How can nursing graduates expand their career potential? Nurse practitioner Rasa Kabaila spoke on the Vital Signs podcast about career pathways in mental health, becoming a nurse practitioner, and publishing her debut novel, 'Put some Concrete in your Breakfast: Tales from Contemporary Nursing'.
Vital Signs is a Southern Cross University student-led podcast helping nursing students navigate their future career by exploring nursing specialties with nurses across Australia sharing their career advice.
Speaking on the podcast, Ms Kabaila said her career path has not been linear but she has embraced each opportunity that came her way.
"I started off in aged care then worked as a graduate nurse in ICU. After that, I worked in medical, palliative care and emergency. I did some rural work, overseas volunteer placements and by chance, I was asked to spend a month working in a community mental health team," she said.
"I ended up working in that position for two and a half years. I went on to do postgraduate study and have since completed a Master of Mental Health Nursing and a Master of Nurse Practitioner degree."
Explaining the role of a nurse practitioner, she said: "A nurse practitioner is a nurse who has the qualifications and experience to legally be able to expand their scope, which includes diagnostics and prescribing. They're registered with AHPRA and it is the highest qualification a nurse can obtain in terms of clinical seniority and expertise."
Ms Kabaila said she found her specialty in mental health nursing rewarding.
"I really fell in love with it. I thought, this is where I'm meant to be. I really love getting to know people and seeing their journey," she said.
After working in the public health system, Ms Kabaila has now opened her own private practice, Broadleaf Holistic Nurse Practitioner Services, from her home in Port Macquarie.
"People come to see me for various reasons. Some people want clarification about a mental health diagnosis or are wondering if they need medication to help them," she said.
"I see people for initial assessments. I have people who have been referred from the crisis team who have been discharged from care and need support. I see some people for psychological therapies. For most people, I will manage everything in terms of treatment."
Ms Kabaila said she encourages nursing students to consider a career in mental health.
"No day is the same and that is what makes nursing a beautiful profession. It's always interesting and always challenging," she said.
"Mental health is an incredibly rewarding side of nursing. There are amazing opportunities for training and career progression and the work is extremely fulfilling."
Ms Kabaila has now released a book about her nursing career, Put some Concrete in your Breakfast: Tales from Contemporary Nursing.
"I started writing it when I got burnt out by a nursing position I was in. I quit my job and travelled overseas and this gave me the time to write the stories about nursing that I felt were important," she said.
Despite the burnout she experienced at that time and at other points in her career, Ms Kabaila said becoming a nurse is one of the best decisions she has made and she hopes the book helps nursing graduates deepen their understanding of the occupation and avoid burnout.
