Nursing student Sarah Lockhart

A great learning environment

Friday, May 21, 2021
Sharna Kosmeier
About the Author

Sharna Kosmeier

Sharna Kosmeier graduated with a Bachelor of Arts specialising in communication from Avondale University College in 2017. She now enjoys using what she has learnt to promote her alma mater—Sharna works in Advancement where her focus is on content creation and advertising. Outside the office, you might find Sharna running, journaling or trying to not get burnt at the beach.

New nursing students reflect on first semester of study

We met Janae Galindo, Sarah Lockhart and Jeremy Manganas as part of the celebrations around International Nurses Day last week. Our nurses serve their world for good by caring for the sick, conserving life, alleviating suffering and promoting health. What role did these values play in bringing the three first-year students to Avondale?

Janae has always enjoyed caring for others. She wanted to do something in a medical field since childhood but only on the verge of becoming a senior high school student did she feel nursing would be that field. Sarah speaks about her calling in more pragmatic terms. “I want to help people and bring them hope in what could be one of the most difficult times in their life.” Jeremy wanted a career change after working in a factory for 18 years. “My partner asked, ‘How about nursing?’. I contacted a friend who’d graduated from Avondale. He showed me around the Sydney campus—I loved it. I took the university entrance exam and then received an offer to study.”

The reputation of our nursing course appealed to Janae and Sarah. They also mentioned the Christian learning environment. “And I like how Avondale has smaller classes than other universities,” says Janae. “It allows us to have more of a connection with one another and more one-on-one time with our lecturers.” Another benefit of a “tight-knit, nurturing community” is that the lecturers get to know you by name, says Sarah. “They’re down to earth and helpful,” adds Jeremy.

All agreed the anatomy of the human body—“the sheer intricacy of how it works”—is the most interesting thing they have learnt in the course so far.

“Nursing isn’t easy but it’s so rewarding,” says Sarah. Completing the course at Avondale will be “the best decision you’ll make,” says Janae. “Labs and clinical placements are exciting and educational and academic support is easy to access.”

As a final question, we asked the three students to name a nurse they wanted to thank. Janae didn’t thank one or even some but “all the nurses who cared for me during my placement.” Sarah thanks Neroli Seberry, who has “for more than 20 years travelled with Open Heart International to Nepal, where she helps provides surgery to those in need. Neroli has been a constant supporter of my dreams and aspirations and has encouraged me to follow my heart.” Jeremy thanks his late grandmother, Daisy Jean Lay, who lived to 101. “She was very pleased another nurse was going to be in the family.”

Study nursing at Avondale . . .

. . . if you or someone you know are looking for a study program that will help you gain the skills you need to be job-ready and will provide you with an experience you’ll love. Number one in Australia for skill development and overall student satisfaction, our nursing degree is highly practical, producing capable and in-demand registered nurses.

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