You wouldn’t think there was any real association between the careers of journalism and nursing, but Jin Xie will tell you that at the heart of a nurse is a good communicator.

So when the now 34-year-old gave up a career as a journalist in China and moved to Australia to study nursing at the University of Tasmania, it was Calvary St Luke’s that became her new home and family.

“I wanted a bit of a change, and I wanted to explore and improve myself and I think nursing is a great career,” Jin said.

“I like communicating with people and I’m not bad at interacting with people, plus coming from China we are family-orientated so caring is natural and I had volunteered in a nursing home back in China, so it all seemed to suit my personality.”

In 2019, after a three-month course to bring her English up to speed, Jin began her studies in nursing at the University of Tasmania.

In 2022 she was accepted as a graduate nurse at Calvary St Luke’s and now the perioperative team are not just her workmates, but they are her family.

“The team here at St Luke’s are excellent professionals and as a graduate nurse you never feel alone. It’s a great learning place for a nursing student,” Jin said.

After her 12 month graduate year Jin is a permanent member of the team in anaesthesia and recovery and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The people here at Calvary St Luke’s really care about you and as a Chinese woman with no family here they have really made me feel at home and part of a family,” she said.

“The support you get as a new nurse is great and I always feel like I’m learning from the experienced team and nurse educator Caroline.”

Jin said the career change had been the right decision for her and she encouraged people to consider nursing, especially if they wanted opportunities and flexibility.