A guide, a confidant and a nurse

Victor De Graff has been in and out of hospital for the past 11 years but now, for the first time, he has had access to a specialist, senior nurse to act as a guide through the health system.

The 32-year-old is legally blind, has heart conditions and is prone to blood clots including one that caused a stroke.

During his latest admission to Townsville Hospital he was referred to nurse navigator Julie Gordon.

“There are days when my phone can go off with between six and eight different appointments and it can be really hard to keep track of them all,” he said.

“Having someone to help me through the entire journey rather than it just being a series of individual appointments has made a huge difference.

“It has been such a weight off my shoulders since meeting Julie and has given me somewhere I can always go and ask a question.”

Julie said the nurse navigator role provided a single point of contact and support for some of our communities most vulnerable and complex patients to ensure they receive the right care at the right time to best support their healthcare needs.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Victor during his admission and will continue to work with him when he returns home,” she said.

“Nurse navigators use a caseload model of care advocating for, supporting and educating patients regarding their health condition so that they can make informed choices about their healthcare.  Ultimately our aim is for patients to self-manage their own healthcare journey.

“Our nurse navigators are based in the hospital but link in closely with the patient’s primary healthcare provider and community services.”

“This role allows us to provide individualised support for patients as they navigate their way through a big and often complex healthcare system.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service began the service with six nurse navigators in 2017.

The service has now grown to 15 nurse navigators and funding for the service has been continued until 2022-2023 in the State Government budget.