Meet Lori, our latest Champion for Children, who is a Clinical Support Nurse on Dolphin ward at the RCH.

Lori has been at the RCH since 2006 and found her love for ward nursing through the RCH Career Advancement Year for Nurses Program.

Why did you apply for the Career Advancement Year program?

I initially applied for the Career Advancement Year after completing my grad year in the Emergency Department (ED). While I loved ED, I didn’t feel I was quite ready to settle there, and I wanted to gain some ward experience as it’s a very different kind of nursing.

How did participating in the Career Advancement Year develop your paediatric nursing skills and knowledge?

Through the Career Advancement Year program, I had the opportunity to do two, six-month rotations on what are now the Sugar Glider and Cockatoo wards. In that time, I learnt so much and was exposed to many different specialties.

The program helped me gain confidence working in new areas, encouraged me to learn new things and not be afraid of venturing into the unknown. I met many wonderful people that I still work with today.

I enjoyed the Career Advancement Year program so much that I decided to go on to do a post-grad certification in paediatrics.

How did the Career Advancement Year develop your knowledge of nursing at an organisational level?

The program opened my eyes to how different ward and ED nursing are but also how much nursing can differ between wards. It helped me better understand other types of nursing roles within the RCH and highlighted new career paths that I didn’t know existed.

Rotations are also helpful to the wards because new people bring new ideas and a wealth of knowledge, so everyone benefits.

Why would you recommend applying for the Career Advancement Year program?

The Career Advancement Year program is a really great way to try something new with minimal risks. It can be easy to become comfortable in a specific area but a program like this gives you the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and learn new skills, while still being able to return to your old role at the end of the 12 months.

You might find new areas that you love, or you may find an area that you don’t like so much but it’s all a learning opportunity.

After the Career Advancement Year, I never went back to ED nursing. I thought ED was all I ever wanted to do but it was through the program that I found ward nursing. Had I not done the program, I would never have known that.

Come and join the Career Advancement Year program at the RCH

If you’re a Registered Nurse with two years of acute paediatric experience and would like to extend your skills and knowledge as part of a 12-month, two rotation supported program then the RCH Career Advancement program could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Applications are now open for the 2023/2024 Career Advancement Year for Nurses.

If you’re ready, we’re ready for you. Find out more an apply now at https://bit.ly/CAYprogram