DOGGED DEVOTION BRINGS JOY TO THE WARD —
Wearing her specially-made nurse’s uniform, Storm radiates fun and friendliness as she walks around Ward 9 at Nelson Hospital. Storm is a four year-old labradoodle owned by registered nurse Desiree Johns. Her role as a ‘therapy dog’ is to bring joy to our patients. Desiree picked Storm from a litter as a birthday present for her husband. However, the puppy couldn’t live with them initially in their rental accommodation so Storm lived with Desiree’s mother-in-law. It was with her that Storm began doing therapy work visiting a day service for people with special needs. When Storm was able to live with Desiree, she continued her therapy work, with monthly visits to Ward 9. “She’s placid, intuitive and a real people person,” says Desiree. “She just gently goes up to patients that want to see her.” Therapy dog Storm with the team from Ward 9. Inset: Desiree Johns introduces Storm to Ruth Chignell, a patient on Ward 9.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN NURSING —
Registered nurse and NMH Resuscitation Educator Michele Udy celebrated 50 years in nursing with an impromptu morning tea party with her colleagues (Michele is fourth from the left). Michele’s nursing career started in 1970 at Invercargill Hospital, moving to Wairau Hospital in 1985. Wairau Hospital Operations Manager Joyce Forsyth says Michele specialises in cardiac and high-dependency nursing and is well respected by her colleagues for her knowledge. “As well as her official resuscitation training role Michele encourages and coaches colleagues with knowledge and skills in cardiac care, particularly ECG recognition,” Joyce says.
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