3 November 2020
Article from October 2020 edition of INPractice
ANMEC nursing graduates Olivia Fergusson and Joshua Elliott can't rave about their educators enough.
"I loved my educators: Olivia gushed.
"We'd go back 100 per cent and repeat the diploma," adds Josh.
"We were very lucky. They were all so lovely, we got along with all of them," Olivia says, "They've been so supportive, even post-graduation. We stay in touch with them and keep them updated. I really love them."
Olivia, 20, and Josh, 21, graduated from ANMEC (the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Education Centre) last year after an 18-month Diploma of Nursing course. Both are now working as enrolled nurses in the cut and thrust of the Flinders Medical Centre emergency department.
"I've always wanted to do it," Olivia says of nursing. "I was in hospital myself when 1 was around 14, elective surgery. I had a birthmark on my leg, and I got that removed, plastic surgery. It was a pretty extensive one.
"I always had the idea of being a nurse and that kind of confirmed it for me, being in hospital, I'm a weird kid, I've always loved going to the hospital, and going to the doctor's, kind of thing, My friends are like 'She likes going to the doctor's, she's a freak'," Olivia laughs.
"My grandmother was a RAH nurse," says Josh. "When you're a child you always have dreams, like invent something to change the world.
"I guess that's almost impossible for me to do nowadays, But I guess as a nurse you can change someone else's world.
"My sister, she texted me the other day saying she's got lower right abdomen pain, she has a history there, "I told her to go to ED: it turned out to be appendicitis."
A service of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), ANMEC, recognised by the State Government in 2019 as SA's Training Provider of the Year, offers a variety of education options for people interested in pursuing a career in nursing and mental health.
ANMEC fully accredited Registered Nurses offer on site and online courses and have successfully trained students in courses at Certificate Ill level since 2004, Diploma level since 2005 and Advanced Diploma level since 2009.
For Josh and Olivia, working in the Flinders ED has been an education in its own right.
"The amount of knowledge and insight you get in nursing by working in ED is huge," Josh says, "ED is different to other wards; ED is like literally anything and from any age, you'll see everything from births to deaths and everything in between."
They're often asked by friends and former classmates alike about the more macabre nature of the profession.
"They ask questions like 'what's the worst thing you've seen'," Olivia says.
"I don't have that many stories to tell people, I've only just started."
"I find ED really rewarding because you're literally the first person that they're (patients) talking to about the problem," she says.
"And I just really like it because you're able to comfort them and help them. Nine times out of 10 you're seeing them go home better."
Both youngsters are full of praise for their Flinders colleagues. "Everyone's been so amazing, I haven't had a single issue with anybody," Olivia says. "I found the ED at Flinders is a really welcoming environment. Everyone gets along."
Josh and Olivia are not just colleagues but also good friends, having first met as Year 10 students at Sacred Heart College in Somerton Park. "I'm stuck with him," Olivia laughs.
Diploma of Nursing
The Diploma of Nursing reflects the role of an Enrolled Nurse working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. This qualification covers the application of skills and knowledge required to provide nursing care for people across the health sector.
Based directly on industry needs, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to competently and professionally undertake your role within a variety of health care settings.
The Diploma of Nursing course is 18 months in class and 12 weeks in placement. ANMEC also offers Advanced Diploma in Nursing courses.
ANMEC can provide you with the skills and knowledge required through flexible delivery options.
To learn about this course or our range of certificate and CPD courses visit the website or email [email protected]
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here to read the October 2020 edition of INPractice