For Mackay Base Hospital clinical nurse Thomas (Tom) Paul, nursing isn’t just a career. It’s a calling that combines purpose, precision and compassion.
Originally from Cooktown, Tom was working in an office job before deciding he wanted to dedicate his professional life to something more meaningful.
“I wanted a career that allowed me to connect with people and make a real difference,” he said.
While living in Tasmania, he completed a Bachelor of Nursing followed by a postgraduate qualification in peri-anaesthesia care.
Tom’s nursing journey began in interventional cardiology, working in the Cardiac Cath Lab initially when he returned north and joined Mackay Base Hospital four years ago.
It was a role that fed his curiosity about critical care and the human body’s intricate systems.
“I’ve always had a keen interest in critical care. I see nursing training in similar terms to the medical apprenticeship-like model — learning different specialties to really understand how everything connects,” he said
Despite enjoying his time in cardiology, Tom’s true passion lay in anaesthetics.
“My goal was always to be an airway specialist,” he said.
“I wanted a broader scope and to be part of the team caring for patients across the full continuum, from newborns to those at the end of life,” Tom said.
“Working regionally, you often have a broader scope of practice and that variety really strengthens your skills. So you're sort of seeing it all, which is great experience and makes you a more robust nurse.
“I get an enormous sense of pride serving my community and helping provide services that allow people to stay in the region if they want to,” he said.
In his current role, Tom wears several hats, from peri-anaesthetic nursing and theatre coordination to supporting the acute pain service. But at the heart of it all is patient safety and advocacy.
“As peri-anaesthesia nurses, we’re responsible for ensuring the highest level of safety for every body system a patient has,” he said.
“That includes their psychosocial safety too. If someone doesn’t have a lift home after surgery, that’s also my problem to solve.”
Tom describes the operating theatre as a “fantastic intersection of multidisciplinary care” and a place where teamwork, communication and trust are paramount.
“There are so many different professionals involved, all working toward one goal which is the best possible outcome for the patient,” he said.
“Our patients are under general anaesthesia, so they’re at their most vulnerable. It’s our job to advocate for them and honour their wishes, even when they can’t speak for themselves.”
Outside of work, Tom finds balance in the simple things like tending to his garden, caring for his border collie and a flock of chickens.
Despite the high-pressure environment of theatre, he remains deeply committed to his team and community. His long-term goal? To help expand the range of surgical specialties available locally.
“Travel for treatment can be a huge burden for people, especially those who don’t have much experience with the healthcare system,” he said.
“The more we can do here in Mackay, the better it is for our community.”
While Perioperative Nurses Week shines a light on the vital role these specialised nurses play in our healthcare system, Tom reflects with pride on the teamwork, humanity and care which all come together in theatre.
“I think the core theme of peri-operative nursing is that we are all-strong patient advocates,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I think all nursing is creative problem solving and I’m incredibly proud to be part of the operating team.”