Rockhampton Mater Hospital Nurse Mary Rex celebrates International Nurses Day

A nurse has shared her story about how she ended up in Central Queensland after beginning her health career in India as nurses are celebrated on International Nurses Day. See her story here.

They have been there through wars, pandemics and natural disasters providing crucial medical care on the frontline.

On Thursday, thousands of nurses around the country were celebrated for International Nurses Day.

Included in those being celebrated was Mary Rex, one of the 315-strong nursing team at the Rockhampton Mater Private Hospital.

Nurses have been working at Rockhampton’s Mater Hospital since it first opened on November 14 in 1915, making it the first Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Central Queensland.

On International Nurses Day, Mary celebrated a decade of caring for the Rockhampton community.

Born and raised in India, where she completed her nursing training and began her career in healthcare, her move to the Beef Capital was serendipitous thinking she had applied for a nursing job at a Perth-based hospital.

She was inspired to start nursing by her mother, who was also a nurse.

“Initially I wasn’t sure about nursing, but once I gave it a go I found it was very rewarding and enjoyed it,” she said.

“I wanted to venture out and did my transitional training in Perth.

“I thought I was applying for a job at a hospital in Rockingham, but it was Rockhampton... I was a bit unsure at first but I’ve made it (Rockhampton) a home and started my family here, I don’t regret my move.

“Mater was my first job after moving to Australia and I am grateful for all the opportunity it has given me to grow.”

She said nursing was a “very rewarding” career, which gave people job security and opportunities to grow.

“It can be stressful but when you go home you know you’ve touched the life of someone whether it’s witnessing a birth or helping the vulnerable or end of life palliative care, you go home feeling satisfied knowing you’ve touched the life of someone,” she said.

“There is so much room for growth in a nursing career.”

Born and raised in India, where she completed her nursing training and began her career in healthcare, Mary’s move to the Beef Capital was serendipitous.

Mary started as a paediatric nurse, but three years ago she took on a new challenge as the After Hours Nurse Manager.

“This role serves a crucial function for both patients and staff after hours,” she said.

“If doctors, nurses, patients or their relatives have an issue – whether a hospitality or clinical issue – I am their trouble-shooter and will find a way forward or resolution for them.

“This role gives me the opportunity to develop and use my problem-solving techniques and critical thinking.”

She said while nursing was always changing, one thing stayed the same.

“Every year there is change with a lot of studies done, but the basic care is all the same,” she said.

“With Covid we saw massive changes and we were relearning a lot of things and it’s shown us just how much contribution we have in the healthcare department.

“Nurses make up about 50 per cent of the healthcare department...we are the backbone of the department.”

Mary said anyone thinking of giving nursing a go should “go for it”.

“It is rewarding and it can be stressful but you walk out feeling satisfied and you have the respect of the community,” she said.