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Lawyer turns nurse with help of USC degree
A former lawyer who decided to nurse people back to health rather than represent them in court is starting work at Townsville Hospital after finishing her Nursing Science degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Nola Murray, 35, of Sippy Downs, had enrolled in the graduate-entry USC program as a career change two years ago.
Ms Murray, who’d worked in a variety of legal roles including litigation in Brisbane, said she made her decision after caring for her terminally ill grandfather.
“It was the most rewarding thing I’d ever done and I wanted to nurse more people,” she said.
She enrolled in the USC program after volunteering and working as an assistant nurse.
“I had a wonderful time at USC and was very lucky with my placements at Nambour Hospital, Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim and Longreach Hospital,” she said.
“I did very broad training, from emergency to surgical to rural-remote.”
Ms Murray was particularly inspired by her recent month practising in Longreach and was delighted to receive $1,000 from the University Foundation to assist with travel and living expenses.
“Rural nursing is challenging, professionally and personally, and there’s a need for increased emphasis on health promotion and illness prevention,” she said.
She is looking forward to her first day on the job in Townsville, on Friday 10 January.
– Julie Gatehouse