After years working in retail, a Gympie father of six is using his new USC Nursing degree as a launchpad into a career delivering advanced health care to the elderly.

Peter Bromley will graduate from USC with a Bachelor of Nursing Science on Friday (27 September) at a ceremony at Matthew Flinders Performance Centre on the Sunshine Coast.

Since completing his degree, the 44-year-old has been working as a registered nurse at Gympie’s Cooinda Aged Care and has started a Master of Gerontology to expand his skills and knowledge in clinical aged care.

“I want to be able to make a difference at the end stage of someone’s life and help improve the quality of life for patients with life-threatening illnesses,” said Peter, whose areas of interest include palliative care and chronic wounds.

He was inspired by his mother, a former nurse, to make a career switch to the health industry after working at supermarkets since high school.

“I initially chose to study at USC Gympie based solely on convenience as I practically live across the road from the campus and completed my Diploma of Nursing at the TAFE next to the university,” Peter said.

“The highlights of my time at USC were the friends I made – with those friendships continuing even now the course is over – and working in intensive care at the Mount Isa Hospital on clinical placement,” he said.

“The experiences in the USC Gympie’s nursing labs were exceptional and I really enjoyed the small classes and being able to spend more time practising and mastering skills I am now applying to my new role.”

Peter worked during the three-year degree at Cooinda Aged Care, progressing from an assistant-in-nursing to an enrolled nurse and then a registered nurse when he completed his studies.

“The most rewarding part of the job is being able to get to know residents better and sitting listening to their stories,” he said.

“I love seeing them engage in activities and making a difference in their lives by providing the care they need or delegating it to other allied professionals.”

He was looking forward to attending his graduation with his family and other graduating students from USC Gympie.

“It is a time to celebrate our achievements and thank our lectures and tutors, but even more so to give special thanks to our families who have supported, encouraged and sometimes pushed us.”

Applications are open to study at USC next year.

— Clare McKay