23
October
2020
|
10:32
Australia/Melbourne

Nurse keen to share aged care knowledge

Summary

Registered Nurse Gloria Petrie always wanted to be a nurse since the age of four, when she broke her arm and spent three weeks in Waikato Hospital.

She still remembers that hospital stay very clearly and the amazing care she received. After taking every health-related paper at school, Gloria moved quickly into study, completing the Wintec three year nursing degree. As a new grad, Gloria started work at Bupa Eventhorpe Care Home in Hamilton East, where she has been for the past 14 years.

“Aged care was never my thing, I thought I was going to go into surgical or children’s care. But I got a job here and fell in love with it,” she says.

The 36 year old says she loves how the smallest interactions or gestures can have such a positive impact on residents.

She recalls a time where a resident, who was gender diverse, had no family to call and was passing away. Gloria says she felt compelled to stay with the resident long after her shift had finished to offer support to the resident.

“I remember staying on for hours just holding the resident’s hand. We both spoke about the challenges faced when growing up, that was really hard.”

The Hamiltonian is also determined to change the perception of aged care with the young nursing students who come through her care home. “When I was a student I thought aged care would be boring. I didn’t realise how much is really involved, you’re the nurse and you’re making the decisions. I tell the students you’ll get out what you put in.”

After becoming the Unit Coordinator a year ago and expanding her leaderships skills, Gloria has now stepped up again into the Clinical Manager temporarily, and she says she relishes the opportunity to teach others and care for residents.