Nursing academic Jennifer Anastasi is embodying CQUniversity's vision of ‘power of place' by forging links between nursing and the mining industry...

Jennifer continues to maintain her clinical nursing experience by working relief nursing shifts at AngloCoal's Callide Mine at Biloela. 

Nursing academic Jennifer Anastasi keeps her hands in the nursing world by working as a relief nurse at the mines.Jennifer was based at the mine full-time for seven months in 2009 when on extended leave from the University.

She is also a recent contributing author to the soon-to-be-published nursing textbook The Clinical Placement, edited by Associate Professor Tracey Levett-Jones (University of Newcastle) and Sharon Bourgeois (University of Western Sydney). 

Jennifer's contribution to the book is a clinical expert's insight into the role and responsibilities of the occupational health and safety nurse in the heavy industry environment. 

She explains the need to be skilled in first-line emergency response, as well as being able to promote health and wellness in the workplace to prevent future illness and injury.

"The OH nurse has a wide range of responsibilities, none more important than being constantly ready to ‘spring into action' and save lives in the event that a major injury occurs," Jennifer said.

"They also play a crucial role in return-to-work programs for injured or ill workers and support the worker in all aspects of their health and wellbeing."

Jennifer said working in the mining industry put her back in the mix of practical nursing and enabled her to maintain her skills.

She hopes her recent industry experiences can provide nursing students with an authentic look into the life of an occupational health nurse. 

She continues to teach in the undergraduate nursing programs at CQUniversity.

The book is due to be released by Elsevier in October 2010.