Division of Health Sciences
Nursing
is a passion that begun over 15 years ago. Unfortunately, I was unable
to fulfil that dream at that time, and it was only recently that this
dream was realised. When I recently had the opportunity to embark upon a
University journey, I chose to study at the University of South
Australia and complete a Bachelor of Nursing because it offered
flexibility to study externally, the industry and nursing role appealed
to me and the career that was available upon successful completion of
the degree allowed me as a single parent a great deal of flexibility,
security and variety.
It was an extremely enjoyable and satisfying experience for me and what
I enjoyed most was the lecturing staff with the external content clear
and precise. I also enjoyed the opportunities that were presented to me
throughout this degree, being made available by the proactive University
teaching team. The teaching staff at UniSA are second to none! They were
available to listen and respond to most queries. Their online learning
environment enabled the isolation felt as an external student to
dissipate. They were also open to debate issues and addressed most
concerns in a timely fashion.
The Online environment at UniSA was very useful as I have studied this
entire degree externally (although having broadband was essential)! The
workshops were also useful, although I guess ‘human’ subjects vs dummies
would have been more fun! Most of the university teaching team did their
best to create a learning environment that served everybody’s needs, and
they made it fun too – it is easier to retain knowledge if it is
presented in a way that facilitates understanding and enjoyment.
I came to realise quite early on in this degree that practical
experience is paramount and necessary for those completing a nursing
degree. For example, it is very difficult to just read about the
procedural aspects of catheterisation, and obviously practical
experience is most relevant in this instance. Similarly, being able to
develop positive working relationships and genuine/caring bedside manner
cannot be developed in the classroom. It involves role modelling
behaviours from the nurses that you aspire to be in a hospital /
community setting, acquiring/attracting mentors and being able to work
as a productive positive member in a dynamic, evolving multidisciplinary
team. In fact, as a result of my first Acute Care Placement I was
offered employment as a 3rd year undergraduate student nurse in a public
hospital. I then gained experience in intensive care, general wards and
psychiatric care. My placements consisted of aged care, intensive care,
paediatrics, hospital at home, and theatre, recovery and anaesthetics.
All will hold me in good stead as my role as a Registered Nurse expands
and is enhanced by these previous experiences.
The highlights of my time at UniSA have been:
• Becoming a peer tutor for Human Biosciences 1 and 2 and Clinical
Sciences 1 and 2.
• Being awarded the St Andrews Hospital Nursing Scholarship
• The time I received a yellow post it note on one of my returned
assignments that stated that my essay was the best undergraduate essay
the lecturer had ever read.
• On a practical placement being asked to assist a surgeon on my own,
when I had merely asked to observe an operation that I had never seen!
Now that I have completed my degree, I was not ready to give that aspect
up, as study at the University was so rewarding for me, so I decided to
apply for Honours. In addition, as I have been a peer tutor for the last
three years in Human Biosciences 1 and 2 and Clinical Sciences 1 and 2,
I wanted to continue the relationships that I had fostered with the many
students that I have tutored over these last three years. Nurse
education is a very rewarding experience to me and I wish to take this
to the next level. Therefore as I wish to lecture at the University,
completing Honours is a necessary step to fulfil this ambition. It is
also important as a Registered Nurse to further the advancement of the
nursing profession, and maintaining a research focus is critical for
this to happen. The university has provided me with many opportunities
throughout the last six months of my Honours degree and has extended me
in areas that I would not have thought possible. I encourage people
considering studying at the University of South Australia to take the
next step, it will not be a decision that they regret. Good luck fellow
students!!
This year I hope to complete my Graduate Nurse Program at a major Public
Hospital and be midway through my Honours degree. I then anticipate
gaining permanent part time employment in their Intensive Care unit
while I complete the rest of my Honours degree.
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