Training is essential for reaching the next steps in your nursing career. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 7 awesome courses and tips designed to help Rural and Remote nurses give their careers a boost. These courses are designed to help rural and remote nurses with the situations experienced, in rural healthcare facilities. We’ve gathered a variety of opportunities you can take to boost your Rural and Remote career, gain CPD points, and have a good time while doing it. Check them out, here. 1. Remote emergency care (REC) Want to respond to emergency situations with confidence, or need a refresher? This is the course for you. It’s designed to help Rural and Remote nurses develop the knowledge and skills required for Rural and Remote (R&R) emergency situations. Remote Emergency Care is a valuable skill set that enables individuals to provide life-saving medical care in challenging and often unpredictable environments where traditional healthcare resources may be unavailable or inaccessible. This course is offered by CRANAplus. You can check it out at the link below. https://crana.org.au/learning-opportunities/courses/remote-emergency-care 2. Maternity emergency care (MEC) If you want to try your hand at maternity care, then the MEC course may be a great option. Maternity Emergency Care refers to the provision of emergency medical care specifically tailored to pregnant individuals and their unborn babies during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Maternity Emergency Care is crucial for ensuring the health and safety of pregnant individuals and their babies, particularly in settings where access to obstetric services is limited or where emergencies may occur unexpectedly. By acquiring MEC skills, healthcare providers can effectively manage obstetric emergencies and contribute to better maternal and neonatal outcomes. This is a course offered by CRANAplus and you can check it out at the link below. https://crana.org.au/learning-opportunities/courses/maternity-emergency-care 3. Immunisation course Upskill yourself through the Cunningham Centre’s Immunisation course. This course is recognised nationally by the Health Education Services Australia (HESA). You’ll receive a certification in immunisation and all the skills and knowledge necessary to safely administer vaccines across Australia. This is a completely online course provided by the Cunningham Centre Nursing and Midwifery Education and Training (NMET) service. You can check it out at the link below. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cunninghamcentre/learn/immunisation-course 4. Pharmacotherapeutics Learn more about the use of medication, the risks associated with them, and strategies to increase the benefits and minimise risks of treatment. This course will deepen and expand your knowledge of medication and its application in treatment so you’re able to utilise medications. The course is offered by the Centre for Remote Health and is completely online. Check it out at the link below. https://www.crh.org.au/online-courses/pharmacotherapeutics-for-remote-area-nurses-online 5. Advanced life support (ALS) There’s a variety of Advanced life support courses available through multiple providers. Generally, an ALS is a requirement for all R&R contracts in Emergency settings, so if you haven’t undertaken yours yet, get started soon. It’ll open even more opportunities for work across the country. Have a look around to find the best provider of an ALS course for your circumstances. 6. Country Health Service Triage Certification If you’re looking to take up R&R opportunities in Emergency settings, then you’ll need a formal Triage Certification. It’s an essential qualification for any nurse seeking work in public health facilities, in the emergency department, or in a multipurpose facility. This isn’t a training course. Rather it recognises your prior experience and training in triage. You’ll need at least 2 years of experience in an Emergency Department or Critical Care environment where your triage role is completed. So, if you’re looking to work in these roles ensure you gain the required experience and undertake any courses which upskill your triage knowledge. 7. Resus If you work in an emergency setting, undergoing a resuscitation course is crucial. Working in an emergency department means being prepared to handle a wide range of medical emergencies, including cardiac arrest, trauma, respiratory failure, and other life-threatening conditions. A resuscitation course equips healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to initiate and lead resuscitation efforts effectively, potentially saving lives in critical situations. By undergoing a resuscitation course you’ll acquire the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to effectively manage medical emergencies and provide high-quality care to critically ill or injured patients. Conclusion Upskilling your knowledge and skills is essential to advancing your career in Rural and Remote nursing. Try out some of the courses provided to increase your qualifications and unlock new opportunities. You’ll find a lot more variety in the facilities you can work in and the roles you can fill. Add to that a mentor relationship with a senior nurse, and you can develop your abilities and knowledge faster to achieve your career goals. For more tips around training, get in touch with us or check out our blog !

Congratulations to March’s nurse of the month – Michelle! We’re really excited to present you with this award. You’ve been working hard and putting all your passion and energy into providing the best outcomes for your patients. Thank you for your time, effort and care, it is always noticed. You can read more about Michelle and her time with FCC at the interview below. What do you love most about FCC? What I love most about FCC is I have full control of my hours and work flexibility and the team works with me ensure I’m happy with what’s being provided Why did you become a nurse? Health literacy is a passion of mine, I became a mental health nurse to educate health consumers to enable them to have a quality life. What has working with FCC enabled? Being able to have such broad experience within my scope of practise, I’ve picked up new skills and learnt so much more. And having the perfect balance between work and life Do you reccomend FCC? Yes I recommend FCC, I live a busy life with my sports commitments and being with FCC allows me to chase my dreams while also making ends meet. They are supportive and try give me work that best suits me!!

We know that shift work is tough! So, we’ve put together some tips to help nurses stay energised and passionate through their shifts. If you’ve got irregular or a tonne of night shifts it’s important to be prepared and put some robust routines together. It’ll turn the after late night shift “why on earth did I choose this career?” around to “I love nursing” again (at least after a good sleep). We’ve all had the challenges of dealing with shift work, so we know what works and what doesn’t. Shift work can be stressful on your body, and all the systems that manage how your body functions, so we’ve got 10 tips designed to aid those body functions and help you feel your best. There’s some important habits and routines you can put in place now that will help your body recover quickly and get it into a new rhythm, helping you stay energised. It’s all about finding the right routines which work for you. We’ve put together our top 10 tips to help shift workers with their health and well-being. 1. Create a sleep schedule Sleep is the best defence on your side against the side effects of shift work. You’ll need to find the sleep schedule that works specifically for you. Most people need at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day however this can decrease with age. The first place to start is keeping a sleep diary. Record your sleep patterns and any problems you encounter while sleeping in a physical book (we want to avoid screens). Then, use this to help you find the best strategies and conditions to improve the quality of your sleep. Once you know how your sleep is going, there are a few things you can try to improve it: If you’re working regular shifts experiment with different sleep and wake-up times until you find something that works for you. Have a short sleep before your first night shift. When coming off a night shift, have a short sleep and go to bed earlier that night. When you’ve found the sleep schedule that works best for you, try to keep it. 2. Find a routine Beyond sleep, your body loves routines. This includes routines for eating, resting, working, and having fun. Start by putting together a consistent bedtime and wake-up routine. When you start either routine, your body will know it’s time for sleep and then wake you up with the wake-up routine. It can be as simple as a shower, putting on certain products and listening to some calming music. Just make sure you limit your screen time before bed. Beyond your wake-up and bedtime routines are your other day-to-day routines. It’s a good idea to be consistent, when you can, with eating meals. It’ll help with your digestion and energy as your body knows when it can expect to receive more energy. 3. Plan out caffeine Coffee is great for waking you up when you need it, but it can also disrupt your sleep or have other negative side effects when taken at the wrong time. So, to make the most of your daily coffee it’s important to structure it so you can get the best sleep possible. You generally need to give your body at least 6 hours to process caffeine before you should sleep. This means that a 5 am coffee while on your night shift may be a bad idea, even if it’s desperately needed. Try to avoid caffeine after 2 am so you’ll be able to get a good sleep and be well-rested for your next shift. 4. Plan out water Just as important as managing your caffeine intake is managing your water intake. At night your kidneys concentrate your urine while you sleep so that you don’t need to get up through the night. But when you swap night for day on night shift, your kidneys don’t swap around. So, your kidneys remain quite active during the day even when you’re trying to sleep. It can be frustrating when you’re trying to rest, especially after a night shift, and you keep getting woken up busting to go to the bathroom. To help, taper off your water intake after 4 am. While staying hydrated is important, drink more water towards the start and midway point of your shift before tapering off. It’ll help you stay energised while avoiding your body waking you up mid-sleep. 5. Bring along healthy snacks and meals Nurses work long hours so it’s important to remain energised through your shift. It can be tempting to reach for sugary foods or those high in cholesterol, like chocolate, baked goods or chips, but they’ll only provide a short-lived boost of energy. What you need is a long-term energy boost without the side effects of a sugar-high crash. Some easy things to bring include egg cups, cheese and crackers, overnight oats and fruit. Eat meals with good fats like avocado, nuts and fish to help regulate hormones throughout your shift. Whether you’re on the night shift or not, structure your day around a “breakfast, lunch, and dinner” schedule to keep your metabolism going. 6. Keep up with family and friends Shift work often pushes your schedule out of line with your friends and family. This can lead many shift workers to feel isolated. So, it’s important to make an effort to not lose contact. Start by talking to your friends and family about shift work, so they understand the challenges you face, your shift schedule and be accommodating to find time with you. Make the most of your time off and plan mealtimes, weekends, and evenings together. 7. Keep active Night shift can often bring with it reduced activity. While some nights are busy, others are less so, meaning you’re sitting down a lot more. It’s important to keep your physical activity up to improve your energy and alertness levels. Whether you’re going on walks while on shifts or going to the gym before your shifts, you’ll be able to keep your energy up to take you through the shift. 8. Learn how you destress Everyone needs something that will help them destress. These things will help energise you, improve your mental health and make your shifts easier. Things like meditation, mindfulness, yoga, reading, exercising, or any other hobbies are great for your energy levels. Bring them into your routine to help make stress reduction second nature. 9. Plan the end of your night shifts Plan a reward for yourself after your night shift. It could be a catch-up with friends, an after-night shift brunch, buy yourself a gift, or get yourself a massage. Motivation is so important for getting through challenging shifts. It’ll give you a quick mental health boost and help make each shift even more worth it. Nursing is a 24/7 job, you can only do as much as you’re physically capable of. So don’t feel bad about relying on your colleagues and rewards for support. 10. Say no to overtime and take time off When you’re feeling exhausted, have had a day with no sleep, or are close to burning out, don’t take on more work! You need to take time off for your mental health. Stress is a part of the job so it’s important to recognise when you’re feeling overwhelmed and need the time to recover. The best way to provide the best care for your patients is to be well-rested. Sometimes just say no to overtime and take a day off between shifts.  Conclusion When doing shift work your mental and physical wellbeing is important. Shift work can be challenging for your body and your health. To keep yourself at the top of your game, and in love with your job, take the time to look after yourself, and set up a routine that will keep your body energised. Take these tips and tweak them to fit your needs and schedule! If you want more nursing tips, check out our blog here .

Congratulations to our nurse of the month for February 2024 - Sonja! It's been a long time coming for hardworking Sonja to win this award. She's been a nursing superstar and we're proud of all that she has achieved. Thank you for the time you put in and dedication you have to your patients. If you want to hear more about Sonja's time with FCC, check it out below. What do you like most about FCC? I like First Choice because it is small and very personal. Karlene looks after me and goes out of her way to look after me and accommodate my wishes. Why did you want to be a nurse? My ultimate aim was always to do remote nursing and help our indigenous out in their communities and become a nurse with that goal in mind. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? Highlights include nursing in Mornington Island and Weipa and meeting wonderful other nurses from the locality and other agencies and sharing in their experiences. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? I wholly support FCC and have recommended them to other nurses due to the caring and supportive staff.

You always want to make the best first impression when applying for a job. Applying to work as an agency nurse is no exception. While there’s a lot of demand for nurses to fill all the available shifts, you still need to get your application right. A great nursing agency wants nurses who are highly qualified, meet their minimum standards, and will be great to work with. The best way to showcase this is to assemble an application that ticks all the boxes and makes a great first impression. What do you need to do to stand out? Fortunately, it’s simple. We’ve got tips for 3 parts of your application. Include all the information you’re asked for. The best way to increase your chances of getting the job, and making the application process faster, is by providing all the information asked for. It may seem simple, but it is one thing that is often missed. When you’re completing your application, go through each section carefully. Ensure you’ve provided information for each section, including relevant details. Once you’re done, don’t submit it. Instead, go back over every question to make sure the information is accurate, and every question has been completed. Once you’re happy you can hit submit! Your Cover Letter. Sometimes you’ll need to submit a cover letter. This one-page document is your chance to make a great first impression. It’s where you summarise who you are, what your experience is, and why you’re looking at agency nursing. The trick is to keep it concise, professional and well-formatted. Name the position that you’re applying for, mention where you found the job ad and the documents you’ve enclosed. Add to that a few words about your qualifications, and specialties that you’re interested in. We love to see your future goals in agency nursing so we can help you meet them! Your CV. Even more important than your cover letter is your CV. This includes your education, work experience, and skills. It’s what the agency uses to work out if you’re the perfect match. To help out, and stand out, here are a few areas to focus on. 1. Contact details Getting your contact details right is essential. Make sure your phone number and email are clearly displayed, easy to read, and accurate. If your email address isn’t easy to understand or isn’t professional, set up a new one and connect the accounts. 2. Timeframes The timeframes of your career and education should be listed in reverse chronological order. This means that your most recent career achievements and highest education completed go first. It’ll make it easy to read and understand. You should also make dates of employment clear and include some dot points on your achievements and responsibilities. 3. Strengths It’s a great idea to put your skills front and centre in your CV. Consider which skills you want to highlight. For some hints, look at what’s listed in the description or requirements section of the job listing. This will help you show that you match what the nursing agency is looking for. 4. Qualifications Ensure your training and qualifications are up-to-date and relevant. This is especially important for emergency nurses, rural nurses, or other specialised nurses. List any other relevant qualifications to ensure you showcase that you’re ready for the job. 5. References Not every employer requires references in the Healthcare sector. However, it’s often a requirement for nursing agencies. So, it’s a good idea to keep some handy. Put them into your application, and ensure all their details are correct. It’ll make your application process easier when the agency asks for references. Conclusion  Having a great application allows you to stand out, make an excellent first impression, and get started faster. You’ll start your new job with the best foot forward, ready to meet your goals. If you’re looking to sign up to FCC, register your interest here.

Congratulations to our nurse of the month for January, Rashuan. You're an important and valued member of the FCC team and we're excited to provide you this recognition. You can read all about his time with FCC in the interview below. What do you like most about FCC? FCC have given me great opportunities to grow as a nurse here in Brisbane since moving from New Zealand, September 2023. In particular, the variety of work I’ve been able to experience in the mental health system both in the public/private setting. The work & life balance FCC has also been a highlight whilst settling into a new country. Why did you want to be a nurse? I’ve always had a passion to work in the health care sector, in which mental health has allowed me to work with people closely in providing the best holistic care. It’s the most rewarding job being able to serve others. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? Having the flexibility to work the days that suite my schedule while building networks with different nurses around the city. Special mention to the awesome FCC team for being supportive & blessing me with work. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? 100% I would recommend First Choice Care to anyone as they have ticked all the boxes and made it a pleasant transition from New Zealand to Australia, and experience to represent a quality nursing agency. If you want to send your congratulations to Rashuan, head over to our Instagram and comment on the post!

Congratulations to our nurse of the month for December - Tegan! Tegan is a passionate nurse who is committed to making a difference in people’s lives. She has been working out of the Central West of Queensland and enjoys the beauty of this region. You can hear more about Tegan's time with FCC in the interview below. 1. What do you like most about FCC? FCC are very personable, and they have helped me to achieve milestones within my nursing practice they are a constant source of knowledge and encouragement! 2. Why did you want to be a nurse? Nursing is a profession which gives me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I thoroughly enjoy going to work, even on those difficult days because I know how much the work I do matters to patients and their families. 3. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? Working in the Central West of Queensland. This part of the country is particularly beautiful, and with the help of FCC I have been able to regularly secure contracts here. 4. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? Absolutely! FCC have been very supportive and encouraging of my goals as an agency nurse. I also must say that their onboarding procedure is very quick and streamlined, allowing me to start work very soon after I contacted them! Congratulations Tegan. If you want to give her your congratulations, check out our posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Are you looking for a career that allows you to follow your passion for caring for others? Then you’ll love nursing. It’s a rewarding career where you’ll work with a wide variety of people helping them improve their quality of life. Nurses are a vital part of Queensland’s healthcare system, being the primary carer for patients and the go-to person for their families. You’ll need to have fantastic people skills, as you provide fundamental care and treatment to patients, while juggling the emotions of the patient as well as their families and loved ones, in what is often a very difficult and stressful time for all involved. It takes a special kind of person to be able to navigate these challenges but it is one of the most rewarding careers for people who love to help other people. Ok, so you want to become a nurse, but how do you get started working as a nurse in Queensland? Luckily, we’ve got this extensive guide to working as a nurse in Queensland. You’ll learn how to get started, the different types of nurses, specialisations, where you can work, who you can work for, and much more. So, keep reading to find out!

Congratulations to our November nurse of the month - Emma! We love having you on our team and are very proud of all the hard work you do and the dedication you have towards your patients. It's incredibly inspiring. Emma has loved her time with FCC, loving the inviting atmosphere and the diverse hospital settings we offer. You can hear more about Emma's time with FCC at the interview below. 1. What do you appreciate most about FCC? - "One of the aspects I cherish about FCC is the warm and inviting ambience it provides. As a newcomer to Australia, it has been an exceptional place for me to settle in." 2. What motivated you to become a nurse? - "My lifelong aspiration to care for others and positively impact their health and well-being has driven me to become a nurse. It's a profession that allows me to fulfil my passion for helping people, and I'm thrilled to be doing so in Australia with FCC." 3. What has been the highlight of your journey at FCC? - "The highlight of my time at FCC has been the diverse hospital settings I've had the privilege to work in, in and around Brisbane. It's been enriching to collaborate with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures in different wards and hospitals." 4. Would you recommend FCC to fellow nurses, and why? - "Absolutely, I wholeheartedly recommend FCC to other nurses, especially those who are new to Australia or seeking a supportive work environment. The agency genuinely values its nursing staff, offers exceptional opportunities, and fosters a sense of belonging that makes you feel like part of a big family. It's an outstanding place for nurses to flourish." Congratulations Emma. If you want to give her your congratulations, check out our posts on Facebook and Instagram.