Nkosinomusa Napier Nurse Practitioner

As a Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years specialty experience in Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD)/Addiction and Mental Health, Nomusa has worked in everything from Community Health and Prisons facilities to Residential Detox Centres. A big part of her role has been in undertaking comprehensive assessments, diagnostic testing, dual-diagnosis, therapeutic treatment planning, prescribing and referral/collaboration. Nomusa has had a special interest in studying alternative therapies ACT, DBT and providing Trauma Informed care to enable a compassionate practice approach that is unique, holistic, and completely tailored to the individuals Biopsychosocial needs. Recently a credentialed Mental Health Nurse, Nomusa is able to better assist those with both substance use and mental health issues. Born in Zimbabwe, Nkosinomusa Napier (Nomusa) migrated to New Zealand in 2003. She graduated from Universal College of Learning (Gisborne Campus) in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree of Nursing. Part of her placements were done in a Mental Health unit and medical ward where she met patients with Dual Diagnosis and became passionate about Drug and Alcohol, and Mental Health Nursing. In 2010, Nomusa completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health Sciences with a specialisation in Drug and Alcohol. Soon, she Immigrated to Australia and worked in Swan Hill as a Home-Based withdrawal and Pharmacotherapy Nurse. During her time in Swan Hill, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Drug and Alcohol with Turning Point. In 2014, she left Swan Hill and joined Correctional Health Nursing (Prison) in Castlemaine where she took on a role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOD and Associate Health Services Manager) supporting patients who were transitioning from Methadone to Suboxone and to LAIB. She has since worked at a Residential withdrawal unit at Bendigo Community Health and thoroughly enjoy her time in this dynamic and challenging environment. In 2019 she graduated from RMIT with a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing with a decision to take her skill even further and since completed Master in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) with Edith Cowan University.