Wednesday December 11, 2024
Nurse Practitioner Week (9 - 15 December)
Georgia Stiekema did not let anything get in the way of her becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
She began her studies remotely in rural Queensland, travelling extensively for placements. She was endorsed as a Registered Nurse in 2015 and later as a Nurse Practitioner in 2022
“I’ve always enjoyed health care and the opportunity to help people feel better, which is what initially drew me to a career in nursing.
“When I studied in rural Queensland, I initially studied by distance because there were no universities nearby. One of my placements was in Victoria, on a cardiac unit. There was a Nurse Practitioner there, and I realised that was something I really wanted to pursue,” Ms Stiekema said.

In 2022, Ms Stiekema joined Eastern Health, seeking a role with a stronger community focus. She works across GP clinics, the Eastern Health Heart Failure Clinic, and visits consumers in their homes.
“Consumers come to the hospital or an outpatient appointment dressed in their best clothes. They may have family there to help them answer questions and are well-prepared. But when you visit a consumer’s home, you see what living with their condition truly looks like for them. You witness their reality the moment you walk in the door.
“The pictures on the wall tell you about their family and their life, and you can understand why they might be having chest infections—there might be mould in their bathroom. Or why they might be skipping their fluid tablets—perhaps the walk to the toilet is too far. Suddenly, it all makes so much more sense. You gain so much more insight from those visits, and consumers trust you,” she said.

The title of Nurse Practitioner is legally protected in Australia. A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed a two-year Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing and undergone additional clinical training, giving them the authority to diagnose, prescribe diagnostics and medications to treat patients within their Model of Care.
“I love meeting new consumers every day and knowing that I have the knowledge, support, and authority to make changes for them right then and there, preventing delays or gaps in their treatment. Educating them empowers them to feel better and be happier,” Ms Stiekema said.
Nurse Practitioner Week (9 – 15 December) celebrates and highlights the incredible work of Nurse Practitioners across Australia.
Georgia Stiekema is an endorsed Nurse Practitioner holding a Master of Science in Advanced Nursing, a Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, and a Bachelor of Nursing.