Working closely with children, adolescents, and their families is one of the reasons Bec Salib loves her role as a Registered Mental Health Nurse.
“Being part of the recovery process and seeing the difference between clients when they arrive and when they leave is so rewarding,” she said.
“No two days are the same – we help clients with treatments, checking in and seeing how they’re going, plus we help educate them and their parents and carers.”
Bec discovered a passion for mental health nursing during a rotation as a student nurse at Monash Health. After graduating, she returned to the Stepping Stones ward at Monash Children’s Hospital, which cares for adolescent mental health clients.
“Mental health nursing wasn’t on my radar as a student nurse. But during COVID, I really noticed the impact on adolescent mental health, and I could see that our team was able to make a significant, positive difference to our patients,” Bec said.
An essential part of Bec’s role is helping clients return to their regular routines with the right tools and support.
“When someone leaves Stepping Stones, we make sure they’re set up with whatever they need,” she said.
“We’re not just liaising with parents and carers, but we have the Monash Children’s Hospital School here so clients can continue their education, then we work with their schools, community services and other groups to ensure they can continue with their recovery.”
Bec has been part of the Monash Health team for 3 years, and she’s thriving in the collaborative environment at Stepping Stones, which is part of the Early in Life Mental Health Service.
“I think the whole multidisciplinary team works really well together, which is unique. It’s such a solid team,” she said.
“It’s a supportive environment, and we’re very welcoming of new people.”
Interested in joining the Stepping Stones Adolescent Inpatient Unit at Monash Children’s Hospital? We’re now hiring Registered Psychiatric Nurses and a Nurse Manager, with applications closing soon. Apply today and grow your career at Monash Health!
