Stewart Wilson, a third-year Bachelor of Nursing student at La Trobe Rural Health School, shares his experience during a recent placement at the Lockington Bush Nursing Centre.
Discover how this placement transformed Stewart’s perspective on rural healthcare and why he encourages other students to see what a rural placement can offer.
With seven years of nursing under his belt and a Diploma of Nursing completed locally in Echuca, Stewart is now advancing his clinical expertise through further study.
“While working at Echuca Regional Health as a security officer and patient porter, I found myself increasingly interested in the patients and their diagnoses”, Stewart recalls.
“I naturally started absorbing information and developed a genuine curiosity about healthcare.”
This curiosity led him to pursue nursing full-time and his recent placement in a remote bush setting offered a unique perspective on the profession.
“The diversity of nursing in a remote bush setting really stood out. With limited resources, the skill set and adaptability of the staff become essential for delivering quality care.”
Support and growth
Stewart felt “absolutely 100%” supported throughout his placement.
“The entire team at the clinic had a phenomenal rapport with both the staff and the broader community. Their support and collegiality made a real difference to my experience.”
Despite the usual challenges of entering a new environment, learning systems, adjusting to policies and meeting new people, Stewart remained proactive and open to learning.
“Working in a nurse-led clinic significantly enhanced my clinical assessment and pathology skills,” he adds. Without immediate access to doctors, nurses are required to make accurate, independent clinical judgments, an experience that really pushed me to grow professionally.”
A rewarding experience
The placement offered many rewarding moments, from seeing patient progress to building community connections.
“Seeing real progress in patient health, especially in wound care; developing rapport with community members and having people remember my name, that personal connection and sense of contribution were incredibly fulfilling.”
Advice for other students
Stewart strongly encourages other nursing students to consider a bush placement.
“I would suggest students have some life experience, as the work can be confronting at times. Clinics like Lockington also handle home visits and respond to 000 calls, which can involve challenging situations.”
If you’re curious about rural healthcare, this kind of placement offers unmatched learning opportunities.
“Lockington Bush Nursing Centre is truly unique, the variety of work they do is astounding,” he says.
“It was, without a doubt, my most enriching placement and it’s certainly a career path I’m eager to pursue.”
