CRANAcast: Recordings for the Road

When Jamie Ranse headed out to Pukatja as a locum nurse for the first time, he was welcomed by a community who still remembered his parent’s wedding from the 1970s. Jamie’s mum, Anne Ranse, was a remote area nurse in the community. He grew up hearing stories about his parent’s time working remote, and as an adult began to wonder what it might be like to try it out for himself. In this episode, Jamie and Anne share their experiences of remote nursing in the APY Lands, decades apart.

Lisa and Ben Fox have become so embedded in the community of Ltyentye Apurte, residents say they’ve gone ahead and reserved a plot for them in the cemetery. The couple work as remote area nurses in this community 85km from Alice Springs, but say it doesn’t feel like work most of the time. They, and their two poodles Margo and Thomas, have built meaningful connections in the town, getting to know whole families from grandma to grandchild and everyone in between. Listen in to hear how rewarding working at an advanced scope of practice can be, the pair’s advice on asking for help, and how they believe everyone’s unique experiences mean they have something to offer remote area nursing.

Lyn Byers has dedicated 24 years to serving some of Australia’s most isolated desert communities. As a registered nurse practitioner, midwife, and recipient of the 2022 Aurora Award for Remote Health Professional of the Year, Lyn shares why she remains committed to supporting the underserved communities of the APY Lands. Listen in to discover a day in her life at Nganampa Health Council where she works “right across the sphere” from babies to the elderly, from acute interventions to proactive health strategies. Hear the logistical challenges of being on-call in remote settings and gain professional development guidance tailored to aspiring primary health practitioners.

A career in nursing can offer flexibility and diversity. In this episode, we meet RN Karlene from Western Australia, who currently resides in a “treehouse home” in Zambia, where she uses her nursing skills to train rangers in CPR and assess orphaned elephants. Here, she shares how she juggles her competing passions of conservation and remote nursing; how she maintains her confidence and competence when stepping in and out of the profession; reflections from the remote Mongolian wilderness – a two-day reindeer ride from any road; and the reward of helping people to help themselves, across the globe.

It was a phone call Amanda’s dad made to the Geelong Hospital 38 years ago that would kickstart her wide-spanning career in nursing and midwifery – and eventually lead to her current focus: addressing health disparity through education. Amanda Forti, who oversees CRANAplus’ education maternity stream alongside Leonie McLaughlin, shares her career journey to midwifery education; advice for newcomers with reflections from the 2023 CRANAplus Conference; and breaks down CRANAplus maternity courses – who they are for, and what participants can expect to walk away with.

Meet former accountant Leigh Moore, whose long-term interest in nursing and tenacity to make a difference has helped her overcome doubt she faced changing careers later in life. Here, Leigh discusses small acts that can improve the lives of older Australians; two-way community support; and the diverse opportunities in R&R communities for budding RANs.

In our 20th episode of CRANAcast, we hear from enrolled nurse Diana Circona about her journey from metro to regional, rural and now remote health practice. Currently employed as a psychosocial mental health coordinator on the borders of WA, SA and the NT, Diane kindly shares the challenges she’s overcome, and tips and encouragement for ENs interested in expanding their scope of practice in rural and remote Australia.

After some time spent as a Clinical Nurse Manager in the Gascoyne region of WA, Anita Tamowicz has recently come back to nursing: a career she adores though never pictured herself pursuing. In this episode, Anita shares her unconventional journey into remote health via an Anthropology thesis; why listening to and building rapport with each patient is critical in achieving positive health outcomes; and her love of small community camaraderie and “learning to love the simple things”.

Over the last 12 years, Keppel has supported hundreds of remote health professionals gain confidence in their maternity skills as a CRANAplus course facilitator. Keppel is a “country boy at heart” who has basked in the glow of many a Jabiru sunset, and although other commitments have him temporarily side-lined from remote health practice, volunteering as a facilitator has enabled him to stay engaged in the sector. Here he discusses “crossing the divide” to become an educator, helicopter retrievals in locations without runways, and working near outback holiday destinations.

Sheryl Alexander RN RM immerses us in her journey from psychiatric nursing in Tasmania to outreach midwifery in the Northern Territory. Throughout her career she’s found herself “falling into fantastic jobs and loving them” and has learned to “provide the service [clients] want, not the service I think they should have.” Here, she talks about midwifery group practice, participating in cultural events via invitation, and making ante- and post-natal education fun (think tie-dye singlets and exotic fruit).