International Nurses Day: celebrating our Mater nurses-turned-educators

Kate Tidbold's experience at Mater when she was only 13 years old was the driving force behind her successful nursing career.

Her father was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, exposing Kate to the compassionate and dedicated nurses she remembers to this day. 

"I was 15 years old when my dad passed away and the staff were so good to my sister, mum and I," she said.

"That influenced my decision to do nursing after school."

Kate started her nursing career at Mater as an Assistant In Nursing when she was 22, working her way up throughout her 16-year career into a teaching role. 

She is now in charge of Mater Education’s South East Queensland education coordinators who train staff across all clinic areas. 

"I like having the opportunity to develop and grow new nurses; I want them to have a good experience. But I also love providing holistic patient care and trying to get people home."

Outside of work, Kate keeps fit through her 'side hustle' as a fitness instructor. And cuddling her cat. 

"I love animals, I think I would have been a vet if I didn't do nursing," she said. 

This International Nurses Day, we say a special thank you to Kate and all of our Mater Education nurse educators.