SIBLINGS Kealy and Aish Tupper are two of Bendigo Health\u2019s new graduate nurses excited to begin their careers.<\/p>\n
Last week, the health service welcomed 130 graduates to its nursing and midwifery programs where they will use their skills and enhance their confidence and knowledge.<\/p>\n
Aish Tupper said she was looking for something more hands-on after completing a year of biomedical science, and decided on nursing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just loved it,\u201d she said. \u201cHands-on patient care, obviously it was a bit difficult during COVID times not being able to interact with other students, and that\u2019s where I really relied on my sister.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could speak with each other about assignments and help each other out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kealy Tupper had a slightly different path into nursing, working for seven years as a beauty therapist before deciding on a change of career.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice having someone so close and to bounce things off each other, especially in a grad year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can come as a bit of a shock you\u2019re on your own doing nursing for the first time so it\u2019s nice to share stories and share experiences with each other and gain support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both sisters said they\u2019re most excited about getting practical time on the wards, with Kealy starting in the surgical ward and Aish in rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
Chief nursing and midwifery officer Carol-Anne Lever said nurses at Bendigo Health might have more opportunities for growth than at other hospitals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll these guys have come from far and wide, we\u2019ve got people from Mildura, from Melbourne and all points in between,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do attract people to our hospital, it\u2019s a great health service to work in; there\u2019s heaps of opportunity and a great skill mix.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have an experience at the Alfred, you don\u2019t get to look after paediatrics, if you go to the Royal Melbourne you don\u2019t get to look after gynaecology and obstetrics, they\u2019ve got an eye and ear hospital in Melbourne, we see all those things here at Bendigo Health so you get that exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some graduate nurses have experience in the workforce as part of Bendigo Health\u2019s COVID response, where they\u2019ve helped with screening, vaccination and concierge in the emergency department.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve basically been employed in Bendigo Health working within their scope as student nurses and they now become our graduate nurses which is a really awesome way to grow our own workforce,\u201d Ms Lever said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SIBLINGS Kealy and Aish Tupper are two of Bendigo Health\u2019s new graduate nurses excited to begin their careers. Last week, the health service welcomed 130 graduates to its nursing and midwifery programs where they will use their skills and enhance their confidence and knowledge. Aish Tupper said she was looking for something more hands-on after […]<\/p>\n