region from Monday, February 3 until Friday, February 14.

The students worked in Narrabri, Boggabri, Wee Waa and Moree health facilities before completing their experience with home visits in Pilliga.

And it was that trip which Emily found the most interesting.

“I went out to Pilliga [on Friday] and that was interesting to see how life is when you’re even further from town,” she said.

“When they’ve got no real health services and they have to travel to Wee Waa or Narrabri for it.

“It was interesting to see how they all go and the different setups.

“They have to forward plan a lot more.

“And if there’s an emergency you’d hope that they’re just around people that can help them.

“They’re definitely in a more dangerous or risky situation living out there.

“But they are so well looked after by one another because it’s such a small town.”

Tayla said her favourite experience of the placement came in the first week during a birthing class.

“The experience was really good,” said Tayla.

“It was interesting to see how the healthcare system operates in a rural setting.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Narrabri Hospital attending the birthing class and working in the maternity unit.

“It was also great to travel around the Narrabri shire too, going to places like Boggabri, Moree and Wee Waa.”

At the start of the program Emily said she wanted to become a rural nurse and by the end of the course Emily told The Courier she was more keen than ever.

“I definitely want to come back,” she said.

“I’m not necessarily sure if it’ll be here, that will depend on jobs and what I end up doing.

“But I am now even more eager to finish my degree and get out to a rural setting.

“There’s just so much to do and you need so much knowledge to be able to help the amount of people who need all these different things.”

Tayla said the experience helped her realise why rural work did not quite fit her degree.

“I learnt that not many people , including healthcare professionals, understood what a direct entry midwife is,” she said.

“It means I am going to be a fully registered midwife when I graduate but I am not qualified as a nurse.

“It was an eye-opener working in the Narrabri maternity unit as I really understood why most midwives in rural settings need to be dual accredited.

“That’s because you may go a couple of days without a single maternity patient so you have to be able to provide care in a general nursing role.”

Both students were extremely appreciative of the work other people did to accommodate them throughout the program.

“Thank you to the community and everyone in Wee Waa, Boggabri, Narrabri and Moree,” said Emily.

“Thanks for having us, and welcoming us.”

“Thank you to the Rural Doctors Network and Narrabri Council and All the facilities that were a part of our experience,” said Tayla.

“A special mention to Jane Linehan who organised the placement schedule for Emily and me.

“And Anna Dugdale and Brock Ryan who hosted us in Narrabri and Kate and Daniel Kahl who hosted us in Wee Waa.”

Emily and Tayla returned home safely on Friday evening to Sydney and Port Macqurie respectively.

The pair said they will remain in contact after becoming good friends during their two weeks away.