For nurses, learning doesn’t stop at graduation. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, take on a leadership role or build specialty knowledge, postgraduate education can help advance your career.
We spoke with two nursing academics about making the decision to pursue further study.
Unlock new career opportunities
Dr Jacqueline Johnston, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, says returning to university for a postgraduate degree is an empowering decision.
“Postgraduate study can unlock new career opportunities, specialised practice and personal growth,” she says.
“Advanced study empowers nurses and midwives to work to their full scope of practice to help drive workforce reforms. This includes leading innovations, influencing policy and providing exceptional care in an evolving healthcare landscape.”
Progress over perfection
Corrine Dunningham, Course Coordinator for La Trobe’s Master of Nurse Practitioner, says postgraduate study can be challenging, but it is absolutely worth it.
“Our students experience an expert to novice phenomenon when starting this course. I try to normalise this and remind them about the importance of progress over perfection.”
“Once that initial shock has worn off, I hope that students are inspired to continue progressing and using all of the feedback and learning to apply in their own way to their clinical specialties, and to really create their own practice based on evidence-based principles.”
Understand complexity
Dr Samantha Clune, Research Fellow with the Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing, agrees that postgraduate study is about more than just gaining knowledge.
“Postgraduate study is valuable in and of itself, however, the direct gain is the increase in your ability to understand and manage the complexity of your operating environment.”
So, when is the best time to start?
“I believe there is no 'good time' to embark on postgraduate study,” Dr Clune says. “There will always be competing priorities, but the long term personal and professional benefits far outweigh the sacrifices."
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