Emigration no barrier to career change
Onwards and upwards for Petya
The leap from being a physical education teacher in Bulgaria to a Continence Nurse Advisor (CNA) in Australia may seem like a big one to some – but not to Resthaven Westbourne Park CNA, Petya Zhelezarova, who emigrated to Australia in 2006 to start a new life with her husband and children.
‘Back in Bulgaria, I was a physical education teacher, with a Masters in Physical Education,’ says Petya, ‘But I’d always had nursing in the back of my mind.’
‘So when we came to Australia, I decided to do a graduate nursing degree.’
‘I was working as a carer in my final year of nursing, when I attended a Careers Expo at Flinders University. It was there that I first spoke to Wendy Morey’ [Executive Manager Workforce Development and Governance].
‘After speaking with Wendy, I applied and was successful for the Resthaven Transition to Professional Practice Program. In 2014, I began working at Resthaven Westbourne Park as a Registered Nurse.’
‘I went on to work in every single available shift, just to try a bit of everything.’
‘In 2016, I participated in the Resthaven Leadership Capability Development Program, then went on to achieve a Graduate Certificate in Continence Management.’
‘I decided to do further study and completed a Certificate III in Continence Leadership and Management, and was site champion for a Cultural Diversity project at Resthaven Murray Bridge in 2017.’
‘I recently completed my Certificate IV in Clinical Leadership, thanks to a Benchmarque scholarship, which was supplemented by the Resthaven Professional Development Fund.’
‘When the Resthaven Westbourne Park Continence Nurse Advisor retired in 2016, I applied and was successful in obtaining the CNA role. So I am now working as a CNA, and also Acting in the Clinical Nurse role, covering a period of maternity leave.’
‘The Resthaven values of trust, dignity, and choice are important to me, especially when it comes to something as personal as continence support.’
‘It’s so important to maintain residents’ dignity when discussing continence issues, and for them to feel that they can trust me.’
‘Residents having choice about the products they’d like to use, and choosing who provides support to them, is also important.’
‘I love my job, I really enjoy it. I love talking with residents. I come to work every morning with enthusiasm.’
‘I’m telling you, Resthaven is a great organisation. I never want to leave!’
The feeling certainly appears to be mutual, with resident, Mrs Thomkins, saying ‘I don’t know what I’d do without Petya.’
Mrs Thomkins is an engaged member of the Resthaven Westbourne Park community, saying, ‘I came in to enjoy a period of respite, and I didn’t want to go home. So I didn’t!’
Resthaven supports around 2,000 older people in eleven residential homes across metro and regional South Australia, with a twelfth home opening at Aberfoyle Park in mid-2018.
Resthaven also supports older people living independently in the community with a range of in-home, centre-based, and therapy services throughout metropolitan Adelaide, the hills, Murraylands, Riverland, Barossa, Limestone Coast, and the Fleurieu Peninsula.