Meet Christine Jennings – a dedicated nursing leader whose 20+-year career has spanned mental health, neurosurgery, intensive care, and now clinical project leadership. With a passion for patient-centred care and a drive to shape safe, modern clinical environments, Christine brings deep experience and genuine heart to the Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion project.
Tell us a little bit about your career journey
I completed a degree in mental health nursing and then in general nursing in 1996. I worked in acute mental health facilities across Melbourne and later in the neurosurgery unit at the Alfred Hospital.
In 2008, my family and I moved to Hervey Bay to be closer to the beach and enjoy a better lifestyle/climate for our two kids. After working across all areas of the hospital, I developed an interest in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Seeing patients at their most vulnerable, I felt a strong sense of purpose to provide the care that I would want to receive if I was ever in their position. I enjoy a challenge, so being able to combine clinical precision with compassion, and to be fully present for patients and their families in moments that often change lives forever, is what drew me to ICU. I began permanent employment in 2010 in the ICU, completing a Graduate Certificate in Intensive Care in 2014, working in the roles of Clinical Nurse and my substantive position of Nurse Unit Manager (NUM). I am always curious and driven to explore areas of leadership and informatics and have backfilled in roles including Clinical Nurse Consultant, DonateLife Nurse Coordinator and the Nursing Director position at Hervey Bay and recently at Maryborough Hospital.
How long have you been on the project team?
For 12 months, time flies when you are having fun!
What does your current role entail?
As Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Project Officer, this role is the subject matter expert for the Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion project. It provides clinical guidance in collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure the build continues to support and maintain clinical workflows across all disciplines efficiently, ensuring quality and safety standards are maintained.
In terms of the Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion, what’s your immediate focus?
Heading into the change and commissioning phase, my focus is on the training/education plan and recruitment processes for all staff.
What excites you most about the Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion project?
Because this level was originally built as shell space to future-proof the hospital, it has been used for storage in recent years. It will be awesome to finally see it come to life as a purposeful space to care for our sickest and most vulnerable patients in the Fraser Coast community. Transforming it into a fresh, modern environment that is purpose-built to meet the needs of patients, visitors and my colleagues. I’m enjoying collaborating with the teams to ensure we are on track to provide the best possible space for coordinated clinical care.
What is the next milestone that you're most looking forward to?
Seeing the ceiling-mounted pendants and ceiling hoists installed and workable – this will be a great step towards efficiencies in patient care.
What are your favourite features or what excites you most about the Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion project?
Improved efficiencies in patient care in the ICU and new medical unit, including a specialised Coronary Care Unit, ensuring patients with cardiac conditions have clear and responsive pathways, with the appropriate clinical oversight.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
There are many rewarding aspects to this role – proactive planning (which was sometimes challenging to achieve as a NUM), collaborating with the clinical specialist teams to bring the project to life, and advocating for clinicians by shaping safe, streamlined workflows that support their workload. Ultimately, creating a more efficient environment and workflows that allow staff to spend more time with patients is particularly meaningful.
It’s a unique opportunity to contribute to a project of this scale, knowing the work will have a lasting impact on patient care and the teams who deliver it, and to collaborate with such a skilled and dedicated project team whose expertise makes the experience incredibly rewarding.
What do you think this project will mean for the community?
- Improved patient flow
- Localised care
- A clinical environment that embodies calmness and healing for both patients, their families and staff
- Streamlined specialist care
Lastly, how do you keep happy and healthy?
Spending time with my family – my husband and I recently became grandies! We have a four-month-old grandson who is just a delight to be with!
Spending time outdoors, camping, concerts, hikes, beach days, gym workouts and shopping.