Training in scrub scout was the next challenge, with a focus on Obstetric and Gynaecology. The department educator and quality coordinator were the next challenges for my career, with my interest in furthering personal education moving me to look for a Clinical Masters Nursing program with a career potential for Advanced Practice roles. Beginning advanced practice career training was a as Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assistant before transferring to a Masters of Nurse Practitioner at UQ.

As Preoperative Nurse Practitioner I have found a role which allows me to work on passions of nursing practice. It is clinical role allowing me to make a difference in the access, safety and quality of health care to patients. And it is nursing leadership role which allows me to mentor, educate, advocate and continue the development of perioperative nursing. Nurse Practitioner’s practice as per evidenced based practice (standards and guidelines) which has been a foundation of my perioperative nurses as instilled in me by my preoperative nursing mentors.

During my preoperative career I have continues to represent nursing on both state and national professional nursing organisations, with continued advocacy of nurses has health care professional who improve access of safe quality health care. My present roles as Perioperative Nurse Practitioner includes surgical assisting in obstetric, gynaecology, general and bariatric surgery, in bariatric surgical pre and post patient assessment, education and risk management and in undergraduate nursing education.

My Perioperative Nurse Practitioner role has 2 leadership roles as a mentoring of 6 perioperative nurse practitioner candidates and as the Treasure of the ACNP. The ACNP role has given me the opportunity to advocate for advanced practice perioperative nursing and perioperative nursing at the national policy level influencing nursing career pathways, quality, access and safety of health care.