Career change comes full circle

As The University of Queensland's soon to be first-ever graduate of the Master of Nursing Studies (Graduate Entry) program, Samantha Zurvas is fast on her way to a rewarding career as a nurse after swapping a successful job as a marketing analyst.

With the 2011 graduation this July, the 24-year-old Boonah resident will fulfill a lifelong ambition of becoming a nurse.

Ms Zurvas' passion for nursing began as a high school student when she volunteered in the special care nursery and maternity ward at the Wesley Hospital.

“I’ve always been interested in the health care field,” said Ms Zurvas.

“I even started a nursing degree in 2004 but decided to take a year off,” she said.

When I returned to university in 2005, I didn't choose nursing and I still wonder why I didn’t, but I certainly never got over the interest in this career.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Science in 2007, Ms Zurvas went to work for a newspaper on the Gold Coast for two years.

“Although I enjoyed working as a marketing analyst, I have never been able to get nursing out of my head,” she said.

“For two years I searched for the courage to start again.”

Still keen to pursue a career in nursing, Ms Zurvas was online looking at nursing programs when she found the UQ Master of Nursing Studies (Graduate Entry) program.

“I had been looking for a long time for a program that could give me the amount of clinical learning I felt I needed to work confidently as a nurse,” she said.

“I chose UQ because it looked like a fantastic opportunity to combine my previous qualifications and get a Masters in Nursing in as little at 18 months, and when I learnt that the base hospital was to be the Wesley I knew it was meant to be.”

It is immensely exciting to be part of a new and unique program and to be surrounded by fellow students who have all chosen to be nurses after experiencing other careers and professional lives.”

The academic learning, combined with regular clinical practice, means I will be completely ready from day one.

I have well and truly become part of the Wesley community through the UQ Wesley Hospital Clinical School, and completing some 700 hours of placements on the Wesley’s wards.”

I’ve already have two job offers in specialty areas I’m passionate about.”

Media: Lya McTaggart (07 3365 5084 or lya.mctaggart@uq.edu.au)