Redland Hospital Registered Nurse Joyce Baldacchino says caring for patients in their most vulnerable moments is what makes working in Perioperative Services so rewarding.
Working in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), Joyce cares for patients immediately after surgery, managing airways, pain and nausea, providing emotional support, and preparing patients to safely return home or transition to the ward.
“It’s a very specialised field. We have a high turnover and see lots of different patients every day,” she said. “You’re caring for people at a really vulnerable time, and that can be incredibly rewarding.”
One moment that has stayed with her involved an obstetric patient who experienced a significant
post-partum haemorrhage in recovery.
“It was all hands-on deck, but everything stayed calm and controlled,” she said. “There was so much support, and we were able to stabilise the patient. It showed how our skills, and teamwork, led to the best possible outcome.
“It’s such a close-knit team, we're like a little family,” she said. “I know I can count on my team if I need anything.”
At Redland Hospital, the team supports a wide range of surgical services, caring for patients across the entire surgical journey.
“Because we’re a smaller unit, we recover every surgical patient,” she said. “Our focus is always on safety, making sure patients are well cared for and leave with the right education and aftercare.
“My team, and the patients we care for, are what bring me to work,” she said. “When you see someone go from being in pain or anxious to feeling comfortable and safe, that makes you proud of what you do.”