July 2004

Frankston qualifies in the nursing world

When Norwegian nurse Solveig Kjerstad wanted to get training and a qualification in emergency nursing she found it in Frankston.

Ms Kjerstad, 24, is an exchange student from Álesund, Norway.

She is completing her postgraduate emergency nursing studies at Monash University in Frankston, her clinical work undertaken in Frankston Hospital’s Emergency Department.

‘In Norway, nursing training is more broadly-based and there is no training which offers nurses the opportunity to specialise in emergency care,’ said Ms Kjerstad.

Her training in the Emergency Department involves learning trauma and emergency management of medical and surgical presentations.

This includes paediatric emergencies and advanced health assessment as well as the wide variety of skills and tasks that are specific to emergency nursing.

Ms Kjerstad’s training will extend her skills in emergency nursing and build on her regular nursing education and experience.

‘It’s very different from working in Norway.

‘Names of medications and treatments are different but I get excellent supervision, assistance and learning opportunities,’ Ms Kjerstad said.

‘I’ve gained a lot of experience working in a different country.

‘It will be an advantage when I go back to Norway as I’ll be able to talk to English-speaking tourists who are in the hospital.’

Ms Kjerstad will be in Australia for a year, living on the Mornington Peninsula.

‘I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity,’ she said.

‘I’m really enjoying my time in Australia and hope to do some travelling around the country once I’ve finished my studies.’