Karen Holden

Karen Holden is the Care capacity demand management nurse coordinator for Hutt Valley DHB and a student of the Master of Health.

Karen has been a nurse for more than 25 years. Recently, her career shifted direction and she moved into a management role at the Hutt Valley District Health Board (DHB). This led her to explore how study could help her grow in the role.

“One of the challenges in my role is influencing outcomes for a programme of work that involves change for DHBs. Postgraduate study is helping me learn how I can be more effective.”

When Karen first started her postgraduate degree, it had been a while since she had been at university, but she found the support of the university staff invaluable in transitioning back into an academic environment.

“I hadn’t completed formal postgraduate education for 10 years. The help of a student learning adviser increased my confidence, and my lecturer was available to keep me on track.”

Although juggling work, home, and study could be overwhelming at times, she found the University to be supportive and the benefits of studying made the challenge worth it.

“There is a lot of support within the University to help you, from the lecturers to the other students in the class and student services,” she says.

“I have more confidence and can take what I’ve learned and apply it to my experiences at home and work.”