Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg’s Sarah Thompson knew she wanted to be a nurse from a young age.
“My granddad was sick when I was younger, and I was in hospital a lot with him,” Ms Thompson said.
“The nursing staff looking after him were amazing, and it was then I thought ‘I want to do that’, and that was that.”
She’s now been a nurse for five years – having started her career in her hometown of Townsville, before moving to Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg two years ago this month.
“I mainly work on the surgical wards at Mater – which I hadn’t done previously – and I thoroughly enjoy it,” she said.
“I love team and I love the routine of it.”
This Sunday 12 May, Ms Thompson is joining her 90 nursing colleagues at Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg – as well as peers around the world – in celebrating International Nurses Day.
For her, it’s a chance to show appreciation to her peers and to reflect on why she finds nursing so rewarding.
“Patients and their families often remind me why I do what I do – and that was particularly the case when I worked in palliative care in Townsville,” she said.
“There were a lot of ‘thank yous’ and every time a patient or their family says ‘thank you’ or ‘the care has been amazing’ that’s a pretty rewarding feeling.”
Her colleague, Akshatha Guddemane, agrees, but adds that the team and workplace are also key to why she loves being a nurse.
“We are lucky to have a great working environment – our team is very supportive, we’re always talking and joking and have each other’s backs,” Mrs Guddemane said.
Mrs Guddemane thanks her parents for encouraging her to pursue a career in nursing.
“So, it started out with their recommendation - and my sister becoming a nurse before me - and once I joined, the passion, motivation, environment and the concern for the patients, it all made me love the profession even more,” Mrs Guddemane said.
She worked for a couple of years in India before moving to Australia in 2013, when she had to put her career on hold due to Australian registration requirements and family commitments.
“I really missed nursing during that time,” the mother-of-two said.
“We moved to Tasmania and there was no bridging program for me to undertake so it was quite difficult for me.
“We moved to Bundaberg a few years later where I gained my registration, and after a year working in aged care I joined Mater – it’s now been two years and I’ve loved it.
“For balancing my home life, my children, all with work, it is the perfect job and the most supportive team.”
She added that her family has been her constant silent supporters, constantly enabling her to continue her nursing dream.
“My husband particularly has supported me a lot to continue my career, through my exams, through his constant encouragement and through always taking the time to understand the situation whenever I have a difficult day,” Mrs Guddemane said.
Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg General Manager Catherine Hackney, who began her career as a Mater nurse, said nurses like Ms Thompson and Mrs Guddemane play a crucial role in healthcare, particularly in regional communities.
“Our exceptional nursing team connect with and care for more than xx patients and their families each year and the feedback we receive about their compassionate approach and expertise is overwhelming,” Ms Hackney said.
“We are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated and passionate team supporting our community, both within the hospital walls and beyond.”
