Passion for nursing flows into commitment to study
Published on 07 October, 2008
Rockhampton's Rebecca Rendalls wears many different hats but all of her various roles centre around a passion for nursing and a commitment to lifelong learning.
A product of CQUniversity's STEPS and WIST preparatory programs, Rebecca is a mother of 3 boys who works as an enrolled nurse casual while completing her Bachelor of Nursing degree, with help from a supportive husband.
Rebecca Rendalls juggles a busy life to focus on nursing"My future plan after I complete the degree is to hopefully undertake a postgraduate year in the maternity unit at the Rockhampton Hospital and then to undertake a Diploma of Midwifery program and gain employment as a midwife," Rebecca said.
"I'm also considering studying a number of speciality courses that will assist me in gaining employment as a Flight Nurse with the RFDS here in Rockhampton - one requirement of this position is to have midwifery qualifications.
"As I am so passionate about nursing, I feel that I will be studying for the rest of my life!
"One of the bonuses of nursing is that you get the opportunity to continually update your knowledge and educational qualifications in order to keep up with 'best practice' methods and technology to optimise patient care and health outcomes."
Rebecca has a busy schedule but still manages to undertake a range of voluntary community activities including:
- Student Mentoring at CQUniversity since 2005;
- Donor Attendant role with the Rockhampton Red Cross Blood Bank since February 2008.
- Community visitor to an elderly lady in a local nursing home through the Lifeline Community Visitors Scheme based in Rockhampton since 2004.
- A Divisional Nurse role position with the St. John Ambulance Service Adult Division in Rockhampton since 2005.
- Classroom helper - conducting reading groups with children at the local primary school.
Rebecca recently was a finalist in the Queensland Training Awards in the category of vocational student of the year, after completing her Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) at CQ Institute of TAFE at the end of 2007.
The Rockhampton woman had been working as an aged-care assistant in nursing for a decade before deciding to work towards her long-term goals.