Leadership and passion: One nurse's global journey (NE)
Hunter New England Health is getting ready to recognise the value and achievements of its more than 7000 nurses tomorrow during International Nurses Day tomorrow (Tuesday 12 May).
This year, in addition to many celebrations being held in individual facilities, HNE Health nurses will further build on their culture of innovation by tuning into a webstream to hear the experiences of HNE Health nurse Bev Cooney.
Bev will share her tale of how her dream holiday to Peru in 2003 turned into the most fulfilling career change of her life.
While on holiday, Bev was moved by the poor access to healthcare suffered by the country’s children.
With the full support of HNE Health, she has since helped to improve the standard of living in the volatile province of Satipo, 400km east of the country’s capital, Lima, by sending over medical equipment and instigating a surgical program to correct simple deformities in children.
She has since retired and moved to the province, where she built her own home as well as a new school and rehabilitation centre for disabled children.
HNE Health Director of Nursing and Midwifery Chris Kewley said Bev’s tale was a perfect example of the innovative culture HNE Health provided for its nurses.
“Bev is just one of our many nurses making a difference in the community – in this case the global community – by simply thinking outside the box,” Mr Kewley said.
“Our organisation is 100 per cent behind any nurse or midwife who has an idea that has the potential to improve the standard of healthcare for any community.
“It’s great that we’re able to use International Nurses Day to further encourage excellence within our nursing workforce.”
A number of health services across the HNE Health Area will hold their own celebrations for International Nurses Day – please see the following page with a list of events.
Media are invited to attend celebrations at each health service for interviews, photographs and footage.
Tamworth Hospital and Tamworth Community Health
Activity: Cake and sausage sizzle behind the Tamworth Hospital kitchen.
Time: 11.45am, Tuesday 12 May.
Armidale Hospital and Community Health
Activity: Morning tea for nurses at Armidale Hospital.
Time: 10.30am, 12 May 2009.
Tenterfield Health Service
Activity: Barbecue and cricket match for all staff.
Time: Cricket will start at 11am, lunch will be held at 12.30pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Moree District Health Service
Activity: Lunch for nurses. Nurses will also work in old nursing uniforms.
Time: 12 noon, Tuesday 12 May 2009.
Barraba MPS
Activity: Multicultural lunch for nurses. Nurses will also dress in bright clothes.
Time: 1pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Narrabri District Hospital
Activity: Barbecue lunch for nurses. Nurses will also wear crazy accessories.
Time: 12.30pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Glen Innes Health Service
Activity: Barbecue lunch for nurses.
Time: 12.30pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Warialda MPS
Activity: Morning tea for nurses.
Time: 10.30am.
Guyra MPS
Activity: Afternoon tea for nurses.
Time: 1.30pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Gunnedah Health Service
Activity: Afternoon tea for nurses.
Time: 3pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Inverell Health Service
Activity: An afternoon tea will be held for nurses. Inverell District Hospital will also recognise the service of RN Heather Hawkins who has worked at the hospital since 1968.
Time: 2pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Manilla Hospital
Activity: Barbecue for nurses at Manilla Hospital.
Time: 12.30pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Walcha MPS
Activity: Lunch for nurses at Walcha MPS.
Time: 1pm, Tuesday 12 May.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: 6767 7137