Stella Cottrell-Dormer
Nursing is a perfect degree where my two interests are closely linked.
My name is Stella Cottrell-Dormer. I am half Indonesian and half Australian. I was born in Indonesia and lived there for 16 years. I have one younger sister who is in her first year of university. I grew up in a small international school in Indonesia where it felt like a large family.
When I was 16 years old, I moved to Australia and completed high school. I am currently working as an assistant in nursing for a nursing agency and as a part-time pharmacy assistant.
I am passionate about health and wellbeing – which I see as inextricably linked. I am also passionate about self-improvement, having joined a gym and attended many classes. I love exploring the great outdoors and going on adventures. For example, I like to go on hikes to explore new sights and visit waterfalls.
I wanted to study nursing because I am fascinated by the science behind illness and disease. I am also passionate about helping people. Nursing is a perfect degree where my two interests are closely linked.
I have a dream to inspire others to work hard and give back to the community. I believe that people can make a big difference in others’ lives just by showing compassion and empathy.
As a curious and keen learner, I wanted to pursue a career in which I can learn new things every day. Nurses demonstrate this as they are confronted with different experiences every day, enabling them to grow and develop. I think it is fascinating how the body responds to disease, and I believe that it is an honour to be a part of someone’s journey towards recovery. With nursing, I hope I can make a difference in people’s lives.
I chose to study at UTS because of the amazing experiences it provides. Notably, UTS has industry partners with a range of clinical intuitions facilitating students with real-world experience. The labs at UTS are state of the art, enabling students to practice nursing skills. The practice labs inspired me to want to practice my skills as a nurse.
One of the highlights of studying at UTS must be the simulation labs. Within these labs, nursing students work with real-life case scenarios in a controlled clinical setting. A mock patient acts out a cascade of symptoms whilst a team of nurses come up with a plan of management.
It was very interesting to work with other student nurses in a team, under stress and time constraints. Our lab classes would have simulation days several times a semester. The learning experience from it was invaluable.
Studying nursing has made me more open-minded and compassionate. During clinical placements, I get to meet and work with people from a range of backgrounds. This pushed me to become more open to new ideas and opinions.
"It also made me more compassionate and understanding because I got to witness the various sufferings that patients endured. It also prompted me to undergo self-reflection to reflect on my values and biases so I can be a better nurse."
My plan is to work full time as a registered nurse and complete my master’s degree so I can be a clinical nurse specialist. After obtaining experience as a registered nurse, I want to further my career and be a nursing practitioner.
I would advise future nursing students to be brave, believe in themselves and step out of their comfort zone. I would also advise future nursing students to trust the process. At times, you might feel challenged, but believe me, with time and practice, you will persevere.
