PA Hospital Emergency Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC), Ben Learmont has staked his claim in the medical history books after becoming Australia’s first Nurse Practitioner (NP) for Toxicology this February.
With the Toxicology landscape continually evolving, Ben says staying ahead of the curve is vital to meeting patient and clinical needs.
“In Toxicology, we always have to be vigilant and expected the unexpected. This role is really about managing presentations as they come in, as well as offering support and education to those patients, particularly if substance abuse is becoming a problem for them.
“Being the first Toxicology NP in Australia enables me to make this role unique and take it in a direction that’s going to best support the unit and our patients,” he said.
Inspired by Director Clinical Toxicology Dr Katherine Isoardi, Ben is forging the path to new horizons, with goals to combine his emergency nursing acumen with a newfound interest in Toxicology research.
“Katherine has been a big advocate for research, which is what’s needed in this space, and she’s always encouraging us to get involved. With support from the team and a small grant from the PA Research Foundation, I’ve started a project looking at management of anticholinergic toxicity. I look forward to doing more of that in the future,” he said.
“I couldn't have done it without Katherine, the other toxicologists and the ED nursing leadership team. It's been a really great two years and I'm excited for what the next 30 years will bring.”
With roots in regional Queensland, Ben launched his nursing career in 2009 at Rockhampton Base Hospital Emergency Department (ED) before relocating to PAH two years later.
Steadily working his way up the ranks, Ben says it is the unique challenge of working in the emergency environment that has kept his passion for the specialty alive over the years.
“I really enjoy that fast-paced, unpredictable environment. I’ve never been too good at routine, so it’s nice coming to work and not knowing how my day will look. Between the different curveballs and things that happen, there’s that extra challenge of problem-solving and finding the best resolution for the patient and for the department, and that keeps it exciting,” said Ben.
With his sights set on growth, Ben soon transitioned from RN to CNC, where he split his time with a new role as Occupational Violence Officer within the ROVE (Response to Occupational Violence Emergencies) team.
“The introduction of the ROVE role was my first big career highlight. Having a designated nurse whose role it is to prevent, identify, and respond to occupational violence greatly improved our approach, because we now had a streamlined, formal approach that immediately reduced incidences of occupational violence and staff exposure.”
Thirteen years into his PAH tenure, Ben has flourished in a number of roles, while completing his Masters’ degree and a specialised Toxicology training course with the enduring support of his team.
“I’m extremely grateful for all my team has done in the background to get me to this point. They’ve supported me to get my clinical time done and backfilled me throughout my study. I’ve felt completely at home in that space and everyone’s been willing to educate me.”