Mrs Susanne Becker

Hello there. Welcome to my homepage where you can find out a little more about me. I live on a farm in the Barossa Valley which I love. I came to nursing as a mature age entry student through the University system. I have worked in intensive care, OT, accident and emergency, medical, surgical, aged care and also in rural hospitals where you do all of this - often in one shift!

I love my nursing career and am now able to fulfil my other passion which is teaching. I have a wide range of interests in nursing, but seem to be more and more led in the direction of nursing in the rural and remote communities and the wonderful opportunities this offers those who work there. I love the rural and remote health setting, which is always challenging, and I love the community relationships and the multidisciplinary team approach which I find very rewarding. Along with this is an interest in the health of Indigenous Australians, especially those in the rural and remote communities.

I am also a PhD scholar at the University of Queensland with Professor Desley Hegney and Professor Helen McCutcheon as my Supervisors. I am looking at the rural and remote nursing workforce and hope that this research will provide rural and remote organisations with an increased awareness of the perceptions and experiences of some of their staff, which in turn may help them attract and retain nurses. A very important issue in nursing today!

Royal College of Nursing Australia, Rural Nursing and Midwifery Faculty

Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia Inc.

National Rural Health Alliance

Australian Nursing Federation

Australian Resuscitation Council

• Rural and remote nursing
• Indigenous health
• International students
• Acute care nursing
• Aged care nursing
• Teaching and learning practice

Royal College of Nursing Australia, Rural Nursing and Midwifery Faculty

National Rural Health Alliance

Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia

Australian Nursing Federation

Australian Resuscitation Council

PhD Scholar. University of Queensland.

Master of Nursing. University of South Australia.

Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Clinical Nursing). University of Adelaide.

Bachelor of Nursing (pre-reg). University of South Australia.

Bachelor of Teaching (The Education and Training of Adults). University of South Australia.

'Report: Workforce Advisory Committee for the Remote Area Health Corps'. Report published in "Rural nurse" The national newsletter for the Rural Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Royal College of Nursing Australia, Vol. 17, No. 1 p. 18, March 2009.

'A members reflections of the 14th ARNM National Conference'. Article published in 'Rural Nurse' The national newsletter for Australian Rural Nurses and Midwives,Vol. 16, No. 4, pp 1-6, December 2008.

"Not another bloody locum!" My experience as a locum nurse in rural and remote Australia. Rural and Remote Nursing in a Changing Global Environment Conference Program. ICN International Rural and Remote Nurses' Network 5th International Congress March 2007 p.25.

'Examining the Evidence: A systematic review of the literature related to skin tears in the older person'. Unpublished Master's Thesis.

'Leaving the bright lights behind'. Article published in "Partyline" Newsletter of the National Rural Health Alliance. Number 23, August 2005.

The Health of Indigenous Australians. Book Review - Contemporary Nurse Volume 22, Issue 1 July 2006 pages 137-138.

'Talking with Angel - About illness, death and survival'. Book Review - Contemporary Nurse Volume 22, Issue 1 July 2006 pages 136-137.