Natalie’s journey to becoming a skin cancer nurse

SPONSORED EDITORIAL 

Natalie Dunstone is a registered nurse and mother of two who lives and works in Victoria. She began upskilling in skin cancer medicine after she noticed the alarming rate of skin malignancies in Australia. Natalie saw an urgent demand for skilled practitioners to help screen and manage patients living with our country’s ‘national cancer’.  

‘There was a concerning prevalence of skin cancer presentations in my practice,’ she says. ‘I recognised that it was imperative to address the increasing number of older adults presenting with multiple skin cancers – yet the issue wasn’t confined to older generations. Patients of all ages were being diagnosed with melanoma.’ 

Melanoma is the most common cancer affecting Australians aged 15 to 39 and claims one life every five hours.¹ 

Natalie was already working alongside distinguished skin cancer physicians, and under their expert guidance she started utilising the dermatoscope to examine suspicious lesions. She found herself deeply engaged in analysing the results.  

Her interest had been piqued in skin cancer nursing, but she had not previously undertaken any training in the field, which wasn’t covered as part of her nursing degree. Consequently, she sought out additional courses that could provide her with the right skillset – and that is when she found HealthCert Education. 

‘The courses I completed with HealthCert have equipped me with a robust foundational knowledge in skin cancer and dermoscopy which I am eager to build upon,’ she says. ‘The programs are exceptionally engaging and informative, delivered by esteemed skin cancer specialists who provide concise and relevant training and whose passion for skin cancer prevention, detection and management is evident.’ 

The courses are designed with nurses in mind, having been specially built for nurses practising in Australia to foster collaborative work with doctors. The online programs include a customised, highly relevant curriculum tailored to fit the learning needs of enrolled nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners. 

‘Overall, my experience with HealthCert has been exceptionally positive. The courses are detailed and high-quality and have exceeded my expectations. I never feel out of my depth, and HealthCert offers responsive support for a smooth learning experience. 

‘Balancing a demanding career and responsibilities as a mum, the flexibility of online learning has been instrumental in enabling me to embark on this new career path in skin cancer nursing. I enjoyed the self-paced, flexible learning experience.’ 

Primary care services are at the frontline of skin cancer detection in Australia, with over 1 million malignancies diagnosed by GPs every year.² Therefore, highly trained nursing professionals play a critical role in facilitating early skin cancer detection, as well as in delivering skin health education and support to the broader community. 

‘Implementing the new skills into my day-to-day work has significantly enhanced my effectiveness as a skin cancer nurse,’ says Natalie. ‘I can apply my knowledge with confidence and conduct thorough skin assessments, which aid in early diagnosis.  

‘Now I can better educate patients in prevention strategies, early signs of skin cancer, and the importance of regular skin checks. I plan to use my newfound expertise to assist in developing protocols for skin cancer screening and management within my current clinic.’ 

Natalie says that building her skin cancer toolkit has not only supported her growth as a skin cancer nurse, but has also helped to advance her career and improve her collaboration with other healthcare professionals, leading to a more integrated approach to patient care.  

‘My new qualifications position me for potential career development opportunities, such as advanced leadership roles. I think all nurses should pursue specialised courses like this. The more experience you gain in examining skin lesions, the more proficient you will become in identifying and detecting problematic ones. 

‘I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to undertake further courses with HealthCert!’ 

You can learn more about HealthCert Education’s courses in skin cancer and many other fields at healthcert.com/nurses.  

References 

1. MoleMap, ‘Can young people get skin cancer?’, MoleMap website, 29 April 2021, accessed 10 September 2024.  

2. A Arasu, N Meah and R Sinclair, ‘Skin checks in primary care’, Aust J Gen Pract, 2019, 48(9), doi:10.31128/AJGP-03-19-4887.