Sixteen Nurses Receive Awards for Nursing

Sixteen Nurses Receive Awards for Nursing Excellence

Sixteen nurses across Otago and Southland each received an award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their profession and the community yesterday, at celebrations which coincided with International Nurses’ Day.

International Nurses’ Day is celebrated on 12 May each year, which is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. In 2010 the theme was “Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care”.

Southern DHB Deputy Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Tina Gilbertson said events were held in both Otago and Southland to reflect on the outstanding contribution made by the regions’ nurses.

“International Nurses’ Day provides an important opportunity for us to celebrate the fantastic quality of care nurses deliver to their community 365 days of the year, as well as their ongoing commitment to improving the health outcomes of our population.

“Our award recipients, and indeed all of our nurses, are to be congratulated for their efforts and should feel a great sense of pride and achievement.”

Southland

In Southland , 110 nurses from across the region attended the 3rd Annual Southland Nursing Excellence Awards last night, which included a dinner and scholarship presentation. The scholarships will be used by the recipients for ongoing professional development.

The winners came from a range of nursing practice environments.

Recipients of the Violet McBain awards
• Sue Ballam, Southland Hospital Outpatients Clinic Registered Nurse (RN)
• Sandy Borland, RN, Pacific Island Nursing Service
• Ian Ryder, RN, Mental Health

Research Award
• Amanda McCracken, RN, Practice Nurse for Tuatapere Medical Centre

Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Awards
• Rachael Hall: RN, Southland Immunisation Co-ordinator
• Alison Wilden: RN Nurse Manager, Gore Medical Centre

Aged Care Award
• Molly Muir, Enrolled Nurse, Peacehaven Village

Southern Institute of Technology Award
• Boyd Frame, RN, Medical Ward, Southland Hospital

Special Acknowledgement for Contribution to Nursing:
• Lyn Smith, RN, Clinical Nurse Manager, Surgical Ward
• Carla Arkless, RN, Community Palliative Care Nurse, Hospice Southland / First Nurse Practitioner, Southland

The ten nurses were chosen from 17 nominees across the community. The scholarships were funded by the Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), Southern District Health Board and the Violet McBain Trust. Ms McBain was a former patient of various departments at Southland Hospital who left a bequest to support nurses.

Otago Awards

International Nurses Day was celebrated at Dunedin Hospital with a Nursing Scholarship and Recognition Ceremony, followed by an afternoon tea.

The event was well attended with 75 people taking part. Six nurses were awarded scholarships towards their ongoing professional development.

Otago scholarship Recipients:

NZNO – Ngaio Fulton Trust Scholarship
Janice Bridgman, RN, Ward 8A Internal Medicine, Dunedin Hospital

Health Care Otago Charitable Trust Scholarships
• Richelle Fogarty, RN District Nurse, Southern DHB (Otago)
• Jo Dobson, RN, Associate Charge Nurse Manager, Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit, Dunedin Hospital
• Jo Mitchell, RN, Nursing Entry to Practice Coordinator Southern DHB Knowledge Centre (Otago)
• Stacey Smart, RN, Associate Charge Nurse, Ward 9B Intensive Care Mental Health, Wakari Hospital

Dunedin North Rotary Scholarship
• Merrilee Williams, RN , Gastroenterology Unit, Dunedin Hospital

As a special feature of this year’s Dunedin celebration, Otago staff created a digital montage recognising Otago Nurses as ‘Our Everyday Heroes’. Ms Gilbertson said the presentation epitomises the fantastic work carried out everyday by the Otago Nursing team. This presentation can be viewed on YouTube by searching Nursing in Dunedin or following the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY0mKL05L5g.

Photos of the International Nurses' Day Celebrations and award recipients are available on request.

ENDS

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