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In honour of International Nurses Day, we are shining a light on the dedication, skill, and invaluable contributions of our nurses.
Their care and expertise lay the foundation of the support we provide across our Caring Centres and at home.
In recognition of this, Amaroo is featuring two of our nurses who go above and beyond in their role.
In our second blog post, we introduce you to our Enrolled Nurse at McMahon Caring Centre, Amanda.
Meet Amanda
“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a nurse”, Amanda says with a smile. “I did my training in 1978, since then I haven’t looked back.”
For over 21 years, Amanda has been a dedicated part of the Amaroo team.
As we sit down to chat, her bubbly energy and genuine passion for nursing shine through while she reflects on her career.
“I have met amazing people — one time, I even met Australia’s first female pilot. Every person has their own unique story.”
Finding her passion for aged care
Whilst nursing was the perfect fit for Amanda, it took some time to find her current area of practice.
“As part of my training, I completed several placements, such as children and surgery. While I found it enjoyable, I also came to realize it wasn’t quite what I had expected.”
When it was time for Amanda to start her own family, she knew she needed a different work environment — that’s when she discovered aged care.
“I loved learning about the residents’ incredible life experiences. I got along with them all, and it was the complete opposite of what I’d imagined — definitely not ‘boring’.”
The best part of being a nurse in aged care is to be able to improve the quality of life of older Australians, says Amanda.
Navigating challenges
But nursing hasn’t been without its challenges. A lot has changed in the filed since she started her career.
“I am proud that I have been able to ‘pivot’ to all changes over these years as a nurse. It is totally different today in comparison to years ago.”
From regulations and procedures to dressings and medications, nearly every aspect of the job has transformed.
“Then everything was computerised,” Amanda laughs at the memory. “That was a big challenge. But things are changing all the time, that is how it is. Your brain can get absolutely fried sometimes!”
Sharing her advice
If you are considering a career in care, Amanda has one piece of advice:
“Always remember that these people were once young, lived lives like us, and brought up their families like us. Always have empathy and compassion for how different their lives are now. As I get older it becomes much more evident to me how much they now can’t do and no longer have. Always listen to them.”