Paediatrics Nursing Placement in Northern Territory

I was keen to go to the NT for my 4-week RN placement, and here I was placed – in the Paediatrics ward. I love kids, but the thought of being surrounded by crying sick kids was not intrinsically appealing. Luckily, I had the chance to find out firsthand that the main pre-requisites of being a good paediatric nurse is to love children, and not like seeing them unwell! We are there to monitor and provide good nursing interventions to return them to health and/or comfort (which usually, ceases / prevents crying!). My confidence in working with children grew stronger each day, and I feel as confident working with the little ones now as I do with adult patients. This has opened my mind to the possibility of working in paediatrics down the line. Being far from the comforts of home, friends and family meant I planned and learnt to adapt my habits to facilitate wellbeing within myself. You can't pour from an empty cup after all. I have a sense of immense pride that I took the leap and accomplished this. I was able to trial what it would be like to live rurally as a healthcare worker. I went to the gym, library, shops, local swimming pool, water holes, hiking, out for dinner, experienced the hot weather and thunderstorms... Making friends was made easy living with and close by fellow students as well as the regular debrief and education sessions that gathered people from different professions, universities, and areas within the hospital. The ACEN scholarship contributed towards flights and my lost income while on placement. More than that it gave me the sense that I was supported. I met with my ACEN mentor the week prior to starting who helped fuel my excitement and provided plenty of practical tips for a successful Red Centre experience. This placement was one of firsts - as well as the paediatric side of things, it was my first acute hospital placement. Day one consisted of an Introduction to Central Australian Aboriginal Cultures and Context workshop which was fantastic considering Alice Springs has a population of around 20% First Nations Australians compared to 3.2% Australia wide. Healthcare for First Nations Australians has been generally insensitive at best and horrific at worst (e.g. Australian lock hospitals and The Stolen Generations) so it's well overdue that this is taught to our upcoming healthcare workers.