Stacey Marino

"I became a mother at a young age and raised two beautiful boys while working part-time in different hospitality jobs. When my youngest child began primary school, I was determined to pursue a career that I would love and enjoy and enable me to offer a better future for them. I obtained my Bachelor of Nursing degree in Whangārei."

“I grew up in Taupō which is where I whakapapa back to, and wanted to become a teacher. I enjoy learning new things, sharing my knowledge and experiences as well as identifying opportunities to grow.

"My inspiration to pursue a career in nursing developed after I spent some time in the hospital with my eldest son, who was a toddler at the time. I was inspired by the nurses who did an excellent job caring for us, making us feel at ease, and who kept us informed the entire time. I said, 'That is what I want to do: this is how I want to make people feel.' My mother is also a nurse and a significant inspiration to me. I've seen her work hard and enjoy her nursing career.

"Providing care to patients and their whānau during their most challenging times and being part of their recovery journey is one of the most incredible feelings I've ever experienced.

"I started out wanting to be a paediatric nurse. Yet, as my journey to became a nurse progressed, I discovered a great passion for emergency nursing and became a new graduate registered nurse at a hospital emergency department in Northland. I absolutely loved the fast pace, the diversity of patient care I could deliver, the exceptional skills and knowledge I learned and the incredible team.

"After four years in the emergency department, I realised I wanted a better work life balance and to come away from shiftwork. I briefly worked in the Endoscopy Suite before becoming a Nurse Coordinator overseeing Te Tai Tokerau (Whangārei, Dargaville, Bay of Islands and Kaitaia Hospitals).

"I chose the University of Auckland for my postgraduate studies because of the convenience of studying close to home and my whānau. Many of my work colleagues had completed papers at the University that were of interest to me, so being able to reflect with one another on their experiences was highly valuable.

"I enjoyed studying in Te Tai Tokerau as it kept me close to home and my whānau. Studying with colleagues in a smaller learning environment helped us bond and support each other. I also loved the study days at the Auckland campus where I connected with nurses from across the country and various nursing backgrounds. Understanding what nursing is like in other parts of Aotearoa, New Zealand is fascinating."