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Narrabri Nurse helping to reduce diabetes
Narrabri Community Health Service is hoping to address the growing rate of diabetes within the local community by implementing a number of health and education programs.
Add to the mix, Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist Natalie Smith, who hopes to soon become authorised as a Nurse Practitioner after recently completing a Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) through the University of Newcastle.
Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses who provide expert care in a specialty area and work in collaboration with other health care providers as part of a multi-professional team.
Nurse practitioners work within the nursing model of care with the ability to provide diagnosis and order tests, among other responsibilities.
Natalie is no stranger to the challenges of diabetes management having working for more than 10 years at Narrabri District Health Service. She has also completed a post graduate certificate in Diabetes Education and Management and is credentialed with the Australian Diabetes Education Association.
“I wanted to expand my healthcare knowledge to meet the needs of the local community. Diabetes places a huge demand on rural and remote health care providers as people with diabetes develop more complex chronic conditions,” Ms Smith said.
“Above all, I feel completing my Masters of Nursing has provided me with a greater understanding of peoples’ health needs and the importance of working collaboratively as a team to improve health outcomes,” she said.
Manager of Narrabri Community Health Margo Carberry said Natalie will play a very important role in delivering quality diabetes education to the community.
Natalie is currently working towards authorisation, from the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW, as a nurse practitioner.
Contact: Kylie Dawson
Phone: (02) 6767 7136 or 0408 667 299
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