They say every cloud has a silver lining and it is an adage that rings true for Taylor Doolan.
Ms Doolan is one of 84 new graduate Registered Nurses who began with West Moreton Health this month, with the 22-year-old taking up a position at Esk Hospital.
But if not for some personal hardship, it is a journey that may never have started.
“As a student in high school, I was very unsure on what I wanted to do as a career until a family member got very sick and I saw the amazing work the nurses did and how they cared for patients,” Ms Doolan said.
“I decided from there that’s what I want to do out of school and have loved every moment of studying this degree since.
“I am very excited to pursue this career after four hard years of studying. Studying this course is not easy but it’s such a rewarding feeling knowing that all the hard work will all be worth it in the end.
“I cannot wait to see where this career takes me and what I can achieve.”
Spread across West Moreton Health’s five hospitals, the new intake of graduate nurses will receive clinical experience in areas such as paediatric and palliative care units, aged care, mental health and rehabilitation environments, intensive care and emergency departments.
Ms Doolan is one of three recruits at Esk Hospital and said her university experiences, combined with her upbringing in Jimboomba, had reinforced to her the value of rural and remote healthcare.
“At university I was lucky enough to do many different placements in Brisbane’s biggest hospitals as well as many rural placements,” Ms Doolan, now living at Laidley, said.
“That’s where I found the love of small, rural hospitals and the unique challenges, variation of skills and conditions that rural nurses face.
“Nursing will always have tough days with the type of work that nurses do, and some days may be harder than others.
“But I love the variety of different ages of patients and conditions that a rural hospital has to offer compared to a bigger hospital working in a specific ward.
“I would love to develop my skills and continue to challenge myself throughout my career, and possibly study a midwifery course down the track to add to those skills.
“For now though, I’m just so excited to get started.”
Find out more about a career with West Moreton Health.