Southern nurses gathered in both Invercargill and Dunedin last Friday (12 May), International Nurses Day, to celebrate and award leading members within their profession.

Award nominees were selected by their peers and managers, and recognised nursing innovation, quality improvement, patient safety, clinical excellence, leadership, research, new graduates, education, rising stars, and outstanding nursing practice.

Māori and Pacific Nursing awards were also presented for the first time this year.

Jane Wilson, Te Whatu Ora Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer for Southern said it was important to pause and formally recognise nurses who exemplified excellence in the Southern health system.

“All those nominated are exemplars of so many other nurses doing amazing things every day in our district.”

“I am so proud and in awe of what our nurses do, despite the challenges and pressures they face every working day,” Wilson said.

Southland Award Recipients

• Nursing Research Award: Karyn Madden (Programme Manager at Te Pūkenga, Southern Institute of Technology) 
• Quality Improvement and Innovative Practice Award: Sarah Halder (Clinical Co-ordinator - Emergency Department Te Whatu Ora Southern), Carol Riddle (Director of Enliven, Presbyterian Support Otago) and Jane Miedema (Quality & Practice Development Coordinator – Hospice Southland)
• Patient Safety Award: Sue Dillon (Clinical Nurse Specialist Infection, Prevention and control, Te Whatu Ora Southern)  
• Rising Star Award: Kim Spooner (He Puna Waiora Wellness Centre General Practice Nurse – Nga kete Matauranga Pounamu Trust) and Hannah Cocker (Registered Nurse – Emergency Department, Te Whatu Ora)
• Preceptor or Clinical Supervisor Award: Alan Thornton (Registered Nurse– Medical Ward, Te Whatu Ora Southern)
• New Graduate Nurse Award: Ashiyana Farook (NESP Registered Nurse – Community Mental Health Team, Te Whatu Ora Southern) and McKenzie Clark (NETP Registered Nurse – Emergency Department, Te Whatu Ora Southern)
• Nursing Education Award: Nicola Dowling (PDRP Co-ordinator - Former Medical Ward Educator, Te Whatu Ora Southern) and Malinda Hill (Nursing Educator – Te Pūkenga-SIT) 
• Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award: Rohan Blackler (Triage/Intake Nurse Community Palliative Care – Hospice Southland) and Donna Madden (CNS-Diabetes, Te Whatu Ora Southern) and Amanda Butler (Lead Practice Nurse- Mataura Medical Centre, Te hau O te Ora)
• Nursing Leadership Award: Lara Gleeson (NETP Co-Ordinator, Te Whatu Ora Southern), Cherie Muelenbroek (Charge Nurse Manager – Surgical Ward, Te Whatu Ora, Southern) and Lisa Henderson (Nurse Practitioner – Hospice Southland)
• Pacific Nursing Award: Richie Dalhousie (Registered Nurse, Community Mental Health Nurse, Te Whatu Ora Southern) 
• Te Kete A Matariki Māori Nursing Award: Tania Rewi (District Nurse, Te Whatu Ora Southern) and Charleen Waddell (Clinical Nurse Specialist-Diabetes, Te Whatu Ora Southern)

Special Awards

• Alison Anderson Award: Natasha Cunningham 
• Emma Bagley Memorial Award: Maike Rickertsen