Thank you to AV’s nurses

This International Nurses Day, we’re celebrating all the nurses who work at Ambulance Victoria (AV) or work alongside us to provide best care to patients across Victoria.

International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on 12 May which is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth, the founder of modern nursing.

AV Acting Chief Executive Officer Anthony Carlyon said it is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the extraordinary contribution of nurses across the state.

“Every day, nurses work alongside us at AV to support our people, our patients, and our community. They do so with skill, compassion and an unwavering commitment to best care,” he said.

“To all the nurses who bring their heart, expertise and dedication to every shift across AV, thank you. And to those who’ve transitioned from nursing into paramedicine, as well as those who continue to serve in both roles - we are deeply grateful for everything you do,” Anthony said.

Nurses are involved with AV in multiple ways, including in triage services, at Adult Retrieval Victoria (ARV), or as co-responders in rural and remote areas.

Mollie Purdon is a registered nurse and triage practitioner at AV, a role which involves speaking to Triple Zero (000) callers transferred to AV’s secondary triage service for a more detailed assessment and to connect them with the right level of care for their condition.

“It can range from sending them a lights and sirens ambulance response or providing general home care advice for patients who might not need to attend an emergency department,” Mollie explained.

“We can also refer patients to alternate care pathways, such as the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department or National Home Nurse, where we organise for a nurse to visit the patient at their own home.”

Mollie said nurses bring different skillsets and experiences to the secondary triage team.

“Nurses, especially emergency nurses, are a jack-of-all-trades which really assists in the ability to triage patients over the phone or video and to figure out what is going on,” she said.

“We work closely with our paramedic colleagues so it’s great being able to bounce expertise off one another. Something that a paramedic might not have much exposure to on-road is generally information that a nurse can provide to assist them with the triage decision.

“Similarly, they can provide us with information about things we might not be aware of on-road. We make a really great team.”

Danielle McDonald is a critical care registered nurse (CCRN) and crew lead at ARV.

Her role involves leading a team of CCRNs and patient transport officers who work alongside ARV doctors to facilitate inter-hospital transfers of critically unwell patients.

“We are an extension of hospital level emergency and intensive care. We are able to provide that care to critically unwell patients during their interhospital transfers,” she said.

“The CCRNs primary platform is a bespoke road platform. At times we travel considerable distances to reach our patients by road utilising our specialty vehicle, though occasionally our expertise is also required on fixed wing aircraft.

“I work in a great team made up of doctors, critical care nurses and patient transport officers, and the combined expertise allows us to transport the sickest of patients to their destination.

“The patients in our care often have highly complex needs. ARV nurses are extensively trained and experienced in managing advanced clinical interventions, including complex lines, multiple infusions, various oxygen delivery systems, drains, time-critical and specialist procedures, advanced ventilation, cardiopulmonary life support, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), among others.”

Sue Carroll is a dedicated Remote Area Nurse (RAN) at Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre in East Gippsland. A critical role, RANs are dispatched to local Triple Zero (000) emergencies, at the same time as paramedics, where they provide front line emergency care and stabilisation in the event of a medical or trauma emergency until an AV crew arrives.

RANs like Sue play an essential role in ensuring timely and effective emergency care in some of Victoria’s most isolated communities. Employed by Bush Nursing Centres, RANs are highly skilled professionals who not only deliver day-to-day healthcare but are also vital members of AV’s Co-Responder Programs. Their local presence, clinical expertise, and rapid response capabilities help bridge critical gaps in rural and remote emergency medical services, significantly improving outcomes for patients in need.

“Bush Nursing Centres and RANs play a vital role in rural and remote communities. The nearest hospital to Swifts Creek is in Bairnsdale, which is an-hour-and-a-half away,” Sue said.

“For emergencies, we are often the first on scene and provide care for members of our community but also people travelling through. Often the emergency calls are for motor vehicle incidents, but we also go medical calls like cardiac arrests or premature births.”

Thank you to all the nurses who support AV and patients across Victoria each and every day.