Award: Rising Star in Nursing (C6)
Recipient: Ms Marcelle Jones (joint winner)
An interview with the Rising Star in Nursing award recipient, Ms Marcelle Jones
1. What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally?
(We are curious about how it resonates with your journey and how you hope it might encourage others.)
It was an honour to have achieved this award.I didn't expect to be nominated or even be the recipient of the award.
I am grateful to have achieved this award in such a short period of my nursing career. It encourages me to continue doing my best, as hard work definitely pays off. I started my nursing career late in life. I will never forget the moment I received the email of acceptance from Life College of Learning. So many things went through my mind; I was filled with joy, but also filled with so much concern, as I did not even know how I was going to pay for my studies, but I started my nursing career knowing the Lord [would] carry me all the way. And look what He has done! To all the aspiring nurses, reach for nothing short of the stars, one day, you might just become one!
2. Looking back, is there a moment or contribution in your nursing career that you feel especially proud of?
(It could be a breakthrough, a turning point, or something that made a lasting difference.)
I started my studies in 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I still remember the fear of the unknown that went through my mind. I had the privilege of nursing a patient who took my hand and told me I'm destined for great things in life. It was at that moment that the fears disappeared, and my purpose became clear to me. The patient sadly passed away on a very special day of my life, my birthday. Her words will forever remain in my heart.
3. Who has been an important mentor in your nursing career?
(We would love to hear about someone who helped shape your path.)
Life St George’s CTS, Sr Sandi Honiball. From the beginning, I felt she was too hard on me. [She] always pushed me to my limits and during placements placed me in the busiest and [most] specialised units. Looking back, I am thankful for her; she saw potential in me that I didn't see in myself. She has been shaping me and preparing me for big things in the profession since my first year of studies. There's also my Unit Manager, Mr Murali. There were days I locked myself in the bathroom and cried, feeling he expected too much from me. Things I could never do or achieve (like being acting Unit Manager while he's away). Looking back, I wouldn't even have been nominated for this award if it wasn't for him and his belief and trust in me as a young aspiring nurse.
4. What motivates you in your nursing career?
(Whether it is the people, the challenges, or the purpose, what keeps you going?)
When I think about what motivates me, so many things come to mind. From each and every patient I nurse, to myself wanting to achieve even more in this profession. My grandfather once told me I should study hard, and, being in a lifelong learning profession, I will forever be left with the words “I must study hard”, and it will always motivate me to do my best, to give my best and to never stop growing.
5. How do you keep your practice fresh and informed in a field that is always evolving?
(Feel free to share how you engage with new knowledge, research, or teaching.)
CPDs. As much as I'm always moaning about new CPDs that need to be done, I do them as if I'm studying for a final exam. I don't only want to know the correct answers, I want to understand them. I then go to my colleagues and teach it back to them. In that way, I'm informing/teaching my colleagues and studying to remember for a lifetime.
6. What is next for you? Are there any goals or hopes you are working toward in your professional journey?
(We are interested in what growth or impact you are aiming for, whether big or small.)
As a holder of Diploma in Nursing, I am patiently waiting for Midwifery to become available. From there, the world will be my oyster, and I will be the creator of its pearls! Life begins and ends at one step, and I'll be taking each and every step as it comes.