Discover Megan’s path from NICU nurse to health policy leader
For 18 years, Megan Korpok has worked as a dedicated nurse in both adult and neonatal intensive care nursing. She understands better than most, the vital role nurses like her play in caring for these tiny, defenseless patients.
When it comes to neonatal care, Australia is performing well. But as nurses like Megan know, there’s so much more that needs to be done. Currently, preterm births are the leading cause of death for children aged under five and one in 12 babies are born early. These are statistics that stubbornly refuse to budge.
“As neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurses, we love these babies as if they were our own, and we give everything to help them grow strong enough to go home. Working in a Level 6 NICU means caring for the most vulnerable neonates and their families. Many can fit in the palm of your hand when they arrive and are dependent on ventilators to breathe.”
— Megan Korpok
We urgently need more nurses like Megan equipped to be able to help shape policy that improves neonatal care in this country. As technology continues to advance in leaps and bounds, our systems and procedures must evolve to keep up.
When Megan was accepted for a Scholarship to ACN’s Emerging Policy Leaders Program, she felt “incredibly honoured and excited”.
“I also felt a deep sense of responsibility — this is not just an opportunity for my own growth, but a chance to represent my colleagues, my specialty area, and the broader nursing profession.”
— Megan Korpok
In an industry where leadership opportunities for nurses are still staggeringly under-resourced, programs like our Emerging Policy Leaders Program open up opportunities that keep skilled, dedicated professionals like Megan in the sector, doing what they do best.
As Judith Smith, ACN’s Director of Professional Development, said, ‘By partnering with the ACN Foundation’s scholarship initiatives, we’re helping nurses like Megan unlock their leadership potential and shape the future of nursing in Australia.’
These Scholarships are only possible with the support of people like you, who understand the true value of nurses in our community. With your generous donation today, we can support up to five Scholarships, valued at approximately $15,000 each for future nursing leaders like Megan, who will gain the skills they need to make a positive impact on health policy for us all.
