John finds his passion in surgical nursing

8 Oct 2022

What’s your position?

I'm an Associate Nurse Unit Manager in the surgical ward at St John of God Bendigo Hospital.

How long have you worked at St John of God Bendigo Hospital?

Approximately five years now at St John of God Bendigo Hospital.

Why were you interested in working with us?

When I heard that St John God Bendigo Hospital was a Catholic hospital, I was interested in working with them because it aligns with my Catholic values.

What do you enjoy most about working with us?

I enjoy the challenge of looking after surgical patients in a very dynamic surgical ward. We care for a whole range of patients from orthopaedic to urological. I enjoy being able to learn and share the skills that I have.

What opportunities have you received while working with us?

While working in St John of God Bendigo Hospital, I’ve really learnt a lot, especially in regards to stomal care. I initially was undergoing a training course while I was in the stomal therapy area for a couple of months, to learn the ropes for when our current stomal therapy caregiver went on maternity leave. Then it really grew on me. 

St John of God Health Care sponsored half of my fees for my stomal therapy course. After that course, I got promoted as an Associate Nurse Unit Manager in the surgical ward. 

What do you love about living in Bendigo?

Being a family man, I see Bendigo as a family-oriented city. That's why I love living in Bendigo, where I can give my family a better future.

What do you want other people to know about working with St John of God Health Care?

When I started in St John of God Bendigo Hospital, I've lived alone. My family was still back home in the Philippines, so the people that I work with were my family here. They treated me like part of their family.

That's why I loved working here, and staying here for five years now I am able to give it back to the new staff, and make sure that they're feeling welcome and feeling supported.

Do you and your team socialise outside of work?

Sometimes we go to hotels to have some fun, eat, drink, whatever you would like to do. Also, sometimes after shifts we go out, have something to eat, debrief, especially if we’ve had a particularly hard shift.

What does St John of God Health Care do to make you feel cared about in the workplace?

St John of God Health Care helped me get my family over to Australia and helped me get a residency visa, which allowed me to stay longer here in Australia with my family.