Police sergeant swaps the beat for the ward
After 18 years in the New Zealand Police force, Ally Ealam has embarked on an entirely new career.
The former frontline senior sergeant recently graduated from Ara with a New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing and is now working in aged care in Rangiora where she grew up.
Ally says she’d “seen it all” as a police officer. “I attended some pretty horrific jobs over the years. Some of them I’ll never forget, but those experiences made me the person I am today.”
Ally decided to step away from law enforcement but wanted to do something that drew upon her many years of work experience and her past involvement in St John Ambulance. Enrolled nursing fit the bill perfectly.
“I’d heard Ara was a fantastic place to learn. I loved the whole learning environment and the buzz of learning - it reminded me of my Police college days.”
During her studies, Ally had clinical placements in a variety of health settings.
“I got to watch two emergency caesarean sections. That was amazing - I cried under my facemask!”
When she was in the Police, Ally loved working with the elderly. Now she’s gained her nursing diploma, she’s thrilled to be working with seniors again – this time as an enrolled nurse at Bainswood on Victoria in Rangiora.
“Ara equipped me with the skills and confidence to work with our elderly and I’m really enjoying it. I’m looking after and connecting with the residents and their families, getting experience in assessing and dressing wounds, managing medication, working with our local GPs and palliative care nurses and so much more. I feel absolutely privileged to be able to do what I do.”