First neurological nurse educator role created

By Catherine Nikas-Boulos
Marilia Pereira’s passion for her work helped her to land the role of Australia’s first neurological nurse educator.
Marilia’s career as a nurse has been varied and distinguished since she graduated with an advanced certificate in nursing in 1993 from Sydney Technical College, followed by a Bachelor of Nursing in 1997.
Still hungry to learn more, she is currently undertaking a Masters of Philosophy (Nursing).
“I think you can always better yourself in nursing; there is always something more you can learn. I’m a big advocate of sharing knowledge in nursing. You have to be able to work as a team,” she says.
Marilia’s unique new role will see her work with patients and carers in the Shoalhaven area of South Coast NSW. The goal is to lower the physical and economic costs of Parkinson’s disease.
Marilia is excited about the pilot project, which gives people in remote areas access to a level of care otherwise afforded only to their city counterparts.
“I would like to see more specialised nurses in rural areas, they do not get the same services as people get in, say, Sydney or Canberra,” she says.
With 12 years experience in neurology, and having worked as a specialist in clinical neurophysiology and as area clinical nurse consultant in neurosciences, she is adamant her new role is one of the most important she has undertaken.
“I am extremely excited to be a part of this valuable and multi-layered project,” she says. “We will be looking at how we can improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease as well as the impact the disease has on care-givers.
“On top of this, we will also be providing much-needed services for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their carers in the local community.”
As the neurological nurse educator, Pereira will work with local doctors and healthcare professionals to assess the impact of Parkinson’s disease on the local population and will take a hands-on role with tasks such as overseeing medications and early risk identification.
One of her major responsibilities during her two-year appointment, based at the Nowra Community Health Centre, will be the assessment of all Parkinson’s patients living in the Shoalhaven area.
The pilot project has been funded by the Commonwealth Government and is supported by NSW Health.
If successful, Parkinson’s Australia hopes to roll out similar projects throughout the nation.
Pereira says the demand for this type of position is well overdue and she hopes this specific area of nursing will be picked up by nurses looking to specialise.
In rural areas patients may only have access to a specialised neurologist once a month. Carers face psychological issues that are largely ignored.
Her employment history is extensive, from having worked as a pathology technician and doing volunteer work with HIV/AIDS patients to research in IVF, and she says she always knew she was destined to be a nurse in some capacity.
“I like that personal contact. I have been a nurse for 16 years and nursing is exactly what I expected it to be,” she says.
She has no doubts about the type of person suited to a nursing career.
“You have to be dedicated, you have to want to be a nurse and love the job, it’s a job for life,” she says.
Teamwork is also a job requirement.
“There are some students coming out of university now that are below standard. But you can spot the ones who are great, that really want to be nurses, who have the right attitude,” she says. “The ones who care, you can spot them right away.”
How to be a nurse
Qualifications
Marilia Pereira earned a Pathology Technician’s Certificate in 1991 and an Advanced Certificate in Nursing in 1993 from Sydney Technical College, TAFE; a Bachelor in Nursing in 1997 from the University of Sydney; Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing (Neurosciences) in 2003 from the NSW College of Nursing; Diploma of Clinical Neurophysiology in 2007 from RMIT University, and is currently undertaking a Masters of Philosophy in Nursing at the University of Sydney.
Course
The University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney and University of Western Sydney offer nursing degrees.
Assumed knowledge
Completion of the NSW Higher School Certificate.
Cost
A bachelor’s degree varies from institution to institution.
Article from The Daily Telegraph.
