Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
18 minutes ago
A Hastings mother of four has spent more than 20 years caring for others. Now, as one of 12 graduates from EIT’s first NZ Diploma in Enrolled Nursing cohort, Lisa Bingley is stepping into the nursing career she put on hold 15 years ago – and she also has a Perpetual Guardian New Zealand Nursing Fund Scholarship to show for it.
Lisa’s healthcare journey began in aged care. She worked her way up from caregiver to senior caregiver and became the rest home’s manual handling officer, teaching and training staff. Along the way she kept adding skills in infection control and diversional therapy, reaching Level 4, the highest qualification available to a healthcare assistant.
“I’d completed all my levels and I knew I couldn’t go any further, but I wanted to make more of a difference.”
Fifteen years ago, Lisa enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing. Then she fell pregnant with her son.
“I had to give up my study, as I knew I couldn’t manage it. As time went on, I knew I couldn’t commit to the three years of study.”
Mum of four among the first 12 graduates of EIT’s Enrolled Nursing programme
Until recently, anyone wanting a career in nursing had to either work as a healthcare assistant or commit to three years of study to become a registered nurse.
Now, with an ageing population and growing pressure on the health system, enrolled nursing is back. The 18-month diploma bridges the gap between caregiver and registered nurse, and graduates can apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand to register as enrolled nurses, with the option of going on to a Bachelor of Nursing.
EIT School of Nursing Programme Coordinator Grace Kelly was part of the team that brought the programme to EIT, working closely with the Nursing Council and other tertiary providers on a nationally recognised qualification.
Lisa’s drive to keep learning took her to a newly created Occupational Therapy Assistant role at Cranford Hospice three and a half years ago, where she fitted equipment in people’s homes and trained families to use it.
“I loved every minute of it.”
Then her manager, Sharyn Flynn, mentioned that EIT had launched an Enrolled Nursing programme but the first intake was already under way.
“I thought, I’ve waited 15 years, I can wait another two until the next intake,” said Lisa.
However, Grace had other ideas. Seeing Lisa’s potential, she invited her to sit in on a class, even though the course was two weeks in.
“The Enrolled Nursing course is only 18 months, and you come out with a Level 5 nursing qualification. With all her past knowledge and the support of her employer, Cranford Hospice, Lisa was the perfect candidate.”
For Lisa, it meant some quick decision-making.
“I basically had to sign the paperwork that night, and I started the next week. In hindsight that was a really good thing as I didn’t have time to think about it and worry about whether I had enough time to do it.”
Finding the time meant balancing study, work and four children aged 4 to 24 and Lisa credits her husband and eldest daughter for their unwavering support. Lisa stayed on at Cranford Hospice throughout the course, and once placements began, she switched to night shifts as a healthcare assistant to keep everything going.
“When I was trying to work out how I could still do a job, class and kids – Cranford has just been amazing.”
Study has become a family affair, too. With her 15-year-old son at high school and a 24-year-old daughter training to be a social worker, Lisa is often working hitting the books alongside her whānau.
“My son will ask, ‘What are you working on, Mum?’ and we chat about what we’re both studying or what assignments we’re working on. It’s pretty special.”
After two decades of hands-on care, Lisa says the biggest shift has been understanding the reasons behind tasks she has performed for years.
“Enrolled nursing really focuses on why you do things, and what could happen if you don’t. That has really opened things up for me.”
Her commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. Lisa was recently awarded the Perpetual Guardian New Zealand Nursing Fund Scholarship, which supports nurses to continue their education and professional development.
“100% class attendance, A+ results – Lisa has just been amazing,” Grace says. “Her ability to give back to the community and her drive to improve her knowledge made a huge impact at her practicum placements. They absolutely loved her.”
For her next step Lisa is heading back to Cranford Hospice as an enrolled nurse, working alongside the hospice’s registered nurses.
Nurse Manager there Sharyn Flynn says when she employed Lisa, her compassion and commitment to patient-centred care were clear.
“I was so excited to tell her about the enrolled nursing programme, knowing she had the mindset and skills to further develop her career. It has been a privilege to support Lisa on this journey, and I look forward to supporting her as she embeds her clinical skills into practice.”
Meanwhile, Grace is working through applications for the next cohort and is excited to be delivering the programme at EIT on the East Coast, giving more healthcare workers a pathway to a nursing qualification and helping fill much-needed gaps in hospitals and aged care.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/11/04/a-lifetime-of-care-leads-lisa-to-nursing-and-a-scholarship-eit-hawkes-bay-and-tairawhiti/