HEALTH ACCELERATOR
A TAFE Diploma of Nursing program for high school students has put Taylor Kett on a fast track to a promising nursing career
WHILE most Year 12 students were anticipating the arrival of their OP scores and university acceptance letters, high school student Taylor Kett was already on her way to a rewarding health career.
At the beginning of Year 12, Taylor enrolled into TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Region’s Diploma of Nursing program for school students, giving her the advantage of fast tracking into a medical career.
“I have wanted to be a midwife for as long as I can remember. Being able to jumpstart my career studying TAFE’s Diploma of Nursing while finishing high school was perfect for me,” Taylor said.
The 20-month program is delivered via clinical workshops in purpose-built simulation labs
at Gold Coast’s Southport Campus, focusing on practical theory, nursing people with complex needs, administering medications, IV therapy and advanced skills to perform clinical assessments. Ms Kett, 17, said the program taught her about human anatomy and physiology, vital observations, CPR and first aid.
“My TAFE experience was fantastic,” said Taylor. “Eight school classes per week were allocated to study time on TAFE’s online portal, MyConnect, to complete assignments. I attended high school as normal and, for 10 days of the year, attended TAFE Queensland’s Southport campus.”
Time spent at the Southport labs presented opportunities to simulate patient care, preparing students for hospital placement. Taylor said: “The TAFE at School Diploma of Nursing program is so practical and hands on. We use real hospital equipment on lifelike mannequins. It thoroughly prepared me for work placement at Churches of Christ
Care, Kenmore, where I changed beds and showered, fed and interacted with patients. Forming connections with people was such a highlight.”
In December 2017, Taylor graduated from St. John’s Anglican High School at Forest Lake with a Senior Certificate, having simultaneously completed five out of 25 TAFE Diploma of Nursing units.
This allowed her to progress straight into TAFE’s Greenslopes Private Hospital Partnership Program, where Taylor will complete her 20 remaining subjects.
Greenslopes Private Hospital
takes the diploma to the next level, providing students with ongoing patient experiences and the opportunity for preferred employment with Ramsay Health Care upon successful completion of the program.
Sue Taylor, TAFE Gold Coast teacher and Registered Nurse, has seen Ms Kett evolve into a dedicated young nurse, well suited to both the TAFE at School Program and the TAFE Greenslopes Private Hospital Partnership Program.
With 45 years’ experience in oncology and emergency nursing, Sue co-ordinated the TAFE at School Program from the beginning and has been instrumental in the ongoing success of the Greenslopes Partnership Program, recognising the importance of bringing together students with employers, helping them feel confident with the next stage of their career.
Sue’s passion for practical nursing applications is evident: “To pass on my life’s work to students using real-life scenarios, case studies, group work and practical placement gives me great satisfaction. Taylor’s progress reflects the success of both the TAFE at School Program and the Greenslopes Private Hospital Partnership Program.”
Ms Kett agrees: “Having the opportunity to progress straight from high school into a nursing career at a private hospital has been so rewarding. TAFE Gold Coast’s support network ensure you are on track with every element of your study. You learn so much from the teachers and nurses at TAFE.”
The future certainly looks bright for this self-motivated young lady: “I will graduate as a fully qualified Enrolled Nurse in July 2019 and hope to gain entry into a graduate program with Ramsay Health Care at Greenslopes Private Hospital, or continue on to further university study in registered nursing and midwifery.”
TAFE Queensland’s nationally recognised nursing courses begin again in April 2018. Register at tafeqld. edu.au/nursing or call 07 5581 8300