Are you thinking about pursuing a career in nursing? Well, you’re in the right place! Meet Bec, our nursing trainer extraordinaire with years of experience as a nurse and a teacher. She’s here to give you the inside scoop on what it takes to be a successful nurse in today’s ever-evolving healthcare industry.
We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Bec to ask her five burning questions about her experiences as a nurse and a trainer. She revealed how she stays up-to-date with all the latest advancements in the industry and her most memorable moment as a trainer. Plus, she’ll even give you some insider advice on what it takes to succeed as a nurse and share the one teaching-related superpower she wishes she had. So, take it away, Bec!
What inspired you to teach nursing?
I started my nursing career as an Enrolled Nurse. It was a well-supported way to kick-start my life as a professional Nurse. After many years of clinical nursing, I thought it would be a good idea to go back to the beginning, provide the same training I received, and hopefully inspire the next generation of Enrolled Nurses.
How do you stay up-to-date with industry advancements and use them in your teachings?
I have two jobs.
1. Nurse trainer; and
2. Registered Nurse.
I’m working as a Nurse when I’m not teaching future nurses. Working regular shifts helps keep me up-to-date with advancements in the healthcare industry.
In nursing, we like to call these advancements current best practices, so if I’m keeping up with current best practices in nursing, I’ll teach my students the best practices for delivering nursing care.
Can you share a particularly memorable experience or success story from your time as a trainer at VFA Learning?
As a nurse trainer, I have joined many students on their Diploma of Nursing journey.
Every student nurse I’ve met is a success story, from the graduated Enrolled Nurses already working to the group of students about to graduate next month and the brand-new student nurses just starting at VFA. I’ve been a trainer for over 2.5 years, so it has all been a memorable experience.
What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing a career in Nursing?
Get an entry-level job in a healthcare environment. For example, a PCA (Patient Care Assistant) will be a great start in gaining experience in providing direct patient care.
Choose to study at an institution that supports student nurses and wants you to be successful.
If you could have any teaching-related superpower, what would it be and why?
Does being able to clone yourself count as a superpower? If it does, that’s the one I’d pick.
If there were a few more of me, I could give each student more attention and have more time to help students practice new skills and build their confidence.
