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Curtin University

  • 28% international / 72% domestic

Siobhan Doherty

Through my Bachelor of Nursing degree, I have learned that being a nurse extends far beyond clinical skills.

I'm a 23-year-old Graduate Registered Nurse (RN) currently working in Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH). I have been offered a position following the end of this program to continue working for CACH in the Aboriginal Health Team as well as the School-Based Immunisations Program. As a young, newly registered health professional I have come into this organisation with fresh eyes and a passion for delivering the best possible care to each and every child and I believe that means constantly engaging in learning opportunities to improve your practice, and participating in professional development. This postgraduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Health Nursing will enhance my opportunities in CACH allowing me to deliver a better service to the children and adolescents I am caring for within the community by strengthening my understanding of their needs.

Through my Bachelor of Nursing degree, I have learned that being a nurse extends far beyond clinical skills. It means seeing every patient/client holistically – they are so much more than the acute situation that has led them to need your care. Effective delivery of care relies on comprehensive planning that involves the recognition and celebration of culture, past experience and individual circumstance. This, to me, is paramount to RN practice and I will endeavour to work in this way throughout my career. I believe developing my practice through a further study is of utmost importance if I am to do this, my Certificate in Clinical Specialisation taught me the nature of the postgraduate study and that I have the ability to do this alongside full-time work.

Although my relationship with my dad is non-existent through his heritage I have the privilege to identify as Aboriginal. Unfortunately, our disconnect led to an internal battle to establish my identity and I was often left with a displaced feeling, explained simply - I was not black enough, not white enough. This feeling which used to be my most debilitating insecurity is now, I believe, one of my greatest assets. Armed with my cultural identity, I have the ability to see my professional practice through two lenses. I see cultural sensitivity as a highest priority as I understand the detrimental effects judgement, prejudice, and inappropriate delivery of care can have on engagement with health services. I'm also able to understand mainstream health services, as I continue to work with them and maintain the connections I've made within their team, and therefore can think divergently when planning my care.

Upon the completion of my Child and Adolescent Health Nursing graduate certificate I believe I will have the potential to progress upwards through CACH, carry on establishing professional relationships with my nursing colleagues as well as multidisciplinary teams allowing me to communicate and work alongside both the mainstream and Aboriginal Heath Team collaboratively with mutual respect and trust to achieve the common goal of delivering the best possible service to all children and adolescents who engage with our service.