Aged Care Nursing ‘Rewarding, Challenging, Life Changing’
After a 50+ year nursing career, Resthaven Clinical Educator Workforce Development, Julie Tansing, knows a thing or two about nursing – and she ‘wholeheartedly recommends’ a career in aged care.
Starting as a trainee at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Julie worked in hospitals, the community and in doctor’s clinics for the first part of her career, before making the move to Resthaven in 2003.
Starting as a Trainer, Julie soon moved to the position of Program Manager of Training and Development (now Workforce Development), before becoming Preceptor of Resthaven’s Transition to Professional Practice Program, mentoring nurse graduates, in 2012.
She continues in this role to this day, and in all that time, has never lost her passion for the challenges and rewards of aged care nursing.
‘Aged care nursing is a complex specialty,’ Julie explains.
‘We care for consumers who often have multiple co-morbidities, are frail, vulnerable, come from diverse backgrounds and have often suffered loss of independence.’
‘Their abilities have changed as they enter the later phase of their life, and they entrust us to provide holistic, compassionate, empathetic care with consideration to their diverse values and needs, as well as the complexities of the clinical care they require.’
‘Nurses working in aged care can develop excellent communication and leadership skills as they work with interdisciplinary teams.’
‘Palliative and end of life care also are a big part in the nurse’s role in aged care.’
‘Leadership, learning and career progression opportunities are available to those who desire it, as evidenced by my personal experience in aged care.’
‘Aged care nursing is a rewarding, challenging and life changing option, where you can develop both the clinical and leadership skills to support excellence in nursing practice, incorporating knowledge, skills, excellent work ethic, communication, caring and empathy.’
‘I wholeheartedly recommend it!’
Resthaven is a corporate member of the Australian College of Nursing, and Julie is on the leadership team.
Resthaven was founded in May 1935, and now supports thousands of older people with a range of in-home care, retirement living, and residential aged care across metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Riverland, Barossa, Fleurieu Peninsula and the Limestone Coast.