Nursing students learn about career options at annual RPA Surgical Nursing Careers Open Day.
 

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital had a glimpse at the future when about 100 university students attended the Surgical Nursing Careers Open Day co-hosted by RPA’s Institute of Academic Surgery on 30 September 2025.

The students – who came from University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney, University of Western Sydney and Australian Catholic University – were interested in all parts of the perioperative experience, from helping patients prepare for surgery, in-theatre surgical procedures and recovery. Some were curious about the difference between nursing roles, and day to day experience of working on wards, while others wanted to know about the tools and equipment used to undertake life-altering procedures.

The day started with presentations from Sydney Local Health District surgical clinicians in specialist areas such as oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery and urology. A networking lunch gave students a chance to talk with peers and ask nursing staff about their experiences of working at RPA.

In the afternoon, a range of workshops at the RPA Institute of Academic Surgery gave the students a chance to practise suturing, surgical stapling and dressings or inserting surgical scopes and navigating a simulated body via the view broadcast from the tiny camera to a much larger screen. In the simulation theatre, they observed a simulated surgical procedure from anaesthesia to scrub-out with the opportunity to share their thoughts and ask questions at every stage.

Kaitlin Kramer, Clinical Nurse Consultant and RPA Director of Surgical Nursing Research, said: “The annual Open Day gave nursing students a unique opportunity to learn directly from our senior surgical nursing staff about the range of surgical specialities at RPA and showcased the diverse career pathways in surgical nursing. This action-packed day gave students a true taste of what training and working at RPA is all about.”

The collegial atmosphere was a highlight, with students learning from each other and the RPA specialist nurses. 

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Institute of Academic Surgery regularly runs educational events and seminars. Visit https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/ias/ for more information.