Cherie Simmons Student Profile

Student Profile

Why did you decide to undertake the BN(Graduate Entry)?
I decided to become a nurse after I had a really great experience talking with some nurses about their profession. They were passionate about their work which centred around caring for people in a time of vulnerability and need. The variety of opportunities and care settings available to nurses was an added bonus. I felt I could deliver this kind of passion to caring for people and thus applied to UWS as a mature aged student and was very proud to be accepted.

Why did you choose to study at UWS?
I chose to study at UWS because it was my local campus and I had found the beauty of the grounds at my campus to be peaceful and calming. I felt this would reduce the pressures of study.

What is it like to be a student at UWS enrolled in this course?
I was out of school for fourteen years when I returned to study and it has been a bit of an endurance test. It has not been easy to study, work and remain connected to your friends and family. However, with great support from my lecturers, students, family, friends and work; I have found the challenges turn into achievements and I have a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that far outweighs the more difficult times. I have discovered things about myself that I never thought possible. Knowledge is a breath of fresh air.

What are you hoping to gain by completing this degree?
In the past I said I wanted a job in nursing but it has turned into much more than that.  It is no longer satisfactory to be average at my work. I need to be a professional person who continues to grow in knowledge and skill; to understand what I am doing, why I am doing it and how I can do better. I want my degree to help me gain my clients trust by not only being proficient in my physical care, but remembering to care for the human beyond the illness. A lecturer once asked, “Do you want to be the nurse a client dreads, or do you want to be the nurse they are pleased to see”.

What are your professional goals after completing your degree?
Id like to start out in Emergency or ICU because im interested in critical care. Id also like to work with our elderly because I care about them and feel they are a neglected part of our society. Eventually I would like to bring my knowledge back to university and share it with student nurses.