Our SustainHealth ED heroes this Emergency Nurses Day
At SustainHealth Recruitment, we’re privileged to work with exceptional emergency nurses across Australia, professionals who bring not only expertise but also compassion to every patient encounter. This National Emergency Nurses Day, we’re proud to share stories from two of our emergency nurses, Anto and Maikko, who offer a glimpse into what life is truly like on the frontlines of healthcare.
Anto’s Story
“I have been an Emergency Nurse for more than 14 years now. Have been working in NSW for a while before I decided that I wanted to see more of Australia.
I joined Sustain Health in 2023 and have been to incredible places. My first ED contract was at Port Macquarie with Guido. It was whale migration at the time and my accommodation was near the lighthouse. During my days off, I would sit there and watch the whales breach.
This travel nursing journey has also brought me in a lot of places, including the tip of Australia- Bamaga and Thursday Island. Have seen the Great Barrier Reef from a plane- both high and low tide. Rode small and bigger planes and drove, probably, thousands of kilometres. I had done a resus in front of the hospital building, in a parking lot, rode ambulances to make sure my patients are stable and seen countless retrievals after stabilising trauma patients.
Through all these travels and ED experiences, I have learned to expect the unexpected in easy and difficult situations. Emergency Nursing is a whole different sport because you’ll never know what’s going to show up on that ED door. And so, I have learned to practice composure and calmness through the waves of storm at work- these traits often make a difference in our environment which is always run with high emotions and endless stress.
Emergency Nurse’s and Doctors alike see and share a different type of trauma. The amount of stories we all share in a cup of tea or coffee, often reheated, probably the nth time that shift are priceless (trauma bonding.)
Working in emergency nursing is a constant test of skill, resilience, and compassion, experiencing the different colours of humanity —fear, pain, relief, gratitude, and sometimes loss — often all in one day.
If I can say one thing about Emergency Nursing, it is this- The success of saving a life, does not solely rely on one person in the room. Everyone has a role to play.”
Maikko’s Story
In ED, you can be saving a life in one cubicle and celebrating new life in the next. That’s the beauty (and chaos) of emergency nursing — every emotion, every moment, all in one shift.
One year and a half into travel nursing, this adventure took me to rural nursing where resources were limited but teamwork and creativity thrived. “It was challenging but fun — every day was a lesson in thinking outside the box.” I have met incredible people, learned new skills, and embraced every challenge. From city hospitals to remote clinics, being an emergency nurse is truly a jack of all trades.
No two shifts are ever the same in Emergency Nursing, and that’s the beauty of it! That’s why I stayed. In the middle of the chaos, emergency nurses still find time to laugh about it over our cold coffee.
Thank You to Every Emergency Nurse
These stories reflect the reality of emergency nursing, where saving lives, comforting families, and working under pressure happen side by side with teamwork, humour, and shared resilience. Their experiences highlight not only the diversity of emergency nursing roles but also their strength, adaptability, and compassion.
To every ED nurse who has stayed calm in a crisis, supported a colleague during a tough shift, or held a patient’s hand in their scariest moment, we see you, and we thank you.
If you’re an emergency nurse looking for your next opportunity—or a healthcare organisation in need of skilled emergency staff—contact our team today.
info@sustainhr.com.au
02 8274 4677