Nikaela Neaton,
Surgical Assistant
RN · PNSA · M.NURS · MNP CANDIDATE
Surgical assistant at every CQ Hand + Upper Limb operation, and lead of the post-operative wound clinic.
Nikaela Neaton is a Perioperative Registered Nurse and Surgical Assistant with over a decade of clinical practice across a broad range of surgical specialties. At CQ Hand + Upper Limb she practises at an advanced nursing level within a dedicated upper limb surgical practice.
She trained at Central Queensland University (Bachelor of Nursing, 2015), holds a Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing, was awarded the Master of Nursing by La Trobe in 2022, and is currently completing the Master of Nurse Practitioner programme — also at La Trobe. Her practice is guided by ACORN Professional Practice Standards, the AANSA scope of practice for PNSAs, and the NMBA Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner standards.
Within the practice, Nikaela assists at every operation, independently runs the post-operative wound clinic, and contributes to the practice's clinical research in shoulder outcomes. Her four domain advanced practice work — clinical leadership, education, research and system support — is underpinned by a strong commitment to evidence based care, patient advocacy and collaborative multidisciplinary practice.
Where she does most of her work
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Surgical assist
Patient positioning, skin preparation, draping, deep tissue retraction, haemostasis, wound closure and dressing application — across every case at CQ Hand + Upper Limb.
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Post-operative wound clinic
Independent assessment, dressing changes and clinical decision-making in the wound clinic, with escalation to the surgeon when required.
From the wards to the
operating theatre
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Assistant in Nursing — Prescare Alexandra Gardens
Direct patient care in residential aged care while completing the Bachelor of Nursing.
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Registered Nurse — Queensland Health (CQHHS)
Perioperative experience across scrub, scout and anaesthetic nursing. Clinical Nurse — Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2021–2023). Acting Clinical Nurse — Orthopaedics, Trauma, Ophthalmology, and Floor Coordinator. Broad cross-specialty exposure including general, urology, ENT and dental.
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Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assistant — CQ Hand + Upper Limb
First assistant on every operation, practising in accordance with AANSA scope of practice and ACORN Professional Practice Standards. Independently runs the post-operative wound clinic with clinical assessment, decision-making and escalation. Extensive arthroscopic experience across the upper limb; proficient in casting and splinting; interprets X-ray, MRI and CT to support perioperative reasoning. Participates in shoulder clinical research alongside the surgeon.
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Master of Nurse Practitioner — La Trobe University
Currently completing the Master of Nurse Practitioner programme, building on the Master of Nursing awarded by La Trobe in 2022.
Postgraduate training,
perioperative emphasis
- 2012 – 2015
Bachelor of Nursing — Central Queensland University
Conferring qualification.
- 2019
Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Perioperative Nursing) — University of Tasmania
First postgraduate qualification specific to the perioperative environment.
- 2020
AO Basics — Principles of Fracture Management (ORP)
AO Trauma.
- 2020 – 2021
Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Perioperative Nursing; PNSA) — La Trobe University
Completed under surgeon mentorship and clinical supervision per ACORN/AANSA requirements.
- 2021
Suturing for Health Professionals Workshop
ECT4 Health.
- 2021
Plastering and Slabbing Workshop
ECT4 Health.
- 2022
Master of Nursing — La Trobe University
Postgraduate qualification underpinning advanced perioperative practice.
- 2022
Queensland Surgical Assistants Workshops
Johnson & Johnson MedTech.