Susan Priest
Employee Number 113479
Summary
- Dedicated and patient-focused senior nurse with extensive experience in chronic disease management across acute, outpatient, and community settings. Skilled in providing high-level clinical expertise, supporting complex care situations, and coordinating team operations to ensure seamless care delivery.
- Proven leadership in senior management roles, including as Clinical Lead during the COVID-19 pandemic and in specialist outpatient clinic operations. Highly organized and adaptable, excelling under pressure while fostering a positive team culture aligned with Melbourne Health values.
- Committed to continuous improvement, performance excellence, and delivering patient-centered care in adherence to hospital standards and policies. Motivated to take on new challenges and drive quality outcomes for both patients and teams.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
HARP LINCS Senior Care Coordinator
Melbourne Health
Parkville, Victoria
03.2025 - Current
- Support a high level of clinical expertise within the delivery of HARP LINCS
- Support the clinical care and operations of the team by providing advice to staff and coordinations of tasks undertaken within the team
- Advise staff on appropriate escalation to the clinical lead where appropriate
- Perform HARP LINCS duties- Liaison and Intake role
- Timely and appropriate triage of referrals to HARP services
- Gathering of data to assist in the delivery of HARP services as required
- Identify risks and actively work towards implementing risk reduction strategies
- Contribute to service development, evaluation and improvement
- Actively support clients to make informed decisions about their treatment options and ongoing care needs, including appropriate medical follow up as required
- Ensure clients receive relevant health education/information in an appropriate and accessible format
- Liaise closely with RMH services to promote an understanding of HARP and provide a friendly and supportive interface for referrals
Practice Nurse Manager
Melbourne Health
Parkville, Victoria
03.2023 - 03.2025
- Nursing management of specialist outpatient clinic for SACS- Clinical Centre. These include- Movement Disorders, Spasticity, Chronic Wound Management, Podiatry, Young Adults Transition Service, CDAMS, Continence, Urodynamics, Chronic Pain and Memory Clinics. Provides assistance when required in Radiology and Community Therapies Services
- Took the Clinical Centre up to National Standards during 2023 hospital wide accreditation period and continually monitoring those implementations and improvements
- Executes quality improvement projects for infection prevention, Hand Hygiene, OHAS concerns, sterile procedures, sterile and clean stock storage and product turnover
- Continually working in an operational leadership role within the subacute outpatient environment by attending and contributing to planned site meetings, CNC meetings and SACS Coordinator meetings
- Holds regular one-on-one meetings and weekly team huddles with employees to review performance, priorities, and provide feedback.
- Review staffs completed work to verify consistency, quality and conformance
- Manage recruitment, orientation, performance, skill development, training, leave, separations and rosters
- Provides debriefing following tense situations, especially following difficult procedures
- Regularly works with all clinical teams to drive impactful change initiatives- particularly around infection prevention, positive patient identification and improving our clinical waste and environmental impact
- Assisting with specialist clinic procedures, medication preparations and clinic emergency response
- Ensuring MH privacy regulations are followed
- Regular auditing of the patients experiences and the clinics urodynamic procedures
- Increased patient engagement in their own healthcare by offering resources, information and guidance on self-care techniques
- Regularly building strong, adaptable relationships across the health service with all stakeholders both at RPC and City Campus
- Collaborates easily and effectively when leading change with clinical teams and leaders
- Partake in all MH required eduction offered and serves as the representative for specific groups for the Clinical Centre
Data Reconciliation Project- Clinical Specialist
Melbourne Health
Parkville, VIC
06.2021 - 10.2023
- Reconciliation of data from previous medical record system to current electronic medical records for the outpatient department
- Inspecting specialty referrals for lapses in care and arranging follow up if missed
- Maintaining a shared data base
Outpatient Dept- Registered Nurse
Melbourne Health Nurse Bank, Melbourne Health
Parkville, Victoria
01.2017 - 04.2023
- Daily maintenance of clinic rooms, restocking equipment, cleaning and sanitising ENT equipment. Checking of emergency equipment
- Collection of lab specimens and complete basic and complex wound management
COVID-19 Home Monitoring Service-Clinical Lead
Melbourne Health
Parkville, Victoria
09.2021 - 11.2022
- Optimizing management of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who do not require hospital based management
- Triaging all new referrals. Completing risk assessments at time of notification and streaming patients into tiers of care based on their risk factors and current symptoms
- Part of the Quality Development Pathway with EMR for a new build of the Care Companion for HealthHub. It was built specifically for the COVID-19 Home Monitoring Program
- Manage the flow of new referrals and discharges via EPIC
- Virtual training of all new staff for EMR and processes for monitoring their allocated patients. Ongoing trouble shooting for all staff
- Rostering, completing timesheets and patient allocations for all staff
- Hosting twice daily virtual handovers
- Monitoring staff’s online activity and documentation
- Liaising with HITH for referrals and Ambulance Victoria for emergency medical assistance. Arranging antiviral infusions and providing education to GPs re: current management and treatments for COVID-19
- Providing frequent education for staff around changing treatment options and isolation guidance for COVID-19
- Involved in the development of the RMH COVID Virtual Ward Monitoring Program’s Standard Operating Procedure manual
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers through phone conversations
- Participate in regular meetings with West Metro COVID Positive Pathways Program, CoHealth and The Royal Woman's Hospital for updates and coordination to manage COVID-19 in the community
HARP Liaison- Clinical Nurse Consultant
Melbourne Health
Parkville, Victoria
04.2021 - 06.2021
- Daily screening of all new admissions for possible HARP referrals. Specifically patients with chronic diseases who frequently attend RMH and require help with coordinating their community care with the goal of better self management at home
- Providing patients and staff education about the HARP program and their respective services
- Processing or rejecting referrals from internal and external sources
- Liaising with all HARP staff and Team Leaders regarding possible referrals
- Working together with Merri Community Health, CoHealth and Bolton Clarke to provided appropriate patient services
Respiratory and Cardiac Community Outreach HARP
Merri Health
Coburg, VIC
12.2020 - 04.2021
- Clinical Nurse Consultant for respiratory and chronic heart failure patients in the community.
- Performed respiratory and cardiac assessments, provided medication education, and enacted the patient's action plans when found to be acutely unwell at home.
- Worked as part of the team to coordinate and deliver community-based chronic respiratory and chronic heart failure disease management services.
- Worked across the acute and community sectors to promote the effective management of people with chronic respiratory and chronic heart failure diseases.
- Worked closely with clients, families, hospital clinicians, and General Practitioners to provide an integrated, client-centered care plan. Provided key worker role for clients, including assessment and care planning.
- Provide key worker roles for clients, including assessment and care planning.
- Accurately and appropriately keep client records and perform data collection.
- Demonstrates excellent management skills in the area of respiratory outreach and chronic heart failure nursing, and acts as a resource to other staff nurses for the Melbourne Easy Breathers physiotherapy exercise program.
- Nurse for Melbourne Easy Breathers Physiotherapy Exercise Program.
5SW Medical and Respiratory-Registered Nurse
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Parkville, Victoria, South West
04.2010 - 12.2017
- General Medical/Respiratory Ward
- Delivered quality patient focused nursing care in accordance with hospital policies and procedures within the concept of team nursing
- Dealt with patients in acute respiratory distress on the ward and within the Respiratory Care Unit and able to deliver non- invasive ventilation when prescribed
- Dealt with complicated emergency department and ICU admissions, responsible for prioritising and implementing individualised care plans to meet patient’s needs
Respiratory Outreach-Clinical Nurse Consultant
Melbourne Health
Parkville, Victoria
04.2010 - 03.2015
- HARP - Partners in Health Program. Provide optimal patient care through a high level of clinical expertise and experience.
- Use appropriate teaching skills to provide a high level of education to patients, their families, carers, and other health care professionals.
- Provide key worker roles for clients, including assessment and care planning.
- Demonstrate excellent management skills in the area of respiratory outreach nursing, and act as a resource to other staff.
- Manage and organize the HARP respiratory outpatient clinic appointments, transport, education, and referrals.
- Provide RMH patients and their families/carers with new home oxygen education and monitoring in the community.
- Orient new interns, medical staff, allied health staff, and nursing staff to the Melbourne Easy Breathers team and how to order new home oxygen for patients.
- Develop and coordinate resources for patients, carers, and other staff within the HARP Chronic Disease team.
- Evaluate and contribute to the development of clinical processes to ensure efficient patient care.
- Participate in the Clinical Operation Group with HARP and Respiratory department staff.
Respiratory Coordinated Care Program- CNS
The Prince of Wales Hospital
, NSW
06.2008 - 02.2010
- Respiratory Medical Assessment Unit (RMAU) and Respiratory Coordinated Care Program (RCCP)
- Provided COPD and inhaler education to respiratory patients around hospital
- Preformed regular home visits to chronic respiratory patients, which includes respiratory assessments, medication education, pulmonary rehabilitation and spirometry
- Initiates ‘COPD ACTION PLAN’ when patient found to be unwell in community, this is ultimately aimed at preventing hospital admissions
- Coordinated planned admissions when required with GPs and consultants
- Input into policy development and data collection in conjunction with the CNC
- Facilitated the process of patients being discharged with home oxygen and provides patients with safety education
- Actively utilised allied health community services to meet each patients individual needs
- Held in-services to staff to educate staff members how to correctly utilise Nicotine Replacement Therapy and the processes of nicotine withdrawal.
Acute Medical Ward- Registered Nurse
The Prince of Wales Hospital
Randwick, NSW
09.2007 - 05.2008
- Acute Medical, Respiratory and Infectious Diseases ward
- Nursed patients with highly infectious diseases within the infection control policies and procedures guidelines
- Dealt with patients in acute respiratory distress and able to deliver non-invasive ventilation when prescribed
Clinical Nurse Specialist
The Northern Hospital
Epping, Victoria
02.2004 - 09.2006
- Unit B- (Acute Medical Ward) stroke, respiratory, endocrinology, infectious diseases, renal, cardiac, palliative care, aged care/dementia, acute and chronic wound management
- Delivered quality patient focused nursing care in accordance with hospital policies and procedures within the concept of modular nursing
Graduate Nurse
Northern Hospital Graduate
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Nurse Program 6 Months- Northern Psychiatric Unit (Acute Psychiatric Ward) 6 Months- Unit B Acute Medical Ward
- Aimed at bridging the novice to professional practice, this year long program incorporated further learning through course work and extra education where consolidating nursing skills and providing professional nursing care was the objective
Education
Melbourne Bussiness School - The Melbourne Way Leadership Program
Melbourne University
Parkville, VIC11-2024
Graduate Certificate - Community Service Practice
Victoria University
Melbourne, VIC2012
Bachelor of Nursing -
Australian Catholic University
01.2002
Accomplishments
- 2024- Melbourne Health Leadership Program August- November 2024
- 2024 - Nominated for a 'You Made a Difference' Award in March
- 2023- Led the Clinical Centre RPC to meet the NSQHS Standards for the hospital wide accreditation period
- 2022- RMH Celebrating Excellence Award 2022, “Excellence Together”- Highly Commended for COVID-19 Home Monitoring Service
- 2021- Clinical Lead for RMH COVID Home Monitoring Program
- 2021- Involvement of EMR new build for Care Companion during COVID-19 pandemic
- 2021- COVID-19 Contact Tracer Course- John Hopkins University
- 2020- Re-orientation to Acute Care Setting, 2 day course run by ANMF in preparation to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2012- Graduate Certificate in Community Service Practice- Implement Goal Directed Care Planning
- 2012- Assisted in developing a Nebulised Antibiotic Policy for The Royal Melbourne Hospital
- 2012- Raised $2290 for The RMH by participating in the inaugural ‘Royal Walk'
- 2011- Spoke at RMH Respiratory Symposium and helped organise
- 2009-Nicotine Addiction and Smoking Cessation short-course held by Associate Professor Renee Bittoun which lead to becoming a qualified smoking cessation nurse
- 2008- Involved in NSW Department of Health Redesign Initiative
- 2007- Infection control representative for Unit B at Northern Health
- 2006- Injury prevention representative for Unit B at Northern Health
- 2006- Preceptor for new graduate nurses for Unit B at Northern Health
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
HARP LINCS Senior Care Coordinator
Melbourne Health
03.2025 - Current
Practice Nurse Manager
Melbourne Health
03.2023 - 03.2025
COVID-19 Home Monitoring Service-Clinical Lead
Melbourne Health
09.2021 - 11.2022
Data Reconciliation Project- Clinical Specialist
Melbourne Health
06.2021 - 10.2023
HARP Liaison- Clinical Nurse Consultant
Melbourne Health
04.2021 - 06.2021
Respiratory and Cardiac Community Outreach HARP
Merri Health
12.2020 - 04.2021
Outpatient Dept- Registered Nurse
Melbourne Health Nurse Bank, Melbourne Health
01.2017 - 04.2023
5SW Medical and Respiratory-Registered Nurse
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
04.2010 - 12.2017
Respiratory Outreach-Clinical Nurse Consultant
Melbourne Health
04.2010 - 03.2015
Respiratory Coordinated Care Program- CNS
The Prince of Wales Hospital
06.2008 - 02.2010
Acute Medical Ward- Registered Nurse
The Prince of Wales Hospital
09.2007 - 05.2008
Clinical Nurse Specialist
The Northern Hospital
02.2004 - 09.2006
Graduate Nurse
Northern Hospital Graduate
01.2003 - 01.2004
Melbourne Bussiness School - The Melbourne Way Leadership Program
Melbourne University
Graduate Certificate - Community Service Practice
Victoria University
Bachelor of Nursing -
Australian Catholic University
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