Barb Kelly

Experience

Oncology Practice Nurse Response Oncology, Cairns

2016 to Present

Each Monday, Barb is the Oncology Practice Nurse for Response Oncology. On these days, she has the opportunity to get to know new patients and support them as they deal with their recent cancer diagnoses and the flood of emotion and distress that can sometimes follow. By utilising her extensive nursing knowledge and experience, she is able to use everyday language to educate patients about their upcoming treatments so that they know exactly what will happen up front. This knowledge assists patients to understand what is happening to their bodies as different treatments commence and progress. Barb believes that this physical and psychological preparation is essential to the ongoing well-being of patients and the families. Barb also assists patients to understand the medical system as it pertains to the treatment of cancer and arranges treatments in accordance to where they live and proximity to a treatment clinic. Through her assistance and care, Barb ensures that the patients of Response Oncology are as well prepared as they can be for the treatments which they will undergo.

Clinical Nurse Cairns Private Hospital

2016 to Present

Each week, Barb administers oncology medical treatments to patients at Cairns Private. The treatments are all highly varied depending on their purpose whether they be curative, controlling or palliative, however, they all begin with a warm smile and sunny “hello???. Barb understands the stresses involved with undergoing cancer treatment so she ensures that patients are as comfortable and relaxed as they can be. She achieves this by making pre-treatment assessments a chance to chat and catch-up on life events since the last treatment. She then administers pre-treatment medications and sets patients up for their treatment. By putting the person before the disease and before the treatment, Barb makes a visit to the Oncology Treatment Room at Cairns Private as stress-free as possible.

Barb was instrumental in the establishment of the Oncology Treatment Unit at Cairns Private Hospital over 10 years ago. She was responsible for ensuring that the Unit’s structure, systems, policies and procedures were aligned with best practices and legislative requirements.

Clinical Nurse Consultant and Project Lead Far North Queensland Tele-Oncology Project

2014 to Present

The Far North Queensland Tele-Oncology Project is one of which Barb is very proud. As the Project Lead, Barb has established a service which is able to provide low risk and maintenance cancer treatments to patients in Cooktown, Weipa and in the Torres Straits. This project is literally changing people’s lives as they are no longer required to travel extensive distances to receive the treatments that they require. Participants in this project are able to connect by telephone with their treating Oncologist prior to receiving their treatments by qualified, specifically-trained nurses who are under the online guidance and supervision of Barb. Over the last three years, Barb has seen first-hand the incredible difference that access to this project has made for her patients.

Cairns and Hinterland Health Service District: Clinical Nurse, Oncology Day Unit: Cairns Hospital

2010 to Present

The Oncology Day Unit at Cairns Hospital has 18 treatment chairs and three beds, treating between 35 to 43 patients per day. During her days at the Unit, Barb administers the cancer treatments that each individual patient requires to suit their particular treatment needs.

Clinical Facilitator: General Ward 4, Cairns Base Hospital (Oncology and Haematology), Cairns and Hinterland Health Service District
2010

Nurse Unit Manager (Oncology Unit)

Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns
2000 to 2010

Cairns Nurse Unit Manager (Medical and Oncology Units)

Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns
2006 to 2009