Tamara Grantham is one of many to grasp the opportunity of living and working in the Northern Territory with both hands, having relocated to the Top End for work as a Nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Ms Grantham, a Registered Nurse at the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre (AWCCC) has been working with NT Health for around 15 months, and is one of many nurses who work across the Northern Territory who are celebrating International Nurses Day today.
Off the back of completing a Bachelor of Nursing at Flinders University in Adelaide, Ms Grantham received an offer to take part in the Top End Health Service (TEHS) graduate nurse program.
“Becoming a nurse in the NT was a dream of mine after successfully completed two placements as a student nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital. There is something very special and unique about the place and the people. The NT is my forever home now,” Ms Grantham said.
Living and working in the Northern Territory was such a priority for Ms Grantham she declined a highly competitive position in Adelaide to pursue her Territory dream.
“I completed my graduate nurse program and went on to be selected for the graduate chemotherapy nurse program, completing my second rotation at AWCCC. At this time I received intense training to become a nationally recognised chemotherapy nurse.”
Prior to nursing Grantham worked as a disability support worker in a high school disability unit.
“I have always had a desire and passion to support and care for people. I feel like this is what I was born to do. I am extremely proud to tell people that I am a nurse and I couldn't imagine doing anything else,” she said.
“What has stood out to me the most is having the opportunity to play a role in supporting our patients in their cancer journey.
“The patients and families that we meet show phenomenal strength and courage in a very raw and challenging time of their life.
“To be with them on that journey and to make it the best experience I possibly can is something that I feel very honoured and privileged to be a part of,” Ms Grantham said.
International Nurses Day is today, 12 May 2021.
