Emergency nurses Jeremy and Rebecca Mollenhauer of Maryborough had double the reason to celebrate when they both graduated recently from the University of the Sunshine Coast with a Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Emergency Care).

It was the culmination of several years of dedication by the married couple, who balanced their study with jobs at Maryborough Base Hospital’s emergency department and caring for their two children.

Rebecca, who has worked as a nurse and paramedic in locations including Lancaster in England, Thursday Island and Roma, said the knowledge she gained in the Masters degree had enriched her work.

“Jeremy, who is also a paramedic, and I both feel we are more comfortable in accessing and critiquing research to support our clinical practice,” Rebecca said.

“It’s given us a broader view of nursing, and caused us to reconsider many aspects of our job, from clinical to management to education.”

Rebecca said the USC graduation ceremony was especially cherished after she and her husband had overcome some unexpected challenges.

“Midway through the Masters I had to have open heart surgery,” she said. “The lecturers were empathetic, accommodating, and supportive of both of us in that very stressful time.”

Jeremy said that the dedication and effort the pair put into their study had paid off.

“USC’s staff were very knowledgeable in their area of expertise, and we found assessment was relevant to workplace practice, which facilitated the integration of new information into our practice,” he said.

More than 15 degrees and study programs, including the popular Bachelor of Nursing Science, will be offered in 2017 at USC’s Fraser Coast campus.

For information on studying at USC go to www.usc.edu.au/learn or attend USC Fraser Coast’s Open Day and community celebration on Sunday 18 September.

— Gen Kennedy