{"id":16862,"date":"2025-10-10T06:14:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/?p=16862"},"modified":"2025-11-20T06:41:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T06:41:31","slug":"lesleys-story-finding-purpose-and-connection-in-remote-nursing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/lesleys-story-finding-purpose-and-connection-in-remote-nursing\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesley\u2019s Story: Finding Purpose and Connection in Remote Nursing"},"content":{"rendered":"

For nurse practitioner Lesley, nursing has never been just a profession, it\u2019s been a lifelong calling shaped by community, curiosity, and compassion. After more than four decades in healthcare and years of experience in rural and remote settings, she\u2019s found the perfect balance of freedom and fulfilment working with DNA Healthcare.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now on assignment in Bourke, NSW, Lesley job-shares her role with long-time colleague and friend Margaret, flying in and out on a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off rotation. Together, they deliver vital primary care to the community through the Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service, and they wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemote nursing is just the most brilliant nursing you can ever do,\u201d Lesley says. \u201cYou get to see the whole of Australia, the places no tourist ever will.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Finding Her Feet with DNA<\/h2>\n

Before partnering with DNA, Lesley managed her own contracts – a process she describes as chaotic and time-consuming. Managing payroll, invoices and logistics alone took time away from the work she loved most, caring for patients.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That changed when she connected with Martin from DNA, who now works with his team to coordinate her placements and supports her on every assignment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince I started with DNA, I tell everyone\u00a0 <\/span>don\u2019t bother doing it yourself<\/span><\/i>,\u201d she laughs. \u201cMartin\u2019s such a great negotiator, and we\u2019ve never gone backwards, only forwards.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For Lesley, the partnership means more than convenience. It\u2019s about trust, safety and wellbeing. DNA\u2019s genuine care for its nurses has allowed her to focus fully on patient care, knowing that the details (from pay to placements) are handled.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat trust build-up, knowing someone\u2019s got your back, that\u2019s the best part,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Job Sharing: A Partnership Built on Strengths<\/h2>\n

Lesley and Margaret have worked side by side for almost a decade, bringing complementary expertise to every placement. Margaret leads on women\u2019s health and pregnancy care, while Lesley focuses on chronic disease management and minor procedures. The combination makes them an invaluable team in any rural setting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their collaboration in Bourke wasn\u2019t by chance, it was something DNA helped make happen. Martin recognised the importance of their partnership and found an opportunity that matched their shared goals and rhythm.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe asked for our wish list, and he did the rest,\u201d Lesley says. \u201cWe both wanted to commit to one community, not just fly in and out. That\u2019s exactly what he delivered.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Through this approach, they\u2019ve been able to build lasting relationships within the community by running health days, supporting local initiatives and fostering a genuine sense of belonging. It\u2019s proof that agency nursing doesn\u2019t have to mean constant change. With the right placement, it can bring stability and connection too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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From the Ward to the Outback<\/h2>\n

Lesley\u2019s career spans over 20 years as a nurse practitioner, a role she helped pioneer in Australia. Having spent years in acute care and renal medicine, she eventually made the shift to primary health, drawn by the desire to help people earlier in their healthcare journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to move upriver,\u201d she explains, \u201cto stop people reaching end-stage kidney disease and heart failure. That\u2019s where primary care and remote work come in.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Eighteen years later, she\u2019s still inspired by the diversity, independence, and sense of purpose that remote nursing brings. From the Gulf Country to the Central Coast, each location has deepened her appreciation for Australia\u2019s people, culture, and landscapes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you go remote, you\u2019ll never go back,\u201d she says with a smile. \u201cYou just fall in love with the work, the people, the country.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Connection Through Culture and Creativity<\/h2>\n

Beyond healthcare, Lesley is an artist, a weaver and carver who uses creativity as a bridge to connect with the communities she serves. Gathering ochres, weaving grasses and sharing techniques have become a powerful way to build trust and cultural understanding.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArt\u2019s an icebreaker,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s like talking football, it helps you connect and learn from each other.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her artistry is more than a hobby; it\u2019s part of her holistic approach to care by healing mind, body and spirit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ready to write your own remote story?<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re an experienced nurse practitioner or looking to try something new, DNA Healthcare Recruitment can help you find your ideal placement, safely, seamlessly and with genuine support at every step.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Explore remote nursing opportunities with DNA Healthcare Recruitment<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For nurse practitioner Lesley, nursing has never been just a profession, it\u2019s been a lifelong calling shaped by community, curiosity, and compassion. After more than four decades in healthcare and years of experience in rural and remote settings, she\u2019s found the perfect balance of freedom and fulfilment working with DNA Healthcare.\u00a0 Now on assignment in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":16865,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dna"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16862"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16875,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16862\/revisions\/16875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/16865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dnamedicalrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}