From Aged Care to General Practice

Sheela spent six years working as a registered nurse in an aged care home in South Western Sydney before moving into general practice nursing. She has now worked as a practice nurse for 16 months.

After moving to Australia as a permanent resident in 2006 with her husband and children, Sheela decided to follow her long-held ambition of becoming a nurse. Although she had completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in the Philippines, nursing had always been her preferred career.

She later completed a Bachelor of Nursing and began building her career in healthcare. Working in primary care has allowed her to support people in her community, develop lasting relationships with patients and contribute to their health and wellbeing.

The Important Role of Nurses in Primary Care

Sheela believes practice nurses are essential to delivering quality healthcare in the community. Their work includes health assessments, immunisations, wound care, patient education and supporting doctors with patients' healthcare needs.

Nurses also help prevent and manage chronic conditions while encouraging people to take an active role in their health.

Her experience in aged care has helped her develop strong clinical skills, adaptability and the ability to work closely with other healthcare professionals. She also values ongoing learning to maintain safe and high-quality care.

For Sheela, every patient deserves to be treated with respect, understanding and compassion, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Finding Purpose in Caring for Others

Sheela finds the greatest satisfaction in knowing that her care and support can positively impact patients' lives.

She approaches patient care by imagining that each person is a member of her own family. This helps her provide the same patience, kindness and respect she would want her loved ones to receive.

Listening to patients, understanding their concerns and making them feel comfortable are important parts of her daily work. She also believes honesty, teamwork and professional development are key to providing better care.

She describes nursing as more than a job. It is an opportunity to serve others and support the community through genuine compassion.

Supporting Newborns and Their Families

An ideal working day for Sheela involves providing quality care while making patients feel safe and supported.

She particularly enjoys caring for newborn babies, giving immunisations and helping parents through the early stages of their child's life.

As a mother herself, she understands some of the challenges that come with caring for a baby. She enjoys sharing practical advice, answering questions and reassuring new mothers as they gain confidence in looking after their children.

She also values working alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals, learning from different organisations and improving her nursing knowledge and skills.

At the end of the day, knowing she has treated every patient with kindness and respect gives her a strong sense of fulfilment.

Family and Community Beyond Work

Outside work, Sheela enjoys spending time with her family. Her husband and children are an important source of support, helping her maintain a healthy balance between her professional and personal life.

Having lived in South Western Sydney since 2006, she considers the region home. Over the past 20 years, she and her family have built their lives in the area, where she has come to appreciate its cultural diversity and strong community connections.

Living in a multicultural community has also influenced her approach to nursing. She recognises that every patient has different experiences, cultural backgrounds and family circumstances that can affect their health.

Being able to care for people from different backgrounds and give back to the community that welcomed her family makes her work especially meaningful.

Faith and Family as Her Greatest Inspiration

Sheela credits her husband, children, mother and Christian faith as her biggest sources of inspiration.

Her faith guides her approach to patient care, with the teachings of Jesus reminding her of the importance of love, patience, humility and kindness. She believes healthcare requires more than clinical knowledge and technical skills; it also requires treating people with dignity and understanding.

Her family has also shaped her values. Her husband and children have provided ongoing encouragement, while her mother has taught her the importance of unconditional love, patience and putting family first.

She also draws inspiration from nurses she has worked alongside, whose professionalism, dedication and commitment encourage her to keep learning and improving.

Helping Patients Understand Their Health

Patient education is another important part of Sheela's role. She believes information should be explained in a way that suits each person's needs and level of understanding.

For patients living with diabetes, she demonstrates how to use a blood glucose meter safely. This includes washing and drying their hands, inserting a test strip, using a lancet and recording their blood glucose results.

She then asks patients to repeat the steps themselves to check that they understand how to use the equipment.

She also explains the importance of taking medicines as prescribed, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and recognising the signs of high and low blood glucose levels.

Working with people from different cultural backgrounds has taught Sheela to adjust her approach to suit each patient's needs and beliefs.

Her goal is to help people feel confident about managing their health while ensuring they receive the patience, respect and support they deserve.

Practice Nurse Sheela Bautista: Making a Difference Through Compassionate Care

Source: Original nurse profile – Sheela Bautista, Villawood Medical Centre.