Alison Tan

When I was at the end of my bachelors degree, I needed to make a difficult choice in terms of my career. At the time, I was very keen for further study, to complete my masters and PhD and become a scientific researcher, but I wasn’t sure if this was the right pathway.

I knew from the start that I wanted a career in healthcare – something that was hands-on and able to provide me with a life-long education.

I wasn’t interested in completing another bachelors degree. I did a little digging into universities offering postgraduate nursing degrees and came across the University of Melbourne’s entry-to-practice Master of Nursing Science degree.

Out of all the universities offering the same degree, I chose to study at the University of Melbourne for several reasons. I knew the city of Melbourne was the right choice for me due its diversity, culture, atmosphere and food. Additionally, the University of Melbourne has ongoing partnerships with major hospitals that provide placements to students. Furthermore, final year students are able to select one elective subject.

This is a difficult question to answer! I will have to say, hands down, simulation labs and clinical placements! Simulation labs are run by Registered Nurses (RNs) who teach students how to obtain nursing observation signs and how to manage a patient who is deteriorating – do you call a MET call or does that require an urgent review?

I’ve always enjoyed clinical placements as I am a hands-on learner, so it’s great that I get to apply the skills that I have learnt in pathophysiology, pharmacology and simulation labs into real life situations. I always look forward to my clinical placements as I get to connect with my patients and their loved ones, providing individualised patient and family-centred care. I also get to develop and improve my nursing skills.

One of the biggest highlights of this course was being accepted in the 2024 Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Fellowship program. This fellowship program is an amazing program where students spend their final year placements at RCH, caring for children who need medical/surgical interventions.

The Master of Nursing Science course has provided me with the ability to critically think when in a high stress environment – how to obtain primary nursing assessments, what is the different between an actual and potential nursing problem, and much more. This degree has taught me the importance of being empathetic when caring for patients but also how to provide evidence-based nursing care.

By the end of the Master of Nursing Science degree, I will be applying to work as a grad year nurse in a metropolitan major trauma hospital. Where I am in a paediatric or adult setting, I hope to specialise in critical care and become an intensive care Registered Nurse (RN), but this will be further down the track as I hope to first become a well-rounded nurse.

Go for it! Take the leap! Keep asking questions!

I have a science background and to be frank, I am still struggling with the content, but if you put in the time and the work, you will get there! As I previously said, keep asking your lecturers and friends questions. The Master of Nursing Science is a very intensive 2-year course. By the end of this degree, you will have endless job opportunities. This is a very rewarding career. Know that you are not alone, you will have support from your future peers and your lecturers.