Kylie Hobley

I worked as a draftsman for a local builder for several years before meeting my husband and starting a family. It was after the traumatic birth of my second child that I decided I wanted to become a midwife. The impact these incredible women had on me during one of the scariest moments in my life was something I will never forget. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing and planned to continue working towards becoming a midwife once I had found my feet. As I got further into my degree however, I realised the vast array of nursing specialties on offer and my interests quickly changed. 

Since graduating in 2015 I have worked as a registered nurse throughout various wards and departments. I completed my post-graduate year in the stroke and rehab ward, followed by several years of general medical and surgical nursing throughout the hospital. It was during my time working on the orthopaedic ward that I developed a strong interest in trauma nursing. This led me to complete a Masters in Traumatology where I subsequently found a love for critical care whilst learning about the fast-paced world of life-threatening trauma care. From here I worked in the Emergency Department and then eventually the Intensive Care Unit where I have been for the past six years. I have since also completed a graduate certificate in Intensive Care Nursing and feel very much at home in my current role. 

I care for patients ranging in age from neonates through to the elderly who may be pre/post-operative, critically injured or have severe illness with multi-organ failure. In addition to providing critical care, my role is based heavily around providing emotional support for patients and their families during the most vulnerable time of their lives, including end-of-life care. 

As an intensive care nurse I also provide support to the hospital’s general wards through our Outreach service. This involves physical and remote electronic monitoring of “high-risk” patients, and providing early intervention and clinical support as needed. As a clinical nurse I regularly carry out role of team leader on any given shift and coordinate the day to day operation of our unit. This role requires appropriate allocation of staff for patient acuity, working closely with our in-house intensive care medical team and collaborating with the vast range of multi-disciplinary teams who care for our patients. I particularly enjoy providing close support and mentoring to our new staff members during their transition into critical care, while also assisting them with their post-graduate studies.

There have been many highlights throughout my career, too many to name... although it never ceases to amaze me when I see a patient walk out of the ICU with their loved ones after literally clinging to the edge of life. The thought of having contributed to even a small part in their care fills me with so much pride and gratitude every single time.