Five minutes with Jade

Jade Stevenson is an enrolled nursing student who began her studies in 2020 after working as a flight attendant.

Why did you want to become a nurse?

After living abroad for over six years in Dubai and working as a flight attendant, I relocated back home to Melbourne.

At the time I hadn’t considered nursing until some family members went through health issues. It dawned on me that that having the ability to care for people could potentially be a really rewarding career path.

Another major incentive, as a mature aged student, was the 18-month course completion and the State Government’s free TAFE courses. I enrolled in the diploma of nursing course at Chisholm Institute and found that the course content was engaging. To my surprise, many of the skills I had as a flight attendant were transferable to nursing.

What would you like to specialise in?

Initially I would like to start in a general medical ward to improve and enhance my skills as a new graduate. However, nursing is so broad, and I’ve only just scratched the surface with placements, so I’m undecided as of now.

What have been the highlights so far?

Completing the Diploma of Nursing was such an unexpected journey for me, and to have done it during such a difficult time feels like a major achievement. I’ve loved gaining knowledge and experience working in various placements to discover how vast the career options are.

What have been the biggest learning curves you’ve experienced?

Having the ability to adapt to the unforeseeable disruptions in course delivery and the delays caused by the COVID-19 restrictions really challenged my motivation.

However, by trying to maintain perspective that every day is going to have a new set of challenges and rewards, I know this will only contribute to making me a better and more resilient nurse.

What advice would you give to other students?

• Ask as many questions as possible, and show you have the initiative to take on more than you believe you think you can.
• Be okay with admitting that you need help or don’t understand something.
• Being able to advocate for yourself will help you not only in your future career, but in your everyday life.

How do you wind down?

I love to be walking or hiking outdoors, catching up with family and friends, and watching movies or a TV series.