my first rural nursing experience

Monash Nursing student Jade Roman recently spent time in Robinvale (VIC) as a recipient of the HESTA Rural Scholarship program, which highlights the importance of access to healthcare regardless of location. Here she talks about her experience.

Tell us about the experience

My 6-week rural placement at Robinvale allowed me to see first-hand how the healthcare system adapts to cater to the specific needs of the community, for example mobile vaccination clinics targeting rural and vulnerable populations. It also allowed me to meet new people, travel and explore the outdoors which I love.

What was the best thing to come from your placement?

The highlight of my placement was taking part in health promotion initiatives that directly impact the community through preventative healthcare. I was able to work with the local early years centre promoting dental care, in the community supplying condoms to reduce STIs and teen pregnancy rates and promote healthy eating on a budget for local families.

Was there anything that surprised you / challenged your expectations?

I was surprised by how integral the health service was to the city of Robinvale. Being a small town, the health service also ran things like social support, community events, transportation, and even the town's tourism office! For me, seeing this in action reinforced the importance of healthcare to the local community.

What do you hope to do next?

I will complete my final year of university next year, after which I hope to explore more nursing fields I haven’t yet experienced, potentially paediatric or mental health nursing before specialising in one field. I can certainly see myself returning to rural nursing in the future.