This International Nurses Day, we asked four nurses from very diverse backgrounds what it is they loved about being a nurse.
Deanna – Private Hospital nurse
I must love being a nurse as I have been in the profession for 30 years (minus babies and travel). My reasons for staying have changed over the years. I initially chose nursing as I wanted to travel and work overseas. I achieved this with basing myself in London working in many specialties, travelling extensively and making some lifelong nursing friends (where else can you find fellow souls with the same rude and dark humour?). When I returned to Australia I discovered it was possible to balance family life with continuing to work in nursing. My reasons for staying now is that I love working in a caring profession, and I love being able to pass on skills and sound practices to young nurses joining the field.
Sue – Aged Care nurse
I love working as an Aged Care nurse. The beautiful people I look after could be my mum or dad. They have seen things we will never see in our lifetime. Now in their declining years, they are a privilege to look after. Even though aged care nursing is extremely hard, with everything that is happening today, it’s very satisfying just to go to work and spend time, listen to their lives, just to be there to assist them with their needs, talk to them and help any way I can. I also feel very privileged to be able to spend their last hours with them, particularly when family aren’t able to be there.
Everybody should be treated with respect and dignity and if I can just do this in my work life I am happy. That is why I chose to work in aged care. It is also why I am heavily involved in campaigning for our elderly in care. I will speak up and let everybody know what is happening in aged care.
Silvana – Emergency Nurse
I always wanted to be a nurse. When I was 16 years old, I did work experience at Shellharbour Public Hospital – now 30 years later I’m still here. I have also worked in a variety of areas, including in vascular, orthopaedic, surgical, day surgery, medical and aged care wards, as well as at a Nursing home. But what I really love working is in the Emergency Department as I feel like I can help all my patients with our extra clinical skills.
Alison – Intensive Care nurse and Clinical Nurse Educator
I started in nursing in Cambridge, England and came to Australia when hospital based training transferred to university. Australia was experiencing shortages of nurses, and especially in ICU, which was my specialty. Nursing has continued to be a pleasure and a privilege over the years, particularly in my roles in ICU and as a Clinical Nurse Educator. Being able to help somebody, whether patient, relative or nervous young nurse sounds mawkish and trite. But it’s what has kept me in this profession for all these years.