Bachelor of Nursing - Lucia Williams

The sky is the limit for Lucia Williams - and it's the ultimate goal in her master plan.

The third year WITT Bachelor of Nursing student says there are endless opportunities for graduates, but her aim is to eventually become a flight nurse, tending patients as they're transported from one place to another.

Lucia enrolled after leaving Spotswood College and likes the idea of working in fast-paced environments and helping patients on the road to recovery.

She chose WITT because of its convenience to home and smaller class size, which enables students to get the help they need. They also get great support from Taranaki Base Hospital staff and exposure to different wards, she says.

"The other good thing about nursing in New Plymouth is there are a lot of scholarships around ," says Lucia - the recipient of both a TSB and a Tarankai District Health Board Scholarship.

What attracted her to the profession is its versatility - the chance to do anything from working in a doctor's surgery to caring for the elderly.

"You can do anything with nursing. You can go overseas. There's a huge demand for New Zealand Nurses."

The nursing shortage also means students have no trouble getting work after graduation, she says. "Three years seems like a lot of time but it flies by. I've learnt a lot. It's a really rewarding job."