Te Hiku Hauora are proud to acknowledge two of their nurses who received awards at the ACE Awards 2016 in Kaikohe on May 12.
Te Hiku Hauora GP Clinic registered nurse, Deb White was awarded the Waiora Excellence in Clinical Practice along with Kaitaia Health Centre nurse Jeanette Rupapera who was awarded Mauri Ora: Nursing Workforce runner up.
The awards, (ACE-Acknowledging, Celebrating and Encouraging Excellence in primary health care work) are held annually and strive to acknowledge the excellent developments in Primary Health Care nursing settings.
Deb, who has been with the Te Hiku Hauora team since November 2007, says she is honoured and humbled to have been given this award.
“I couldn’t wish to work anywhere else or do any other job. Every day is different. I love everything about working here my colleagues, my patients, and the environment. “
Deb was nominated by workmate and Te Hiku Hauora GP Clinic Practice Nurse Team Leader Alison Mills.
“She fulfils her role as a Practice Nurse to an excellence standard and is a highly regarded and appreciated member of our team. Deb is always busy, always happy to lend a hand, hardworking and conscientious. She is our immunisation champion and takes that aspect of her role seriously.”
Kaitaia Health Centre nurse Jeanette Rupapera also says she feels humbled to be recognised.
“Especially for working as a practice nurse, a position I thoroughly enjoy due to the diversity of the position and the ongoing learning that I receive.”
Jeanette is in her 16th year nursing at Kaitaia Health centre.
“Our small team here are very supportive of each other. Being a nurse is all I ever wanted to do since my early school years. My belief is no one can work as a nurse because of the ‘job’, you have to have a passion for it.”
According to long term colleague Bella Stevenson, Jeanette was nominated for her resilience and professionalism despite the adversity and inconsistence of nursing support around her.
“Jeannette is a very quiet and humble person about her own skill and capacity, but as an external observer, she has maintained a very high level of professionalism, work ethic in spite of adversity, and almost single handily demonstrated a resilient nursing workforce. For this effort I believe Jeanette should be honoured.”
Practice Manager for Te Hiku Hauora, Mamaru and Kaitaia Health Centre GP Clinics, Cheryl Britton agrees.
“We are so fortunate and privileged to have such outstanding nurses and team members as Deb and Jeanette. These two nurses always go the extra mile, and have an amazing work ethic. It is an honour to work alongside such wonderful people.”
