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If you’ve got your next nursing prac looming, this one’s for you. Between assignments, part-time work, pracs and keeping up with your personal life, Swayam knows how full-on a nursing degree can be.
Growing up, Swayam was always encouraged by his family to do something of his own. Inspired by his experience caring for his mother during her shoulder fracture, as well as his sister’s journey into dentistry, Swayam decided that healthcare was the industry for him. Aside from being his inspiration, Swayam’s family are also his biggest supporters. He describes them as his biggest motivating factor to push through the degree.
“I was quite young when I moved to Australia all by myself to start my nursing degree, and they’ve been my biggest strength throughout this entire journey.”
While the journey to becoming a registered nurse is worthwhile, it’s certainly demanding. Swayam says support from his clinical facilitators at Curtin makes all the difference, as well as the staff he works with on prac. His favourite placement was at the Medically Acute Unit (MAU) at Armadale Hospital, thanks to the staff’s inclusive team culture. Their willingness to teach made Swayam excited to go into work every day. “I don’t think I’ve ever done so much on a prac,” he says. “I learned so much.”
His biggest takeaway from pracs is the importance of empathy and compassion. Looking ahead to his career as a registered nurse, actively listening to patients is Swayam’s number one priority.
But Swayam’s number two priority? Living out his childhood dreams of becoming famous.
Growing up, Swayam always wanted to be famous (“I don’t know why!” he says). Luckily for us, Swayam spent his final semester as our Conversations @ Curtin host, interviewing students around campus.
“Becoming the host was absolutely fantabulous. It’s given me a really great memory to hold onto forever as I’m about to finish my degree. I’m really grateful for that.”
The perks of campus stardom, like seeing posters of himself around campus, have been exciting. But what made getting involved in uni life truly special was having old professors recognise him from his very first semester. Being part of a large cohort of 120 students, Swayam was amazed his professor remembered him all these years later. “Being remembered has been one of the biggest highlights.”
Looking to the future, Swayam says the beauty of nursing lies in its flexibility and diversity. Many students assume their only career pathway is bedside nursing, but Swayam knows you can always find something that suits your interests.
“I want to excel further in this career. I’m really keen on doing something more medical, like becoming a dentist or a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist. Or, I’m a big yapper, so maybe I could go into teaching as well!”
Nursing can be a tough degree, but Swayam shows us that if you stay determined, your future can be bright.
“When I look back, I think, ‘I’ve overcome so much, so I can definitely get through whatever I’m facing in the moment.’”
If you’re about to head on a nursing prac of your own, Swayam has some advice to help deal with long shifts and early mornings.
