Drew is a Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse Pathway) student with a passion for helping people and volunteering his time with St John Ambulance Victoria.
A recent life-changing experience (in more ways than one) demonstrated the real-world skills he’s developing through nursing and volunteering.
At last year’s Melbourne Marathon, Drew found himself responding to not one but two cardiac arrests within the space of just 10 minutes.
“You don’t really think about anything else in that moment except getting that person back,” Drew said.
Remarkably, both patients survived.
“It honestly felt like an honour to be part of helping save someone’s life.”
Drew says volunteering has significantly increased his confidence and capabilities as a nursing student, particularly when responding to emergencies.
“With the environments and scenarios I’ve been thrown into, [volunteering] has greatly increased my capabilities and confidence, especially when it comes to treating acutely unwell patients and those who seek help in emergencies.”
At the same time, studying nursing has given Drew a deeper understanding of the different patients and conditions he may encounter while volunteering.
“My nursing degree has allowed me to understand on a deeper level the needs of some patients that I may be presented with out at major events and given me a broader knowledge of health conditions and treatment.”
One of the highlights of Drew’s time at La Trobe so far has been putting his experience into practice during a recent rural placement at Warrnambool Hospital.
“I think working ED at Warrnambool Hospital while on rural placement recently [has been a highlight], as I felt like I was able to help and make a difference with my experience,” he said.
He also credits the people around him with making his university experience a positive one.
“The teachers I have had so far with different subjects have also been really great, along with my classmates!”
For other La Trobe students considering volunteering with St John, Drew says it can be a big commitment but there’s also plenty to gain from the experience. St John volunteers must undertake relevant training before taking on clinical volunteering roles and Drew says students should be prepared to commit time to both training and volunteering.
“If you have the time and discipline to commit with them then definitely do it because there’s so much to learn!”
Drew has always known he wants to become an emergency nurse, with the goal of eventually moving into flight nursing. Looking further ahead, he hopes his nursing career will eventually take him overseas.
“My goal has always been to move back overseas as a nurse, back where I used to live in BC/Alberta and help change the world for the better there.”
Read the full story of Drew’s experience at the Melbourne Marathon on the St John Ambulance Victoria website.