One of CQUniversity's Tasmanian-based distance education students, Marcus Dixon has won a national award for student nurses, presented by the Australian Nursing Federation and the HESTA superannuation fund.

The award recognises his personal story about choosing nursing as a profession.

"I have always considered nursing chose me, rather than the other way around. I have always harboured a lifelong desire to help people, particularly when they are most in need or vulnerable.

Marcus receives his award during a practicum placement at North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) Burnie, Tasmania. He's congratulated by emergency department clinical nurse Jan Robertson

"This led me to become a volunteer ambulance officer with my local unit in Circular Head three years ago. This experience only strengthened my resolve to become a nurse and in 2010 I began my Bachelor of Nursing degree via distance education through CQUniversity.

"The past three years have been the most professionally rewarding of my life. I have learnt so much, not just about the practical and theory aspects of what it is to be a nurse in today's healthcare environment but perhaps, more importantly, about myself.

"Nursing will not merely be a career choice for me, but a way of life, and I firmly believe it is a profession where you never stop learning. I am eagerly looking forward to being able to use my skills in a hospital setting after I graduate and am already considering further study options. Among these is looking to specialise in emergency nursing or cardiac nursing, and perhaps one day even taking on a formal education and training role so I can pass on my skills to others.

"Nursing is something I am truly passionate about and I am committed to being able to make a genuine difference to people's lives. My only regret is not having acted sooner to gain my formal qualifications."