Skye April Cuthbert

• assisting in interventional radiology procedures; these include but are not limited to: nerve/facet/joint injections, epidurals, diagnostic biopsies, drainages.
• performing duties that include/but are not limited to: CT colonographies, x-ray proctograms,, nuclear medicine cardiac stress tests.
• nursing skills include: IV cannulation, qualified to competently access infusaports, monitoring/understanding of cardiac meds, ECGs, managing and detecting contrast reactions, MRI pace maker monitoring.

• working across various Oncology specilaised departments at RHH - I have been rostered mostly in Holman Clinic in Radiation Oncology; my role is mainly as a support role, I am required to have knowledge in regards to patient education and the management of side effects from treatment
• Holman clinic duties include knowledge of radiation toxicities and wound care, patient assessment, accessing bloods (both venous & central line bloods), central line management and iv canulation; knowledge of how to access eViQ and where to reference up to date information regarding patient treatment; working closely with allied health, especially dieticians and speech pathologists for head and neck patients; plus learning how to manage nasogastric tubes and tracheotomies
• Other roles have included working on 9A Oncology inpatients ward, and I have done various other shifts in other inpatient wards around the hospital casually

• this was a short-term contract in the BCN role within the Tasmania Health Care Service; the role has been to provide information, education and support to recently diagnosed breast cancer patients and their families
• included the advocating of patients, and informing of best practices and current clinical trials; this role requires a broad range of knowledge of breast cancer, from advising on decisions for surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and endocrine therapy.
• liaising with specialists and allied health, referring to relevant services such as oncology psychologist, Cancer Council etc.
• I am currently studying a post-graduate unit in Breast cancer (subsidised by a scholarship grant from McGrath foundation)

• Competency in administering chemotherapy agents and immunotherapies, patient education of treatments; including extensive nursing assessments and monitoring toxicities, working in a team-based environment; working closely with consultants and other cancer care providers.
• Nursing duties include but not limited to: extensive CVAD care – predominately PICCs and Infusa-ports , PICC removal and dressing change; CVAD problem solving and knowledge of resources to refer to; Peripheral IV cannulation skills – including knowledge of how to manage cytotoxic extravasation - competent with cold cap application and an understanding of how it works.
• a good understanding of types of radiation side effects and competency in educating patients in what to expect; along with a thorough understanding or radiation related toxicity management

• Similar to Icon in having competency in administering chemotherapy agents and immunotherapies – however 8A has a more extensive range of patients that includes those with hematological cancers/conditions, other types of bone marrow/blood treatments and also those that are part of clinical trials
• Nursing duties: - Peripheral IV canulation skills, along with extensive CVAD care –PICCs and Infusa-ports (as mentioned above), also Hickman’s lines, vascaths & permacaths - clinical knowledge in interpreting blood test results
• I resigned from this position only because I was offered radiation training at Icon and I chose to work there predominately for a period where I could alternate between Medical and Radiation Oncology and build on both skill sets).

• Competently supporting patients and their families during end-of-life care - comfortable in having difficult conversations with patients/families i.e., cancer diagnosis etc
• Some management of ports; along with an understanding of some of the common side effects of oncological therapies and medications to treat symptoms - competent in S4/S8 medication administration, sub-cut infusions and syringe drivers; competent in giving blood and blood product transfusions

• Working on a busy surgical ward in a team-based environment - competent with performing neurological observations and how to determine a deteriorating patient - some experience with vac dressings, and other surgical wound dressings; experience with using PCA machines - having an awareness of where to find policies/procedures and only working within my scope of practice as this was a ward where I only worked on a casual basis

• Provide quality care to patients with diverse medical and holistic requirements while prioritising patient needs - ability to recognize and appropriately respond to deterioration in patients through monitoring vital signs - provide IV administration of antibiotics and other medications; learning how to safely administer S4/S8 controlled drugs
• Communicating critical information to HMO/VMOs; working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

- practice nurse working predominately with post-op patients, mainly orthopaedic reviews and also utilsing my skills to assist with post-op breast/breast cancer patients.

Awarded McGrath Foundation Scholarship grant

AHPRA Registration # NMW0002173902