Melbourne's first aged care nurse practitioner

In a metropolitan Melbourne and Northern Health first, Broadmeadows Health Service’s Cheryl Donohue has been endorsed as an aged care nurse practitioner.

Ms Donohue’s endorsement builds on her 25 years of nursing experience and qualifies her to deliver high quality, specialised care to older patients.

‘Having Melbourne’s first aged care nurse practitioner is another valuable resource enabling us to provide quality health service to our diverse community,’ said Northern Health Chief Executive Officer Greg Pullen.

‘Nurse practitioners at Northern Health play an important role in the community by delivering more immediate access to required services while being a role model to their peers,’ said Mr Pullen.

As an aged care nurse practitioner, Ms Donohue can provide a comprehensive geriatric nursing assessment to diagnose common clinical conditions in older people.

She can also treat acute health problems within her scope of practice, prescribe medications from an approved medication formulary and admit and discharge patients from Northern Health campuses.

To become an endorsed nurse practitioner, Ms Donohue undertook a Masters degree in nursing (community health), additional studies in aged care and pharmacology and clinical supervision and mentoring.

Glenroy resident Bill Diamond has been seeing Ms Donohue since November and is one of her most appreciative patients.

‘The compassion Cheryl gives is incredibly amazing,’ Mr Diamond said.

‘Because of her, I’ve been going well for the past eight months and have a positive outlook.

‘Cheryl arranged for equipment to support me at home, organised therapists to help my mobility and helps me manage my medication.

‘I really can't express enough gratitude to Cheryl and my wonderful wife of 58 years, Phyllis, for their care and patience,’ said Mr Diamond.

‘I hope to set an example for nurses looking to expand their career as a nurse practitioner and encourage them to consider a rewarding pathway into aged care,’ said Ms Donohue.