Sandra's story
16 January 2024
Townsville registered nurse and grandmother Sandra Wanchap is fiercely independent and resilient, qualities she has cultivated in her decades of nursing.
When she became entangled in bed cords while administering medication to a patient and fell on her shoulder during an aged care shift, the 80-year-old knew something wasn’t right straight away.
Sandra Wanchap: I was administering eyedrops to a lady, turned to get a tissue and she was on oxygen. And of course, there's many cords in aged care. So my feet became entangled.
I fell onto the floor right onto the head of the humerus. So I missed the table, but I think my head bumped.
So I think the poor old lady who had a cardiac condition, she was in a worse state than I. I knew I had broken my arm. I'm got a low tolerance, to pain. But boy, that was pain.
Well, it did mess up my plans because I was going to retire last Christmas. I decided I'd go back to work to make sure that I could basically continue as a nurse.
And of course, my agency was very good to me. They supported me and put me onto WorkCover. I was looked after.
Samantha King: I thought Sandra was an amazing person, so I wanted to do what I could to, to help her.
Sandra Wanchap: The reception was excellent. Sam seemed to basically hear what I was saying in my words.
I had regular weekly appointments with this delightful physio who was excellent.
Samantha King: We organized connect a support person on the ground to help Sandra with her recovery. But I specifically asked for someone who had a psychological background.
Sandra Wanchap: And that was an amazing, experienced psychologist that I saw. And she was really good.
I think mindfulness and having a very close community, just the people around me has been pretty amazing.
Samantha King: She recovered so well and quickly and was so motivated the whole time and it really helped Sandra with her return to work and getting back to her normal role.
'Boy, that was pain'
“I knew I had broken my arm...boy, that was pain,” Sandra said. She had fractured her left upper arm, or humerus, and was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment.
Her nursing agency connected Sandra with WorkCover Queensland and her case manager Samantha King to start the journey towards recovery – and she says having her employer’s support was important.
“My agency was very good to me. They supported me and put me onto WorkCover. I was looked after.”
The road to recovery
Even though she was nearing retirement, Sandra decided early on after her injury that she wanted to get back to nursing, to prove to herself that she could do it.
Alongside weekly physiotherapy sessions, Samantha arranged for a psychologist to work with Sandra on the ground to help her deal with the mental side of having a physical injury.
“The reception was excellent. Sam seemed to basically hear what I was saying, in my words,” Sandra said.
“I had regular weekly appointments with this delightful physio who was excellent. And there was an amazing, experienced psychologist that I saw, and she was really good.”
A close community
Alongside treatment, Sandra says staying active, such as taking daily walks around the park, practising mindfulness, and connecting in with her family and community, were important in her recovery.
“Mindfulness and having a very close community, just the people around me has been pretty amazing.”
Now, having recovered and returned to work, and with her life back on track, Sandra’s once again looking towards her retirement.
“She recovered so well and quickly, and was so motivated the whole time, and it really helped Sandra with her return to work and getting back to her normal role,” Samantha said.