George kickstarts his nursing career

With an innate passion for helping others and playing Australian Rules Football, George originally wanted to be a personal trainer where he could bring two of his passions together into a career.

"The anatomy studies during my personal trainer course was amazing, I loved it, and I just clicked with it right away," said George.

Understanding how muscles work and bone structures, everything just clicked. It helped me decide, 'This is what I want to do.' It was interesting, and I always looked forward to that class."

With his passion for how the human body works, George looked for a way to take his interest to the next level, enrolling in the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) at TAFE Queensland's South Bank campus, and it was precisely what he was seeking.

"Nursing is understanding how the body works. Knowing how the brain, kidneys and other organs work, how we use them, what can go wrong with them and how we can help fix them."

George explained that at TAFE Queensland, he found the perfect environment to learn and grow.

"The modern facilities, including the simulated hospital wards, provide a practical hands-on experience that prepared me for the real-world challenges of my placements and the nursing profession," he said.

"The labs were especially beneficial, as they allowed me to practice essential clinical skills under the expert guidance of my vastly experienced teachers," he said.

One of the significant advantages of the diploma program at TAFE Queensland was its flexibility. George mixes his study between attending in-person classes and studying online, adjusting his study schedule to fit his life commitments.

"It's very flexible, and the teachers understand and help you when life happens. If you get sick, they give you an extension. Or if you miss a lab, you can attend a different class and catch up. It's not so rigid, and that's helpful."

Throughout the program, George completed three placements with an aged care facility, a spinal injury ward at a hospital and a children's hospital, gaining practical knowledge and learning the fundamentals of nursing, such as personal care and patient interactions.

"They were positive experiences, and working with real patients reinforced my passion for nursing; they were fantastic," he said.

George also looks forward to testing his skills against the best nursing students from each state and territory at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Melbourne. He hopes to make the national team represent Australia at the International Competition in Lyon, France, 2024.

The National competition will reflect George's training and placement learning by testing his nursing skills from medication administration in the acute hospital setting to primary personal care in an aged care setting and everything in between.

 "It'll be fun to see how I compare to others. I've been practising for weeks, getting better at everything and preparing for anything. It's a great opportunity for networking and my resume. Even if I don't place, being selected to participate shows that I understand what I'm doing."

George is proud to recommend the diploma of nursing to others. Still, he encourages other would-be nurses to study with TAFE Queensland and advises that future students understand what they're getting into.

"Research the industry, the course, and think about what outcome you want and know what you're getting into - if you're a squeamish person, I wouldn't recommend nursing."

Looking forward, George can see that his career path is clear, with his TAFE Queensland diploma equipping him with knowledge, skills, confidence and determination to become the best nurse he can be.

"When I finish my diploma, I'll get recognition of my prior learning because universities recognise my skills from TAFE, shortening the time it takes to finish my Bachelor of Nursing next year."

George finds excellent fulfilment in nursing and knows that the healthcare industry will always need compassionate and skilled nurses.

"I would love to work in an Emergency Department – I thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment with new medical challenges coming through the door each shift," concluded George.