After a long career spanning the building surveying, environmental health and planning industries, when Greg Johnston’s Dad passed away, it made him realised he wanted to pursue a more people focussed profession.
“I had been thinking for a very long time about moving into a new phase of my life and had considered nursing, massage therapy, myotherapy, social work, teaching, police, renewable energy and even just travelling and working.
“Before Dad passed away, I had gone on couple of trips with him and visited him in the nursing home over the last couple of years. I witnessed how he struggled with some of the personal care being delivered. When the state government’s nursing scholarships were announced, I phoned La Trobe and found out, because I already held a degree, I could complete the Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry) in two years and become a nurse.”
Greg relocated back to Mildura, from Loxton, to commence study and whilst adapting to studying again was a challenge, he is enjoying it.
“The course and getting my mind about current studying methods, referencing, the various on-line systems has been a big challenge, but I am enjoying it. This has been helped by the local teaching staff at La Trobe who take their person centred nursing care into their teaching practices, together with Kendell's help in the lab environment and Lyn over at the library. It is also good that we see the admin staff around and doing so much behind the scenes to ensure students are catered for and welcomed.”
Like Greg, Grace Giddings too had long term aspirations to become a nurse and is finally making that dream a reality.
“I have always dreamt of being a nurse. It was not until I worked in the healthcare industry that I was most definitely inspired to purse it as a career. I decided to start studying nursing as a mature aged student. Not only does nursing provide a fantastic long-term career, I am driven by my passion for caring for others, the opportunity for professional growth, the ability to make meaningful connections and the stability of a rewarding career.”
Grace says studying nursing has been an eye-opening experience.
“Learning about anatomy, physiology and pharmacology has been both fascinating and challenging, revealing the intricacies of the human body in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
Grace pathwayed into the Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry) by studying a Diploma at La Trobe first.
“I strongly believe the Diploma prepares you well, from an anatomy and physiology point of view, to transition to nursing. It’s also a great chance to get to know your fellow second year students. I am absolutely loving the hands on lab skills and the friendships I have made along the way.”
To find out more about studying the Diploma of Rural Health or Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry), book in online for a 1:1 course consult.
