International Nurses Day: Sunday 12 May
This Sunday is International Nurses Day, the anniversary of Florence Nightengale's birth and an opportunity for us to reflect on and recognise the integral role nurses play within our multidisciplinary teams.
Our health system is full of highly trained, committed nurses who deliver excellent care. This week we will be sharing stories from some of the nurses from our teams here in Nelson Marlborough.
Together we are making significant steps towards Pae Ora, healthy futures, for all. Ngā mihi nui, many thanks to you all.
District Nurses: making a difference in our community
Newly qualified District Nurse and mum of three Sandy Reid has always loved caring for people.
District Nurse Sandy Reid
She trained as a beauty therapist before moving into the health sector, spending time as a healthcare assistant and in administrative roles at dental and medical centres.Eventually it was her colleagues at a Nelson medical practice who encouraged her to consider moving from reception to nursing. At age 50, Sandy took the leap and enrolled at NMIT to study nursing full time.
“I’ve always wanted to do nursing; I just didn’t think I was clever enough. I thought it was going to be way too hard, I didn’t do very well at school and then I had kids, then you make all the other excuses. It dawned on me that life is not going to wait for me, so I decided ‘let’s do it’ and I don’t regret it.”
It’s something she still pinches herself about.
“I passed my finals in December. It’s still feels like ‘how did I do it?’ but if I can do it, anyone can do it, you just have to be passionate about it. I cannot believe I’m actually getting paid to do something that I love.”
As a District Nurse, Sandy visits people at home in the Nelson community and provides personalised care tailored to each patient. Her work is varied and can include administering medication and supporting patients with complex conditions. She particularly enjoys specialist wound care.
“I love skin, I think that comes from my beauty therapy. It’s such a large organ of the body. It’s pretty awesome to be able to support people as they heal.”
Complex palliative care is also a side of her role that Sandy finds rewarding.
“When I was doing my training in Motueka, I got a lot out of providing palliative care. My role was to set up anything the patient might need – syringe drivers, airbeds or supporting with medication. To know that you were making patients as comfortable as possible was the nicest feeling you could possibly get. Why didn’t I do this earlier on in my life?” she laughs, “I wish I had!”
Sandy started her community work in the Nayland area as part of a team of more than 20 District Nurses who support the Nelson community from Hira to Hope. District nursing is where Sandy sees her future.
“It’s a privilege to be able to go into someone’s home and see how they’re living. It gives you a holistic approach to nursing, you can see how they’re living and you can provide the appropriate support. Recently after I helped a patient, she gave me the biggest hug and I thought, this is what makes it”.
Sandy with the Nelson District Nursing team
“I’ve got a great team right beside me; if I need anything I can just pick up my phone and someone will be there. It’s a close-knit group between Wakefield, Richmond and Motueka. There’s no nastiness, we all just get in and work as a team. I feel very lucky.”
Overall, it’s the sense of satisfaction that Sandy gets from helping that makes her so passionate about nursing.
“My favourite thing about my role is helping. Knowing that I’m actually making a difference in someone’s life. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, it could just be a basic thing, but that basic thing can make a huge difference to someone’s life.”
Sandy has a simple message for anyone considering nursing:
“Do it. Don’t hesitate. You don’t just have to do nursing, it’s a broad career. I would encourage anyone to go for it, don’t hold back, life’s too short. When you can make a difference to someone’s life then that is the best reward”.
