Jessika Hill
Nursing is such a wholesome career, you meet so many wonderful people and learn valuable skills.
Before starting at UTS, I went to high school in the Northern Beaches. I have two younger sisters and we’re all pretty active. I come from a health-conscious family, so it’s no surprise that becoming a nurse was the right choice for me.
I wanted to study nursing because I like working with people. I wanted to learn a new skill set and to become a nurse ticked all the boxes for me. Whether large or small, I believe it’s important always to strive to make a difference in a person’s life.
I decided to study at UTS for a number of reasons. The interactions between tutors, staff and students is always positive. Whether you’re learning content from tutors or sharing practical experiences amongst your peers, both students and staff make an effort to value everyone’s experience. It doesn't matter whether you have 30 years or 30 days under your belt.
The most rewarding part of the course so far has been going on placement and making patients and colleagues, smile. I know it sounds corny, but for me, it’s all part of the job. It shows that you’ve put in a lot of hard work and effort into your practice when everyone around you is happy.
On clinical placements, I’ve shadowed nurses who are so kind, nurturing and patient. I've also had the opportunity to go on placement in Alice Springs during my course, as part of one of my speciality Paediatric Nursing subjects. I'm looking forward to my rural placement because it will require a unique approach to nursing. It's important that I realise that not only will I be caring for children as opposed to adults, but also Indigenous Australians. As a nurse, it's important that I always treat my patients professionally and in a way that is respectful and culturally sensitive.
Looking forward, I hope to become a Paediatric Nurse or perhaps a midwife. If that, I’m happy to work anywhere. I would love to work rurally where there are not many services, and there are patients more in need.
My advice to future students is that hard work really is worth it. Nurses have the opportunity to specialise in a wide range of areas. It’s a wholesome career to pick because you can learn so many skills and meet many wonderful people. You don’t just get to pursue one career path; there are countless possibilities available to seize.
