Rural Nursing Scholarship Program

My name is Jayna Dickinson, and I am a proud Bega Valley Shire community member.  I am a mother and a proud 4th generation nurse on my maternal side, a heritage that inspires me daily.   Completing my Bachelor of Nursing degree has been a significant achievement for me, and I am driven to positively influence my children, especially my daughter who is eager to follow in my footsteps and become a nurse herself.

Becoming a rural/regional nurse is a deeply personal aspiration for me, rooted in my own experiences and the profound impact that healthcare can have on underserved communities.

If my time here on Earth ends, how do I want to be remembered?  What is the best way to use my career to help the individuals I look after?   As someone who has spent five years living in rural Australia, I have learned to value the areas natural beauty and abundance and the strong bonds that bind its people.  However, I have also noticed that the rural populations healthcare needs leave much to be desired as opposed to their urban counterparts.   According to one research, people in rural and isolated regions of Australia live shorter lives than people in cities.

Additionally, they have lower utilisation of primary health care services, increased hospitalisation rates, injuries and deaths, and unequal access to these treatments.   Although these figures are depressing, they have inspired me to engage in rural nursing to contribute to slowing these trends.

I want to be a nurse who works in the country because I have lived in East Gippsland, Victoria for over 21years. Originally, I missed the shops in Melbourne, but I have realised the health benefits of country life and living with nature. The comparison from a busy work life and family to the peace found in the country is rejuvenating and calming giving my life balance.

The awe of nature gives me joy that feeds into my passion for people and the individual uniqueness of people’s lives. I want to be a rural nurse because they care for their community and the people who work, paid and unpaid to support their families, friends, neighbours and their community. I am not a local to East Gippsland because I have not been born here.

I am passionate about the provision of exceptional health care to those living in regional/rural communities.   As I live in a remote area and have myself received excellent care at a regional hospital, I would like to continue providing the best possible health care for others int he East Gippsland region.   Receiving care from dedicate rural nurses has a positive impact on people’s lives, allowing them to remain in their community with friends and family and those they know whilst receiving optimum care.   I firmly believe this results in positive influences on people’s health outcomes and as a rural nurse I would endeavour to make this a reality for those living in East Gippsland.

Rural nursing stands out to me and is an area I wish to pursue my nursing career for several reasons.  I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to be completing a Registered Nursing Graduate program at Central Gippsland Health Service (CGHS) .   Whilst I know it will have challenges, I am excited to see how widely I can expand in my knowledge with this opportunity and how far I can push myself to grow.   This year I have experienced placements at CGHS in both the Emergency Department and the Surgical ward Unit and with this, I felt a great sense of community and belonging amongst the staff, patients and families.  Bonds that I am eager to continue expand.  I have also participated in placements in other rural areas including Bairnsdale Regional Health Service and Gippsland Southern Health Service Leongatha.