Practice Nurse Profile – Lily Nguyen
02 Sep 2024
When Lily Nguyen began her university course she planned to become a physiotherapist. But somewhere along the way she discovered another calling. Now as a busy practice nurse at Moorebank Family Medical Practice she has found a career which brings her joy – and a sense of fulfillment – every day.
How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in South Western Sydney?
I have been a practice nurse for three-and-a-half years at Moorebank Family Medical Practice and have been working in South Western Sydney for five and a half years.
When/why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care?
I always knew I wanted to help people and work in a hospital setting so when I graduated high school I pursued physiotherapy. I was in my final year of my Bachelor of Health Science (Sport and Exercise Science) in 2013 and I was losing my drive to become a physiotherapist.
During one of my classes I had to collect two drops of blood to measure lactate and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever. That led me down the path of searching for phlebotomy courses and that led me to nursing. So, I ended up starting a Bachelor of Nursing while finishing my first degree because I didn’t want to wait.
I’ve just loved every step of the journey, including the learning of anatomy and physiology, even if it was a bit harder. My new grad year was extremely tough for a variety of reasons, and I almost quit. But I’m glad I didn’t because I don’t think there is a better role to suit me. I gained a casual position after my graduation, just doing a few shifts a week to regain my mental health.
At the end of 2020 I was struggling with the workload and stress of working in a hospital when a friend of mine encouraged to me to join the general practice where she worked. I love my workplace and our team is amazing. I truly enjoy nursing and being able to help lives in a meaningful way.
Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care
As a practice nurse I do treatment room/clinical care which includes infant, child and adult vaccinations, vitals, injections, set-up and assist with procedures and whatever else is required. The majority of the week I do chronic care.
My main focus is the My Care Partners program which includes 75-plus health assessments, organising case conferences and shared health summaries, as well as targeted audits and recalls, quality improvement and assisting research programs such as the Watch Me Grow program.
What do you love about nursing/what do you find most fulfilling about your role?
I love nursing because I can have a positive impact on other peoples’ lives and help them to feel better physically, emotionally or mentally. I can only hope I have been able to guide them in the right direction to take better care of themselves.
The most fulfilling part of the role is connecting with people, whether that is sharing a good laugh or being their support in times of need.
Tell me about your ideal work day…
It starts with a 75-plus health assessment then I catch up on my emails. There are My Care Partners program tasks, then treatment/clinical stuff including wound dressings and blood tests. And there’s plenty of good chats with staff and patients throughout the day.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I play dodgeball, a lot of it. I represented Australia for the third time at my second world championships in August.
Do you have any role models and why?
Nurse practitioner Ferdous Riazati is a great role model. She’s meticulous, caring, intelligent and hard-working. She is proud to be a nurse and has always advocated for her patients and I admire her.
How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?
Easier said than done, but usually along the lines of good diet and exercise and drinking plenty of water. I show empathy for the challenges they may face with trying to be healthy, because who doesn’t like a good burger or sugar. If they are stubborn, or high risk, I try to knock sense into them with the hard reality of unhealthy lifestyle choices or non-compliance of medication, which may be death. Connecting them to the right services to help them can be the missing link.