Lauren Baker

I grew up in north-west Sydney, where I still live now with my parents and older sister. As a child, I loved performing, and I have found that this love of bringing joy to other people has made me a better nurse.

I wanted to study nursing for a few reasons. At the core, I knew I wanted to be in a profession that was inherently good, where I was able to make lots of little differences to people’s lives every day. Another reason I chose nursing is because of its variety. Health care is a dynamic field where there are so many opportunities to continue learning and developing throughout your career.

I am passionate foremost about person-centred care. Offering people the time and assistance to make autonomous decisions about their own health is very important to me. I enjoy having the opportunity to show respect and offer dignity to a population who are vulnerable. I am also very passionate about approaching health holistically, not merely focusing on immediate physical repair, but on the mental, emotional, social and spiritual health of the patient as well as engaging in preventative education and discussions. In the future, I’d like to see a shift from treating illness and disease to helping people live meaningful, engaged and well lives.

I chose to study at UTS because I was so impressed by the facilities and campus. The nursing labs are up-to-date and prepare you well for knowing what to expect on placement. I also chose UTS because it has a reputation of producing highly employable registered nurses.  

The most rewarding part of the course has been working amongst professionals on clinical placements. There are so many opportunities to learn and practise critical skills like communication and problem solving. I find it very rewarding to use the skills learnt in the classroom to help real people.

Since beginning my studies, my communication skills and confidence have vastly improved. Having the opportunity to practise in the clinical environment has meant I now feel comfortable speaking with the healthcare team, patients and families. I have also developed better study and self-care habits.

In the future, I plan to become the best Registered Nurse I possibly can be on a general surgical ward. Once I feel confident in the role, I am excited to continue to gain new skills and continue to learn; for example, I’d like to learn to cannulate. Beyond that, I would love to transition into nursing education or achieve a Master’s and become a Clinical Nurse Specialist. One day, I would love to be a part of a team working to improve policies and procedures to improve outcomes for patients in the future. 

My advice to future students is to come into the course with an open mind, ready to soak up information and ideas. University has a lot to offer, but you have to be willing to participate to get the most out of it. Further to this, take some time to think about why you are choosing to study nursing: if your heart is in the right place, you’ll be able to push through when times get tough. Lastly, I’d say pay close attention in biology, as I found myself building upon that foundational knowledge throughout my first and second year.

Find out more about the Bachelor of Nursing at UTS