Nurse practitioners celebrate 20 years at RNSH Nurse practitioners Kate Becker and Rochelle Firth recently celebrated reaching 20 years as nurse practitioners.
Kate and Rochelle started at RNSH in 1996 and 1995 respectively as part of the graduate nursing program. After working across several different roles within the neurosurgery specialty, they were offered the opportunity to become nurse practitioners and were endorsed as such in 2003. The duo were the first neurosurgical nurse practitioners within Australia and the first nurse practitioners in RNSH. Kate and Rochelle were and have always been best friends and are widely respected by their colleagues. RNSH General Manager Heather Gough commended the pair for their outstanding services of the last two decades. “On behalf of the hospital and district, I’d like to congratulate and thank Kate and Rochelle on this wonderful achievement of 20 years,” she said. Group has been awarded the 2024 Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovation (ACADI) PhD grant. The funding means Cameron will be able to progress his research investigating the use of a new medication for diabetic foot ulcers and peripheral arterial disease. Mirabegron is currently used to treat overactive bladder syndrome, but this research will help determine if it could be a suitable option for diabetic foot ulcers and vascular disease, where dysfunctional blood vessels reduce oxygen and nutrients in the tissue, and cause chronic wounds. “Our use of Mirabegron works by improving blood flow to the lower limbs and increasing levels of nitric oxide, one of the body’s natural antioxidants,” Cameron said. “This will help blood vessels and diabetic tissue function normally and heal ulcers. “Current treatments include a cocktail of medications or vascular surgery which are
Nurse practitioners Kate Becker and Rochelle Firth
“Their advanced practice skills have allowed them to promote and provide safety and quality of patient care.” New grant for up-and-coming Kolling Institute researcher Despite tough competition, Cameron Evans from the Cardiovascular Discovery The pair have been friends and colleagues for the entire journey. Pictured here earlier in their careers.
invasive, costly and risky. “So we hope our research will confirm if Mirabegron will reduce amputation, improve quality of life and increase life expectancy.” Diabetes is continuing to escalate globally, with around 650 million people likely to have the disease by 2040. “It’s anticipated, one in five of those with diabetes is likely to develop an ulcer, so we could
potentially be helping
more than 130 million people with our research,” he said. “I am tremendously grateful for the
ACADI PhD grant, which will greatly boost our project.”
Cameron Evans
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 24| 19 DECEMBER 2023
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