The Interview with Ann Rodrigues

17 Oct 2013

By The Record

Ann Rodrigues works as a nurse at Royal Perth Hosptial, where she witnesses both joy and sorrow as patients deal with illness. In times of distress she seeks the consolation of God, visiting the nearby St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: Juanita Shepherd

What’s the best thing about your job?

You get to be there for somebody at their worst and at their best; you get to see a side of them that the family usually doesn’t and it is amazing to see the strength in people’s weakest moments. I get a lot of job satisfaction when I go home, and the good days outweigh the bad days. Every day is different and I get to meet new people every day, there is no monotony in my job. I get to see people from different cultural and social backgrounds, I feel as if I am travelling around the world. I love my job.

What’s the worst thing about your job?

Death. Seeing death is the worst thing about my job. I also miss out on a steady social life because of shift work; it is very hard to plan things as there is a different roster every week, but I don’t mind at all and I adapt quickly to whatever the circumstances I find myself in.

Q What does your faith mean to you?

It is an identity and it also brings my family together; we go to church together and do things together relating to our faith. I carry it with me wherever I go, it helps me to deal with life’s ups and downs; it is just a part of me.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a nurse?

Definitely go for it because it is a very rewarding career. You have to be persistent and you’ll have some challenges, but don’t give up. As long as you are willing to keep on learning and if the idea of helping people appeals to you, go for it.

How does your faith help you in your day-to-day life?

It helps bring peace to me when I’m distressed and it helps bring me down to earth when I’m floating on air.

What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy going to the gym, I’m not into competitive sports but I like the act of keeping fit. I love cooking for friends on special occasions and I like baking.

What is a typical day at work like?

Every day is different depending on the cases that you get, there is no such thing as a typical day at work and it is always different. There’s so much to do and there is no set routine but you have to adapt to the situation, which is always changing, especially when there is a sudden emergency.

Why did you choose nursing?

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, even as a kid. I always used to look after my younger cousins and over time becoming a nurse just became a natural choice for me.

What was it like being a Catholic and growing up in the Middle East?

It made my faith stronger as I had to hold onto it more. Living in Qatar, which isn’t quite as strict as some of the other Gulf countries, I was able to go to church and it was special because there was only one church in the area that I lived in.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

I would very much like to travel to Europe, just for the history.

What were some of the challenges you faced living in the Middle East?

I didn’t face many challenges, Qatar is quite free compared to many countries in the Middle East; it is not as restrictive as Saudi Arabia.

What do you like about Perth?

The weather, the beaches and the atmosphere, it is so laid back, I love it.

What is your favourite movie?

The Shawshank Redemption. Every time I watch it I feel like I’m watching it for the first time, I never get fed up and I cheer for the underdog, it’s so heart warming. I liked the main character.

Who is your favourite actor?

Robert Downey Jr. His acting is so good and convincing.

What is your favourite medical drama on TV?

Grey’s Anatomy; McDreamy all the way.

Who is your patron saint?

St Anne.

With Christmas around the corner what’s the best thing about it?

There are so many things that I love about Christmas, spending time with my family and the [general] atmosphere.

What do you hope to achieve in your career as a nurse?

I hope to specialise in a field in nursing; I haven’t decided which one yet and the possibilities are endless. I would also like to volunteer my services as a nurse.

Have you ever been faced with a decision that has tested your beliefs?

No not really, it is not part of my job to push my personal beliefs onto other individuals, my faith is part of me and that’s it; I go to St Mary’s Cathedral because it is so close and it is just nice to sit there for some time.