Born and raised in Austria, Melanie Hands’ path to becoming a Nursing Unit Clerk was far from the ordinary. She had tried on many hats to find the right career fit throughout her life: from studying business, to pursuing makeup artistry, and even interning as a physical therapist.
Journey across continents
When Melanie was 16, she embarked on an exchange program to the United States. During the holidays, she headed north to visit her extended family in Vancouver, BC, and fell in love with the city and its natural beauty. She decided that one day she would make Canada her home. In 2021, at age 25, she finally took the leap, sold her house, packed her belongings, and made her dream a reality. She recalls thinking, “If I’m not moving there now, I never will, and I knew I was going to end up regretting not moving to Canada.”
In 2022, Melanie found her now-husband, Mitchell Hands, on Tinder. From their very first conversation, it was clear that they had an amazing connection. They felt as though they had known each other for years. What started with a swipe, quickly turned into a meaningful and loving relationship.
“I knew I was going to end up regretting not moving to Canada.”
Finding her true calling
Melanie “always had a love for makeup,” and enjoyed expressing herself artistically. She found that the unpredictable hours and working freelance in makeup on wedding and movie productions did not align with her desire to start a family.
Unsure of her next steps, a relative suggested she should become a Nursing Unit Clerk(NUC), recognizing she loves to be organized and take charge. She researched everything about the career and shadowed a Nursing Unit Clerk at Maple Ridge Hospital. Experiencing firsthand how rewarding the role could be it was when everything clicked, she knew that this was the career for her.
Drawn by its strong reputation and the convenience of online learning, she chose Stenberg College. When first joining the cohort of 37 students, she felt intimidated but quickly realized that “everyone was supportive and patient.” Melanie thrived in such a welcoming and encouraging environment.
“Every cohort needs a ‘Melanie’!”
One of her classmates, Cecilia Chow, adds, “Melanie is very helpful and always prepares a study guide for the whole class to prepare for quizzes and exams. She also shares information about her job in the healthcare system and is encouraging, telling us, that we will be fine finding a job after we graduate. Even though we never met Melanie in person, she always had a positive attitude and a nice smile.”
Melanie loved every aspect of the program as it was well-structured, but the class she least expected to like became her absolute favourite–Medical Terminology. Initially, she was worried about retaining all the medical jargon or even finding it interesting. However, her instructor, Kathleen McLeod, “made the entire subject so approachable and so easy and fun.” To this day, surgeons will say to Melanie, “Your terminology is really good!”
Kathleen continues: “Melanie’s ability to quickly grasp and demonstrate new concepts and skills makes her an ideal academic candidate for this award, but it was her teamwork, support of her classmates, and her quiet confidence that made her so impactful in the program. Every cohort needs a ‘Melanie’!”
“Even though we never met Melanie in person, she always had a positive attitude and a nice smile.”
Thriving in healthcare
Melanie went back to Maple Ridge Hospital for her practicum, where she learned the ins and outs of unit clerking with an extended focus on answering the phone and entering orders. She immediately secured a full-time position as a Nursing Unit Clerk at Royal Columbian Hospital, while still in her practicum. She graduated from the NUC program with an exceptional 98% grade point average (GPA). She takes charge of all the patients in the pre-op area and ensures everything is organized in the operations room. What she loves most about the job is its dynamic nature—every day presents new challenges and learning opportunities. This position also aligns with Melanie’s personal goal of starting a family as it provides structured work hours and a stable work environment.
Melanie’s journey, which began in a small town in Austria, has led to significant life changes in the past two years. She has found a career that she loves, where she can make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. She has found and married her true love. And magically (and we all love a love story) she is expecting her first child in six months. It doesn’t get better than this.
