For nurses, no two shifts are the same and patients always come first. It can be hard to imagine taking time out to travel abroad for an independent study tour. That’s where The Alfred Health Nursing Scholarship comes in. 

Proudly sponsored by Bank First, this scholarship aims to advance nursing through research and leadership experiences. For Kellie Easton, a Clinical Nurse Consultant working in Heart Failure, receiving the Scholarship in 2024 made her long-held dream of learning from heart failure clinics in the UK a reality. 

Bringing ideas to life 

'I’d known about the clinics for a long time. In over 30 years of nursing, I’ve never received an opportunity like this – I’m very grateful,’ said Kellie. 

After receiving the scholarship, Kellie attended the European Society of Cardiology Conference and presented on the service that Alfred Health provides for advanced heart failure patients who are waiting for transplants. ‘We talked about how these patients are now self-managing their inotropes in their own homes. We’re one of the first programs to do this.' 

Kellie then visited two hospitals in London to see how nurse practitioners were working with patients to improve heart function while on cancer treatment.

‘To see how they run their service and set it up for success was so valuable. They shared a lot of knowledge, so we can provide a similar service here at The Alfred.'   

The power of nurse-led research 

Nurse-led research doesn’t just support career development, but the care that patients receive too. 'Since coming home, we’ve been working to streamline our own services and tailor what I’ve learned for our local patients.’ 

Kellie comes from a family of nurses and is passionate about delivering excellent care to patients. ‘I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. Hearing my aunts talk about their experience in nursing was so inspiring.’ 

'It’s the patient experience that keeps you motivated. At the end of the day, you become a nurse because you want to help people. I was inspired to join Alfred Health because of the high-level of care given to patients.’ 

Now, Kellie is taking the next step in her career journey. Kellie’s study tour inspired her to begin a Masters of Nurse Practitioner at Monash University, in addition to her role at Alfred Health. ‘It’s demanding but will also be rewarding, enabling me to work at a high level and achieve outcomes for patients.’ 

Through the Alfred Health Nursing Scholarship, healthcare professionals like Kellie have been able to experience innovative programs and return home with an understanding of how to make them a reality for local patients. 

Who’s here for the future of nursing and healthcare? Bank First. That’s who.