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From ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø to a nursing career: meet graduate Roneil Bacang

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is a global leader in nursing education. Why did you choose ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, and how did your degree prepare you to succeed?

The university is highly ranked for nursing - that was the main reason why I chose to study here. I felt confident about the quality of education they provide to students. At present, I work as a registered nurse in a day surgery unit in one of the leading private hospitals in Sydney. The basic clinical skills and principles I learned from ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø helped me transition from being a new graduate nurse to becoming a permanent staff member. It's evident that ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is well regarded in the health care sector - in Sydney, I've met lots of other nurses who are also ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø alumni.

Industry experience is an important part of studying at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø. What sort of industry experiences did you have, and how did they support your learning?

I did five clinical placements as part of my degree. During my first placement, I went to a community wellness clinic. My other placements were in different Sydney hospitals, including a respiratory ward, a medical ward, an emergency department, and a psychiatric ward as well. It was really a practical experience for me because it helped me build my baseline knowledge of hospital systems and processes. When I started as a new graduate nurse, I understood how it all worked.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is committed to supporting international students. How did ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø support you?

I felt very supported - there were lots of services available. I remember attending PASS classes, which is a peer-led study program for first-year students, and there was also a teaching session where we learnt about academic referencing, which I struggled with during my first year. We had an International Student Adviser who was there to support all the international students. And then when COVID struck in 2021, ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø offered different supports, including free food packs every week for those who needed them, which helped international students a lot.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø's CareerHub helps students find jobs before and after graduation. Did it help you?

Yes! They held an event where representatives from lots of different health care organisations came to ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø so that students could ask them about how to get into the new graduate program. ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø also taught me how to create a strong resumé to land a role as a new graduate. I applied for lots of nursing programs, including public and private hospitals, using that information. I got several job offers and I finally accepted a graduate role in the Orthopaedics and Acute Surgery unit at the Mater Hospital in North Sydney.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is a Catholic university with a caring and ethical culture. Was that important to you?

Yes. Being a Filipino Catholic, I love to say that I carry a culture of kindness and a caring nature. It's important for me to choose a school that shares those values. The ethical teaching at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø revolves around developing a sense of conscientiousness and integrity in all walks of life. As a nurse, I'm not only an advocate for my patients but I need to make sure they receive the highest possible level of care.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø Nursing has some of the best graduate employment outcomes in Australia. Find out how our world-class degrees, personalised career support and partnerships with more than 200 hospital and health care partners can transform your future career - contact our international student support team today to discuss study options that align with your goals.