David Shi

First, I would like to pay my respects to the Traditional Custodians of the land on which UTS stands today and pay my respects to the Indigenous Elders, both past and present.

I am a proud son of Chinese parents. As a child, I have encountered the Australian health system many times as my family members have experienced several long stays in the hospital. It was these encounters at the hospital which inspired me to become a nurse in the future – growing up in a household that was touched by amazing doctors and nurses and having family members who were healthcare professionals themselves.

When I was in high school, my volunteering experience in a major hospital gave me a unique perspective to explore the field of nursing. It was a phenomenal experience to have witnessed the care and attentiveness of the nurses that I worked with. These cumulative experiences during my childhood and throughout high school are what serves as the impetus for my passion and interest in the nursing profession.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about being a supportive, reliable, and dependable humanitarian who is focused on giving back to the community. I grew up with the philosophy that if I could make a positive difference in a person's life, no matter how small, I believe that I would have lived a satisfying life.

Why did you choose Nursing at UTS? 

I chose to study a Bachelor of Nursing to fulfil my long-term passion to help less fortunate people in need, and I turned that passion into a dream career in nursing. I have a keen interest in prevention-based healthcare to ensure that users of Australia's healthcare are well-informed of different chronic and acute disease pathologies, so that we can reduce the rate of preventable disease.

I chose UTS because I registered for one of the Discover Sessions for Nursing and learned that UTS is the leading institution in Australia and ranked the top 11th in the world for Nursing.

I learnt about the state-of-the-art facilities and hyper-realistic simulation manikins that could even sweat, cry and blink! I was also amazed at how our classroom labs resembled an actual hospital ward which we could emulate a truly immersive clinical experience whilst having the opportunity to make mistakes and learn in a supportive environment.

How has your experience been?

A highlight of my experience at UTS is how experienced my tutors and lecturers are in answering any questions we have during our classes and explaining different concepts, like learning names of medications in a simplified and reliable way. I also appreciate the expertise and generosity of time that I get from my lab tutor while practising various clinical skills, such as administering IV medications.

Throughout my degree I have understood the importance of communication, empathy and providing patient-centred care that focuses on the individual, focusing on the strengths and individuality of the person rather than just looking at their diagnosis.

What do you hope to achieve after your degree?

As an aspiring Registered Nurse, I plan to break down the prevailing barriers of the stigma of mental illness, focus on providing a model of care that supports diversity and accessibility of care that includes and welcomes all members of society.

I envision myself working in an acute healthcare setting as an Intensive Care Unit RN and by constantly applying continuing professional development. As a lifelong learner, I hope to one day become a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

My advice to future students

My advice to all who want to begin a career in nursing is to learn about what type of speciality interests you the most, as nursing is a profession that is incredibly versatile and flexible with many different career opportunities to explore. You have a great potential to be inspired by the stories of patients and their families during your time at uni and by integrating everything you have learnt you have a unique privilege to make a significant impact in improving the lives of those in your care.

If I had my time again to pick another career and degree, I would still end up with nursing. I know deep down that working in an environment where you can instil a sense of hope and optimism in people's lives is something worth aspiring to. 

I would also like to thank all the tireless and hardworking staff at the UTS School of Nursing and Midwifery who have enabled UTS to be a leader in Nursing. I also extend my appreciation and gratitude to the facilitators and nurses who have supervised me during my clinical placements; I felt very supported and valued as a part of the healthcare team.

Learn more about Nursing at UTS