Finding Her Calling: Alejandra's Journey from Student Nurse to Registered Nurse at Hospice Waikato

When Alejandra Pino-Barrales arrived in New Zealand from Chile on a working holiday, she never imagined she would one day find her calling in palliative care.

And as she prepares to leave Hospice Waikato and begin her next chapter, we have been reflecting on the remarkable journey that brought her to us and the impact she has made along the way.

Originally from Chile, Alejandra studied law and worked in the legal field before setting off to explore the world. Her travels eventually brought her to New Zealand on a working holiday, where an unexpected opportunity would change the course of her life.  While working as a caregiver for a tetraplegic, Alejandra discovered something that resonated deeply within her: a love of caring for others. Supporting someone through the challenges of daily life gave her a sense of purpose and set her on an entirely new path.

When the COVID pandemic changed the plans of so many people, Alejandra made the brave decision to remain in New Zealand and retrain as a nurse.

During her studies, a four-week placement at Rainbow Place, Hospice Waikato’s children’s palliative care service, helped clarify the direction she wanted to take.

"I found a real sense of purpose there," she says. "It helped me understand the kind of nurse I wanted to become."

Wanting to better understand the experiences of patients and whānau facing life-limiting illness, she later chose a placement in M5 at Waikato Hospital, caring for people navigating terminal diagnoses.  "I wanted to understand where that experience begins," she explains. "That understanding helps me care for people wherever they are on that path."

That decision eventually brought her to Hospice Waikato.

What began as a student nurse placement grew into a career. Over the years, we have had the privilege of supporting Alejandra through every stage of her development, from student nurse to Healthcare Assistant, then new graduate nurse and finally Registered Nurse.

Looking back, Alejandra speaks less about qualifications and career progression and more about the people who surrounded her.

"From the very beginning, people wrapped me in support," she says. "There was always someone to answer a question, guide me or help me learn."

The mihi whakatau she received on arrival remains one of her strongest memories.  "It made me feel like I belonged. From that moment, I felt part of the Hospice Waikato whānau."

She describes an environment where everyone, from executive leaders to senior doctors to managers, nurses, healthcare assistants and volunteers, shares a genuine commitment to caring for one another, as well as the patients and whānau they serve.  "The organisation’s values of Compassion, Advocacy, Respect and Empathy aren't just words here," she says. "They are part of everyday life."

For Alejandra, the support she received extended well beyond developing clinical skills.  "My colleagues taught me how to be a nurse, but they also taught me how to care with love and compassion, and work in a genuinely holistic way."  That lesson has become central to the nurse she is today.

One memory from her early days at Hospice Waikato remains etched in her mind. On her first day working as a Registered Nurse, three patients died.  While some might expect such an experience to be confronting, it reinforced her understanding of why hospice care matters.  "Hospice care is not darkness," she says softly. "It is a celebration of life."

It is a philosophy that shapes the way she approaches every patient and whānau she meets.  "People can be afraid of dying because we have become disconnected from it. What I have learned is that it is possible to die in a beautiful way. There can be peace, dignity, connection, joy, and so much love."

There is a quiet spirituality in the way Alejandra talks about her work. She sees hospice care as a privilege: walking alongside patients and whānau during one of life's most significant transitions and helping create moments of comfort, meaning and connection.  Coming from Chile, where dedicated hospice services do not yet exist, she hopes that one day she may be able to share what she has learned and help inspire the development of end-of-life care in her homeland.

The last week in September marks the end of Alejandra's chapter with Hospice Waikato.  While we are sad to see her go, we are incredibly proud of everything she has achieved during her time with us. We have watched her grow from a student into a compassionate and skilled Registered Nurse whose presence brings comfort to patients, reassurance to whānau and support to her colleagues. She talks constantly about the skill and support of her team, "They are exceptional people, doing exceptionally beautiful work. I haven't seen this level of supportive teamwork anywhere."

More importantly, Alejandra leaves behind something far greater than qualifications or experience. She leaves behind countless acts of kindness, genuine human connection, and a reminder that nursing is as much about the heart as it is about clinical skill. 

We thank Alejandra for everything she has contributed to Hospice Waikato and wish her every success and happiness in the future.  Wherever her journey takes her next, we know she will continue to touch lives with the same grace, humility and compassion that have defined her time with us.  

Pictured:  Alejandra (middle), with Zoe Fairbrother - Inpatient Unit Clinical Nurse Manager (left) and Bel Macfie - Director of Nursing and Clinical Services (right).