Portia Drummond
2nd-year student, Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing)
She loves the classes that focus on practising the skills she will need when taking care of patients, says Portia Drummond who is studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing).
“I’d definitely recommend studying at AUT to others! The nursing degree offers lots of hands-on learning throughout labs and clinical placements, as well as in-depth learning about physiology and nursing practice. For example, in the first-year labs, our clinical educators taught us skills like taking vital signs, communicating with patients and practising clinical procedures. I like the hands-on aspects because they build my confidence, which prepares me for when we go on clinical placements.”
She also appreciates learning in a supportive environment with friendly classmates and helpful lecturers.
“Everyone is super friendly and supportive, especially during interactive classes and labs where we all work together and help each other learn. I’ve also really enjoyed learning about human anatomy and physiology as well as different diseases and illnesses. I find it really interesting how the body works, and what we can do as future nurses to help care for patients.”
Choosing AUT
Finding her way to AUT for her studies was easy for Portia.
“I knew when I was leaving high school that I wanted to study nursing, but initially I wasn’t sure which university would best suit me. I talked to some work colleagues and family friends who were either studying nursing or were already registered nurses, and they all said that AUT was the best pick for this programme as it’s more hands-on and focused on practical learning. I chose AUT because I believe a more practical approach will help better prepare me for becoming a registered nurse.”
Now in the second year of her studies, she is proud of the progress she has made so far.
“I’m proud of achieving strong grades in my courses so far and of the clinical skills I’ve developed in my labs. I’m still not 100% sure of what field of nursing I’d like to pursue once I get my degree, but right now I’m interested in working in theatre nursing and then heading towards getting my master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner.”
Supported to thrive
Portia says she is grateful to have been awarded a Southern Cross Nursing Scholarship to help her achieve her goal to become a nurse.
“Having the Southern Cross scholarship has supported me so much during my studies so far. Having the opportunity to have a Southern Cross registered nurse mentor has been super helpful because they gave me guidance and advice about studying nursing and working in healthcare. The financial support from the scholarship also made a big difference as it helped me cover costs like petrol, transport, parking, and an extra uniform for labs and placement. This support has eased the financial stress, which enabled me to focus more on my coursework and learning.”
She has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their own university journey.
“Put yourself out there! It can be scary meeting new people, especially if you don’t know anyone in your classes, but making the effort to talk to other students will help to build friendships and make university a more enjoyable experience.”
