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James Bonnamy completed the first year of an IT course before deciding to follow in his mother’s footsteps and enter the nursing profession: “I’ve always been interested in the human body, and like working with people. This is a great course, especially the clinical component.”
Nursing students begin clinical placements in the second semester of first year, and James was placed in a rehabilitation hospital. “First year is about ‘hands on’ basic skills; admitting patients to the ward, completing the paperwork; and basic care.”
A second year placement was on an orthopaedic and vascular ward: “Lots of knees, hips and ankles! This was our first acute clinical experience, where we gave injections, administered drugs, and removed sutures and staples. I also went into theatre for the first time.”
James found a mental health placement in an inpatient psychiatric ward quite challenging: “This broke down the stereotype that all mental health patients are dangerous, because they’re not! These patients are vulnerable and need to be there. The nursing course encourages you to rethink your attitude towards people with physical and mental disabilities.”
Having just completed his third year, James’ most recent placement was in the Royal Melbourne Hospital intensive care unit: “This is my favorite clinical environment because it is very scientific, but also because the patient is unconscious, and so the family almost becomes your surrogate patient. They can sometimes be at the bedside 24 hours a day and are the ones who need your care and support.”
In addition to his studies, James works part-time for a large hardware outlet, walks almost 10 kilometres every morning with his mother and their two golden retrievers, and still manages to find time to tutor first year students. He enjoys teaching, and would one day like to become a clinical educator in a hospital: “I’d be on the ward, still ‘hands on’, but filling the educative role as well. This would be the best of both worlds.”
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