Rene Bura

Stirling, Ontario
Nursing

Rene Bura, a new graduate of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, describes his decision to return to school as a mature student and start a new career path as “one of the hardest decisions I could make, but also the most rewarding.”

Prior to coming to Trent, Rene was in the Navy Reserves and worked as a dialysis technician. “I have found through these experiences I was able to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life,” he explains. “I wanted to work with people in a caring and nurturing environment, to grow professionally and to keep life-long learning continuous, which is very important to me.”

Fast-tracking through the Nursing program in three years, instead of four, Rene is currently working at St. Joseph’s at Fleming, pursuing his goals of working with the elderly.

“Professionally, I am interested in learning ways to support the elderly in the community and nursing homes,” says Rene, who has dreams of becoming a nurse practitioner or clinical specialist in geriatrics. “I have found real satisfaction in my work with the elderly and helping to take the pressure off families. By specializing in geriatric care, I know that my work makes a difference for families who are heavily committed to the welfare of the loved parents and grandparents. I look forward to having those close encounters with family members when I see in their eyes how confident and relieved they feel leaving their loved one in my care.”

Reflecting on his time with the School of Nursing, Rene says fondly, “Going back to school after working professionally offered me time to reorganize my perspectives and priorities in life. I was able to figure out what I really wanted to do. The experience of university life as a whole filled me a sense of exploration and enthusiasm for restarting a new life. Now that I am a registered nurse, I look forward to the prospects of continued learning in my future.”