EPC Staff Spotlight - Meet Jessica!

Jessica has been with EPC for over 5 years. Watch her interview (Length - 5:21) or continue reading below to learn more about Jessica and Nursing at EPC.

What is your role at EPC? 

My role as Clinical Nurse Consultant is to provide clinical leadership to the nurses in the aged and disability support team, the intake team and the nurses who work the evening shift.

Why did you pursue this role/career?  

I completed my first ever nursing placement 3 weeks into my degree at Bethlehem Hospital in the hospice.  It was confronting as an 18 year old, but I recall the compassion and calm nature of the nursing staff.  They were so skilled at having difficult conversations.  I really was in awe and felt it was something I would love to do, but I felt that I needed both clinical experience and maturity to become a palliative care nurse.  
When I did start working with EPC, I was regretful that it had taken me so long to get here!

How long have you worked for EPC? 

I have worked with EPC over the last 5 years across multiple teams.  

How has your career progressed since you’ve started?

I started with the inner team as a clinical nurse then moved to the central team to be closer to home. 
Then in December 2022 an opportunity arose to move up into a leadership role and with Senior Management’s support I started as Clinical Nurse Consultant in the region wide services team.  I have always been drawn to leadership roles, and was motivated to work to support the nursing team at EPC to provide optimal care to clients as well as to maintain their own well-being.  

What is something that stands out to you about EPC as an organisation?

EPC is incredibly passionate about keeping client care at the centre of everything we do. I have never worked in an organisation who has been so responsive to client needs. 
EPC also invests in its staff.  I was blown away that teams are allocated multiple days per year to come together, reflect on the clients they have cared for and take some time to connect with one another.  It is important to recognise the stress that can come from caring for others, and EPC continues to develop ways to support our staff. 

What is something about you that others may not know?

I’m a big sharer, so most people know most things about me! We have a new addition to our home.  My 12 year old son recently purchased himself a snake. So now we have three cats, a 60kg dog and a snake. It’s quite a farm.  

What is the best part of your job and why? 

I really love the clinical work. The complexity of the symptoms experienced by our clients can be very overwhelming and it is satisfying when we are able to improve quality of life with our interventions.  
I also really enjoy motivating and developing the nursing staff.  We have nurses with an exceptional amount of skill and knowledge. Finding ways that they can confidently work to their maximal scope of practice is the best part of my leadership role.  

What is the most challenging part of your job? And how do you deal/overcome this? 

Self-care is not always easy as a busy working mum. It is hard to remember to structure time for the things I need to prevent burnout. I have learnt to prioritise this (most of the time!) in order to provide an example to other nurses, as well as my kids.  

Describe a typical day for you?

The start of the day is busy. Our team prioritises visits for the aged and disability care teams, reviews new referrals and follows up any urgent matters regarding clients waiting to be admitted to EPC. The middle of the day involves meetings, project work and time with my team discussing process improvements. The afternoon is spent organising work for the evening nurses, debriefing and assisting the intake team when needed.  

Who inspires you? 

I am inspired by my parents.  They started their life together with very little, and have worked incredibly hard and have made sacrifices to build successful careers where they are both highly valued, as well as a big, crazy and loving family.  They have taught me the importance of prioritising family and working with purpose.  

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Stay tuned for the next Staff Spotlight Interview