8 August 2024

Meet Josh.

Josh has been working as an Emergency Nurse at Austin Health since 2018. He was recently awarded the Michael Kierce Prize by The University of Melbourne for outstanding performance throughout his post-graduate course in critical care nursing (emergency) course in 2023, both academically and clinically.

“I am most proud of this moment in my career because it has capped off the hard work I have put in since becoming an Emergency Nurse in 2018. It feels like something that I have been working towards for a long time has finally been completed and validated by winning this award!” shares Josh.

Josh’s clinical nurse educator, Brianna Wilson remarks, “Demonstrated by dedication and commitment, Josh's journey has been inspirational. His unwavering pursuit of excellence and clinical ability, coupled with his potential for leadership in clinical practice, embodies the spirit of the Michael Kierce Prize. His achievement is a source of inspiration for all of us in the nursing community.”

Interestingly, being a nurse was not Josh’s first choice of career. He initially worked as a Protective Services Officer with Victoria Police but quickly realised it wasn’t the way he wanted to help people. After speaking to his aunt, who works as an emergency nurse, Josh decided to pursue a career in nursing.

Josh’s role as an Emergency Nurse is broad. He explains, “I work in resuscitation bays looking after really sick patients of all ages. I triage patients who present in our Emergency Department (ED), allocating them appropriate place to be seen based on their presenting condition and care requirements. I also work on the ED main floor, looking after admitted patients.”

Working in ED means working with a mixed bag – you never know what your day will look like. “Some days are incredibly busy with patients with complicated issues or injuries, and some days are a bit more relaxed, and some days are a mix of both!” adds Josh.

Josh enjoys working with junior nurses, mentoring and helping them feel more comfortable in the busy emergency environment.

“I really enjoy my career as an emergency nurse and this achievement has motivated me to continue to work hard and see what comes next for me in my career.”