From small steps to career strides

When Lisa Doeblien and Almira Mandeville made that first step to enrol in a Diploma of Nursing nearly 15 years ago, neither could have foreseen the successful healthcare career that lay ahead of them.

The pair graduated from Mater Education’s course in 2012, and both knew they had discovered their career calling.

They enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing, continuing their studies at university, and are now experienced registered nurses in their chosen clinical fields.

Lisa is working in the cardiac ward at Queensland Children’s Hospital, where she took a job while finishing her degree, and Almira is at the Emergency Department at Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital.

“If it could give advice to any aspiring nurses out there, I would encourage them to continue expanding their skillsets after they enter the workforce,” Lisa said.

“And ask all the questions - there’s no such thing as a bad one.”

For aspiring and newly qualified nurses, Almira said her biggest tip is to remember that every position and role contributes to your experience and knowledge.

“The starting point of your career is irrelevant,” Almira said. “What truly counts is how you utilise that knowledge and experience. Learning is a lifelong journey.”

Lisa also said that working in the healthcare industry while studying provides a genuine advantage.

“You've got people with real industry experience you can ask questions of,” she said. “And you can see different clinical scenarios that relate directly to the theory that you're learning at uni.”

Almira said it can be non-clinical skills, like communication, that make the biggest impact as a nurse.

“Emergency nurses work with patients experiencing distress and we provide both emotional and medical support,” she said.

“It’s really important to communicate with patients and families so they understand what is going on around them, because they're really scared.”

Both Lisa and Almira said nursing is like a team sport with support and back up always on hand from your fellow nurses.

“Don't be afraid to get involved because you've got back up,” Lisa said. “You've got registered nurses willing to teach you, so take advantage of that.”

While their careers have led them along different paths, Lisa and Almira said their days as students at Mater Education lay the foundation that set them up for success.

“No matter where we go in our careers, we’ll always be Mater nurses.”