Third time’s a charm: Nursing Graduate Benny Kimutai Rotich’s inspiring legacy

Nurse Benny stands in the middle of a surgical room wearing a blue cap and blue scrubs.

With two parents working in healthcare, it’s no surprise new Nursing Graduate Benny Kimutai Rotich followed in their footsteps. 

‘As you’d expect, I built up an interest for the healthcare,’ he said. 

‘My mum is a nurse, and my dad used to be a General Practitioner overseas.’ 

After completing VCE, Benny said it was a ‘no brainer’ to pursue a career in nursing. 

‘The field is pretty flexible and diverse, and there’s lots of opportunities and things you can specialise in, like teaching and practising, which can even open up doors for you to be a nurse anywhere and travel internationally,’ he said. 

‘Personally, I love to take care of people and there’s a certain fulfilment you do obtain working in healthcare, and nursing specifically.’ 

After graduating from Monash University with a Bachelor of Nursing, and completing several student placements with Monash Health, Benny couldn’t be more excited to have secured a position in our Graduate Nursing program. 

‘My first rotation is in theatre at Dandenong Hospital, and I was actually placed there during my undergraduate studies so I’m really lucky to have come back,’ he said. 

‘The team are so supportive – from the surgeons, the nurses, to the theatre technicians – it is a very supportive environment, and you can definitely learn a lot.’ 

For Benny, there’s a certain area of nursing he’s already very drawn to. 

‘I’m really interested in critical care areas, where you need to have and apply a lot of critical thinking skills,’ Benny said. 

‘There’s a lot of autonomy for nurses, and you need to have good clinical judgement to be able to really care for your patients to the very best of your ability.’ 

So far, it’s some of the little moments that have had the biggest impact on Benny and his love for nursing. 

‘When I was a RUSON (Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing), I got to see how something small like getting someone a warm blanket or showing the patient where the bathroom was made them so appreciative,’ he said. 

‘I realised that these small gestures could change someone’s whole hospital experience, and that I could help change someone’s whole perception of the healthcare system. 

‘I like to come into every new day or new shift knowing I can positively impact someone.’ 

The Monash Health Graduate Program provides newly registered nurses and midwives with diverse opportunities to consolidate their skills, expand their experience in a professional setting and grow their career with us.  

Understandably, our new nursing and midwifery graduates may be experiencing some nerves and jitters as they navigate their new roles and environment. Please make them feel welcome as they continue to settle into their new normal.