Vidhya M Vinayan
Nurse Practitioner, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau
Master of Health Science in Advanced Nursing Practice with Honours (First Class)
She enjoys working in paediatric nursing, says Vidhya M Vinayan who completed a Master of Health Science in Advanced Nursing Practice with Honours (First Class) and now works as a nurse practitioner at Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau.
“What I love most about this work is being able to make a difference in the lives of the small babies and their whānau.
“I completed my Bachelor of Nursing in India and moved to New Zealand with a few years of paediatric nursing experience. Securing a registered nurse position at Middlemore Hospital in 2015 was a significant turning point in my career but I soon decided to advance my knowledge to offer the best developmental care to the vulnerable neonatal population of Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau. I started with a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science in Child Health, and in total completed almost seven years of part-time study with AUT and graduated with first class honours.”
Supported to thrive
Going through the nurse practitioner pathway wasn’t easy, Vidhya admits.
“Working full-time and learning new skills at work, juggling a young family and studying was extremely stressful. There were times I wanted to stop studying. However, I kept going because of the motivation and inspiration offered by my tutors who were compassionate and understanding of the challenges faced by us students. They offered support without adding extra pressure.
“What I found particularly incredible was that both Helen Topia and Jodie Simich from the prescribing courses offered their time and support even after I had completed their course to help me prepare for the Nursing Council Panel interview to become a nurse practitioner.”
She is also grateful for the academic support she could access to help her adjust to studying in a different country and education system.
“Having to write academic essays was challenging initially as the education system in New Zealand is different to India. However, attending the academic writing sessions offered by AUT helped to improve my writing skills. The feedback from the tutors was very comprehensive and helped me continue to make improvements in writing essays.”
Advice for other students
Vidhya, who completed her master’s degree in 2023, has some great advice for other students.
“Believe in yourself and work hard, and you can reach heights that you never imagined.”
She speaks from experience.
“I never imagined that I’d become a nurse practitioner when I started studying a postgraduate certificate at AUT. I was seeking knowledge to improve my practice, but that knowledge opened new doors of opportunites and paved a way for personal growth for me.”
