For many students the path through university follows a similar course – new friends, new experiences, and setting the foundations for a successful career.

For recent Flinders nursing gradate Claire Nichols BNg(PreReg) '21, the journey looks a little different.

Her life experiences so far have played an instrumental part in influencing the nurse she aspires to become.

Claire came to Flinders in 2015 at the age of 24 with a dream of one day becoming a nurse like her mother, Gaye. She too wanted to change lives, one cup of tea and a chat with a patient at a time.

Having dropped out of high school part way through Year 12, Claire had sat and passed the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) and was accepted into the Bachelor of Nursing (Preregistration) at Flinders. Prior to becoming a student, she had worked in retail as well as get married and start a family.

“People have been my passion and I love my retail job, but I felt it wasn’t a long-term career. I wanted something more,” Claire says.

“I was always exposed to nursing through my mum and my upbringing. I am also a mum myself, so I felt I had the potential to become a capable nurse in the future.”

Care at the core

Claire’s mum was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, but stoically fought on, even graduating from a psychology degree at Flinders nine months before her death.

The care Gaye received from fellow nurses throughout her treatment reinforced to Claire the importance of person-centred care and going the extra mile to treat patients with dignity and respect.

For the first time Claire was inspired to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a caring and compassionate nurse.

“I would sit with Mum when she was getting her chemo and the way the nurses would interact with her, it made me feel more supported and I thought, I could do that for someone too,” Claire says.

“My mum was my best friend. She always used to say that you’re never too busy to make a Milo or cup of tea for someone, it can make all the difference.”

On 2 January 2016 Gaye sadly died. Claire was about to head into her second year of the nursing degree when it happened.

The grief soon became too much as she tried to juggle university, motherhood and work commitments, so she ended up withdrawing from her studies before it counted as a fail.

Over the next three years Claire would withdraw without fail twice more, her marriage would be tested, and she would doubt her ability to finish the nursing degree.

But with the help of a good psychologist and support offered through Flinders’ counselling services, she got through the tough times.

“It came to 2019 and I knew I could do it again, so I decided to enrol full time. Flinders has been really good about being adaptable to our experiences,” she says.

“I didn’t even finish high school and I’m here. It hasn’t been easy, but I have to egg myself on.”

Strive for the best

Throughout her nursing studies Claire had built practical experience through several placements including at community centres, aged care facilities, hospital theatres, high dependency wards and emergency departments.

In 2020 she completed her final year of studies and now works as a registered nurse at St Andrew’s Hospital, working between the colorectal, urology and critical care units.

The memories of Claire’s mother’s time in hospital are reminders of the importance of placing person-centred care at the heart of her nursing practice.

Claire looks towards her future with positivity and a determination to always strive for the best.

The popular saying ‘Ps get degrees’ – meaning a pass level mark is all that matters – doesn’t register in her book. Always aim higher, she says.

“Yes, Ps do get degrees, but you can still push harder.”