Nicole O'Connor

I have been a Clinical Nurse in the Total Care Unit for over 25 years striving to maintain and develop my knowledge and skills as a clinician, acting as a role model, leader, and expert practitioner in the Paediatric Oncology/Haematology arena. My substantive role is as the Clinical Nurse - Transplant and Cellular Therapy.

• As the TCT CN my role is varied working across both the inpatient and outpatient Oncology/Haematology department. My daily responsibilities include:
• HLA typing of Oncology/ Haematology patient and Non-malignant Haematology patients and family
• Liaison for patient and families with other PCH departments including Paediatric Critical Care; radiotherapy; Immunology; Endocrine and Haematology
• Day 0 Coordination and receipt of cells; supervision and education of cell infusion; audit and follow up 24hrs post infusion
• Education and advocacy for the HSCT / ASCT patient and their family
• Education and advocacy for the patient and family undergoing Peripheral blood stem cell collection .
• Coordination of bookings for acute outpatient follow up and clinics.
• Discharge education and preparation for HSCT / ASCT patients
• Communication of re-immunisation programs, blood tests and follow up appointments for HSCT patients.
• Attendance at Combined FSH / PCH weekly meetings
• Attendance at TACTIC and TAPID meetings (National Transplant and Immunology meetings)
• Weekly Staff education to both junior and senior staff members.
• Provision of bedside booklet; SOP's and standards for each patient receiving HSCR and HSCT treatment
• Sound knowledge of FACT accreditation, including Standard Operating Procedures
• FACT education to all staff of Ward 1A and Clinic H in preparation for Accreditation

In this leadership role I use my wealth of experience and knowledge to perform with confidence and professionalism, maintaining evidence based best practice for the safe care of our most vunerable patients.

I have been fortunate to cover the CNS Cellular Therapies role on a number of occasions as leave relief. Each time has proven to be a challenging period as I continue to build on my knowledge of the service and the CNS role in the coordination of this speciality area of paediatric nursing.

As a Clinical Nurse in Oncology/Haematology Ambulatory Care my role included the ongoing clinical care of the paediatric and adolescent patient during their outpatient treatment.

Whilst in the outpatient setting I recognised the shift in staff skill mix and developed a competency pathway for staff to achieve in checking intrathecal medication in theatre. This alleviated the workload to senior staff and increased knowledge of junior staff at a faster rate.

• As a Clinical Nurse in the Oncology Haematology Department my role included the ongoing clinical care of the paediatric and adolescent oncology and haematology patient from admission to outpatient treatment to palliation. I am CVAD and Cytotoxic Competent as well as a Cytotoxic Supervisor. I have extensive experience in the administration of cytotoxic therapy; monoclonal antibodies; pre-conditioning treatments in workup to transplant; administration of blood and blood products; care of the patient undergoing stem cell transplant / stem cell rescue; care of the acutely unwell patient; care of the outpatient and palliative patients; triaging of patients; management of staffing numbers and shift coordination ensuring an adequately staffed and safe shift, whilst maintaining patient safety.

• Throughout my secondment in the A/PDN role I was exposed to a wide variety of experiences. Some of these achievements are listed below:
• Lead Trainer and Superuser at Perth Children's Hospital
• Obtainment of HPLS Train the Trainer qualification, performing HPLS assessment and coordination of theory component.
• Facilitated and presented in AIN /EN and RN orientation; EN study days; Graduate RN study days; and RN PDP study days, by way of theory presentations, workshops and practical demonstrations.
• As the sole holder of a Certificate IV in Assessment and Validation in Paediatric Nursing Education (PNE) I have performed both oral and IV medication competencies for the EN Cohort as part of the completion of their IV medication qualifications.
• Completion of the Undergraduate planner for 2017 and development of the 2018 Study Day Planner for Nursing Education.
• I revised and updated the Graduate RN Preceptor package; Preceptor Package; Undergraduate Orientation package and SDN Resource Manual.
• Other roles involved coordinating; facilitating; presenting and running of multiple study days including Nursing Induction; Annual Review Day; Preceptor Study Day; Shift Coordinator Study Day; CN Development Study days; Diabetic and the Stomal Study Days. I completed the Teaching on the Run 7 Modules run by the Community of Practice and facilitated and organised the attendance of the SDN's to these two days on my recommendations to the Department. I have completed the Gold Standard Hand Hygiene Auditor training and am an initiative-taking auditor throughout the hospital.

• Clinical care of acutely unwell infant to adult patients across all areas of the emergency department, including; resuscitation bay; high acuity; minor injuries and holding area. Patients received from communities as far east as Nhulunbuy, and west from Kununurra via RFDS/Air-med.
• In October of 2002, I played an integral part in the triaging and coordinating of care of patients injured in the Bali bombings. Patients were received in groups of twenty to twenty-five over an eighteen-hour period. I was allocated to the triage role and triaged the patients accordingly, ie; transfer to ICU, to the Resuscitation Bay, of which there were two working areas, or to the more minor injury bay. Responsible for coordination of stable patients to the ward post assessment and investigations. Implementation of the Royal Darwin Hospital Disaster Management Plan in preparation for the arriving patients.

• Los Angeles County University of Southern California (LAC-USC) – Care of the adult Haematology patient in a 2000 bed hospital.