A/Prof. Dan Martin1
1SAAS MedSTAR, Adelaide Airport, Australia, 2James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
Abstract:
Since South Australia Ambulance Service (SAAS) MedSTAR’s inception as South Australia’s single prehospital and retrieval service in 2009, opportunities for nursing employment have been almost non-existent due to very high retention rates. This then limited opportunities, causing frustration for motivated, ambitious, and talented nurses wishing to embark on a career in prehospital and retrieval medicine.
In 2019 we introduced the NIRP, to open the previously closed door to SAAS MedSTAR, thereby facilitating and promoting this exciting, challenging and fulfilling emerging nursing sub-specialty.
The Nursing Incentive portion is an observer placement that is specifically targeted to match the clinician’s qualifications and experience. There are three tiers to the observer program, ranging from a simple meeting and base tour with senior nursing team members, through to an extensive 9-day program with the observer afforded and comprehensive experience and exposure across the entire organisation.
The Rotational Program is a merit based selected, 18-month secondment to one of the three SAAS MedSTAR nursing specialities – Coordination, Kids or Adults. The successful applicant will rotate in with a range of contemporary critical care skills and rotate out with a unique and enhanced skillset, knowledge, and attributes. The successful nurses develop clinical insight through case reflection, leadership as part of a high-performance team, and role modelling behaviours through their interaction will the broader metropolitan and rural SA Health community.
On commencement with SAAS MedSTAR the successful candidates undertake a comprehensive and in-depth orientation, and onboarding program, ultimately being ‘signed-off’ and awarded a clinical Credential and Scope of Clinical Practice specific to their clinical stream.
The NIRP has been well received and extremely positive so far. The Nursing Incentive branch is heavily subscribed, and the Rotational Program is now featured in all three SAAS MedSTAR streams. The program is managed by the SAAS MedSTAR Senior Nursing Team.
Biographies:
Dan is the Director of Nursing for SAAS MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrieval. He began prehospital and retrieval career with RAH Mediflight, then joining SAAS MedSTAR as a founding member.
He is a RAAF Nursing Officer, and instructor for the Military Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Team course, with strategic aeromedical evacuation and exercise experience. He also holds an academic title with James Cook University, specifically the Post Graduate Certificate in Aeromedical Retrieval.
Dan is an AUSMAT Team Leader with deployments in response to sudden onset disasters and disease outbreaks, most recently in support of the Non-combatant Evacuation Operation out of Afghanistan.