Narges Rezai, a trauma nurse at Royal Perth Hospital. She is the very definition of resilience and determination as she works towards her goal of becoming a nurse. Rezai is originally from Iran, born to a Hazara-Afghan family. In 2009, she was able to move to Australia with no English language skills and no qualifications. She met huge obstacles along her path. Today, she takes care of some of the most life-and-death patients in the Australian healthcare ecosystem.
Growing up in a traditional society where girls were sometimes barred from pursuing higher education, Rezai’s dreams met with overwhelming challenges. Nursing ignited her desire and made her childhood dream come true. It also provided her an opportunity to escape her history. The opportunity to work in healthcare has allowed her to rewrite her narrative and contribute positively to the community that welcomed her.
“My mum she’s always telling us, Australia has given you a shelter, freedom, and opportunity to be able to do what you want to do,” Rezai shared, reflecting on her mother’s encouragement. This kind of gratitude motivates her determination to pay it forward to the nation that offered her opportunity and hope for a second life.
Though her role is uncompromisingly demanding, Rezai experiences joy in taking care of patients at their most vulnerable stages, in surgery, both inside and outside of the operating room. “It is a challenging place, and it can be stressful, but at the end of the day, you are looking after patients who are very sick,” she explained. She derives great satisfaction from her ability to see patients’ return to health after illness or injury. “You can see them from the day they were really sick until the day they are getting better; that is so rewarding.”
Rezai’s experience as a migrant nurse plays a crucial role in addressing workforce shortages in Australia’s healthcare system. In addition, the emergency response of bringing overseas-trained nurses into the Australian workforce since COVID-19 has been indispensable. Mark Butler, a healthcare advocate, underscored an important movement. For one, three times as many overseas-trained nurses are entering Australia now than before the pandemic.
Her story, too, stands as a cautionary tale of personal loss. Reflecting on the death of her father, she stated, “When I lost my dad I said I feel like I lost everything because he was my dad.” In her family’s history of survival and times of trial, she was able to draw power and resilience. “I could see my mum and my little brothers and sisters; everyone, we were in a terrible situation,” she recalled.
Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Rezai has become an outspoken advocate for better working conditions for nurses. She argues that the key to keeping healthcare workers is fair pay and a focus on those conditions that make for a safe workplace. “While immigration is a part of the issue, increasing nursing training numbers is part of the solution,” she remarked.
As she gets ready to begin her shift each day, Rezai finds herself making an impression on her patients from the get-go. “My name is Narges, I am your nurse for this morning. If you don’t mind, I’ll just check your blood pressure,” she introduces herself with compassion and professionalism.
