Dr Eileen Petrie

Lecturer

6123
Ph: +61 2 6024 9719
Fx: +61 2 6024 9737
Email: e.petrie@latrobe.edu.au

Qualifications:

RN Div 1 (Vic); RN (NSW); PostGradDip CPN; MNS (Bendigo); PhD (Adelaide).

Background:

I began nursing a the age of 17 at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. I left, moving to Sydney, where I married and began a family.

After spending a fabulous 14 years as a home mum I returned to the workforce and resumed nursing at Wodonga District Hospital. During my time there I was introduced to the mystery of Psychiatric Nursing and decided to investigate what my colleagues were raving about.

In June 1989 I spent 6 months at Mayday Hills Hospital to determine if I was willing to commit to a further 3 years of study qualifying me as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). At some point I fell in love with this specialty field completing the course and have progressed through a Post Graduate Diploma of Community Psychiatric Nursing, a Master of Nursing Studies and a PhD in nursing.

Once completing my RPN training, I spent the following 12 years in the specialty field as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in both the public and private sectors. During this time my passion for education grew and I spent 6 of those 12 years teaching at TAFE and University levels. Education was a major role as a CNS and I also educated throughout the Area Health Service in which I worked.

I resigned from my clinical role in December 2003 and commenced full time lecturing at La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga campus in January 2004.