A nurse practitioner is the next level after becoming a registered nurse and a practitioner is given an increased scope of advanced practice.
“I’m able to prescribe medications, order testing like pathology blood test ... certain x-rays, ultrasound and follow a treatment plan for a patient from start to finish,” Ms Ridd said.
Ms Ridd started her journey in healthcare more than 14 years ago.
She said she originally wanted to join the military and follow a nursing pathway through it when she was in high school but didn’t follow through.
She then pursued her bachelor’s degree in nursing while working in aged care.
“I really love what I do,” Ms Ridd said.
“It hasn’t been, ‘oh no, why did I do all this?’
“It’s actually been really positive.”
She said she enjoyed it more now that she had done more studying.
“I’ve got a bit more responsibility that I can make those decisions and I’m allowed to make those decisions now because that’s now within my scope of practice,” she said.
“That’s been really positive in itself.”
Ms Ridd finished her course in December and has been on the go ever since.
She said her daughter and wife had been very supportive of her journey in transitioning from a registered nurse to a nurse practitioner.
“She (her daughter) does tell people that I’m a nurse practitioner,” Ms Ridd said.
“She recently did this project that had to pick somebody to write about and she chose me.
“It was good because I got to tell her a bit more about (nursing).”
She said she loved being that positive role model in her daughter’s life.
“I think it’s important to show them that nothing comes easy,” Ms Ridd said.
“You have to work hard and if you do work hard for it you can achieve your goals and what you want to do.
“I think it’s a very positive thing, especially, you know, women and all that sort of thing ... just making sure that she’s got good values and good morals, and she’s got that drive to push herself as well.”
Ms Ridd said it had been a long journey of juggling studies, work and family, but now that it was here, it felt natural.
“I’ve been working in the urgent care centre ... you sort of grow to that point where you are ready for it,” she said.
“We don’t know everything, so it’s always good to know ‘okay, well I need to reach out and get some advice on this’.
“You don’t stop learning.”
When asked about future plans, Ms Ridd said she might look into more specialties down the line.
“I think my family would kill me if I studied any more at this stage,” she said jokingly.
“I want to stay here.
“This is where my community is, where I live, so it’s really nice being able to give back to the community as well.”
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