What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
Irish, English, Maths, Accountancy, Biology, Physics, French, Social & Scientific.
As already stated, my initial goal was accountancy following the Leaving Cert. The accountancy covered by the Leaving Cert was very beneficial during my first year at college. However I don't believe I had the personality to become an accountant.
Moving to my later choice of Nursing, I believe that biology was essential as it is a major part of nursing studies from the start. I also believe that experience at work itself will further one's career and may in fact lead to a change further down the career pathway.
What is your education to date?
Following Leaving Certificate I completed the following:
Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Honours)
Diploma in Human Anatomy Registered General Nurse B.A. HONS
Public Management (Health Stream) Institute of Public Administration Dublin (4 years part time)
M.A.Human Resources and Industrial Relations 2007 (2 years part time)
What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?
Naturally enough without the nursing courses (Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Registered General Nurse (RGN)) I would not have been allowed to practice or register with An Bord Altranais. There are numerous post registration courses which will benefit your career within nursing. I did the Diploma in Human Anatomy in the Royal College of Surgeons as I had an interest in this particular subject.
To progress within nursing you must have a degree qualification. I decided on doing the BA in Public Management, the subjects covered throughout this course have certainly helped me both on a direct and indirect level. Some of those covered included, economics, law, social studies, European law, info technology, accountancy, etc.
My recent MA in Human Resources and Industrial Relations have certainly guided me in my most recent appointment and movement away from the nursing field. It has opened up a whole new dimension to my career that I hope will be as challenging as my career within nursing.
Have you undertaken, or do you plan to undertake any further training as part of your job?
Training and upskilling is always part of working within the HSE. Numerous courses are available within the HSE and I will certainly start a new course in the near future. However I don't think I will take on something as big as the Masters for another few years (family time is prime time!).
