Far West LHD Celebrates Excellence in Nursing Award Winners for 2020
The Far West Local Health District has acknowledged exceptional performance amongst its nursing and midwifery staff with six individuals and one team honoured in the LHD's Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards for 2020.
The Award recipients for 2020 are:
- Nurse of the Year - Samara Lloyd.
- Midwife of the Year - Letitia Neate.
- New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year - Harrison Clout
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurse/Midwife of the Year award - Babette Cruickshank.
- Team of the Year Award - BH Health Service Medical Unit.
- Judith Meppem Leadership Award - Julie Manoel.
- Healing Heart Award (consumer-nominated award) - Mitchell Firkin.
The recipients for this year's Awards were selected from nominations submitted by their peers, colleagues and consumers across the Far West LHD.
The awards were presented by Chief Executive, Mr Umit Agis, and Mr Timothy O'Neill, Nurse Manager Leadership & Workforce Development, on behalf of Ms Dale Sutton, Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery.
This year's awards were delayed due to the Far West LHD's response to COVID-19. (Today's ceremony was conducted in accordance with the LHD's COVID-19 measures). The Awards are usually held in May, as part of International Nurses' Day (12 May) and International Midwives' Day (5 May) celebrations.
The Awards also recognised the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaration of 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife and that 2020 is also 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale, recognised as the founder of modern nursing. International Year of the Nurse and Midwife puts a focus on the hard work, passion, dedication and commitment, which nurses bring to their highly skilled profession and the care they are known for.
At today's ceremony, Mr O'Neill read out the following for each of the award recipients as it was presented:
- Nurse of the Year - Samara Lloyd.
Samara started her career with the Far West LHD in 2017 as a new graduate in the Emergency Department (ED) at the Broken Hill Health Service. She embraced her role with a voracious appetite to learn and to embed her skills and knowledge. She strives to give her patients exceptional care every time and is recognised as a valued member of the Emergency Department Team. She always demonstrate a positive caring attitude with her patients and colleagues. Samara incorporates the CORE values of NSW Health into her practice which does not go unnoticed by patients and consumers. Samara exhibits advanced nursing skills, nurtures and mentors undergraduate students and early career nurses. Samara is dedicated and committed to rural health care and improving health outcomes for families in the Far West LHD.
- Midwife of the Year - Letitia Neate.
Letitia is a midwife in the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) and has been with the Far West LHD since February 2018. Letitia is currently fulfilling the Team Leader Role in the MGP and has shown leadership and courage whilst acting in this role. Letitia has excellent midwifery clinical skills which enables her to empower women to make evidence based and informed choices relating to their pregnancy and birth care. Letitia is respected by her peers and always goes above and beyond for the women whom she cares for. Letitia is motivated, committed and displays an innovative approach to improving contemporaneous midwifery care in Broken Hill.
- New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year - Harrison Clout
Harrison has been with Far West since 2019, commencing in the Transition to Professional Practice Program. He has been nominated by his peers and recognised by his manager and has been described as a wholesome, kind, gentle soul who provides excellent nursing care, escalating when concerned and maintaining a professional therapeutic relationship with the patient and their families. Harrison has created a positive impact on patients and staff, he is passionate, kind, and respectful and committed to excellent, safe nursing care. Harrison has also demonstrated a commitment to service improvement and his own professional development over the past 18 months which has made him a valued team member of the Emergency Department.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurse/Midwife of the Year award (Assistant in Nursing, Enrolled Nurse, Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife) - Babette Cruickshank.
Babette has progressed through the Far West LHD School Based Apprentice Traineeship Program to undergraduate nursing studies at Flinders University SA. Babette is currently employed as an Assistant in Nursing and is part of the Aboriginal Cadetship Program in Far West LHD. Babette has a passionate genuine caring nature. She has demonstrated excellent communication skills for a novice nurse who advocates for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients and their families. Babette has shown a genuine interest in improving health outcomes for indigenous people and has role modelled behaviours which has increased the knowledge base of other staff when caring for Aboriginal patients by providing cultural awareness to staff in the clinical setting.
- Team of the Year Award - BH Health Service Medical Unit.
The Medical Unit have been nominated for this award by numerous consumers, multi-disciplinary team members and other directorate's staff and their peers. The medical team work well together to deliver person centred care in a compassionate and empathetic manner. The team has shown a genuine commitment to improved patient outcomes and to also look after one another within the unit in these uncertain times. The team accepts all challenges and are resilient, adaptive, and agile to the changing health landscape.
- Judith Meppem Leadership Award - Julie Manoel.
Julie Manoel has worked in the role of After Hours Nurse Manager for several years. She maintains an excellent level of professionalism, always approachable to staff and holds the role of the nurse in high esteem and a career to be proud of. Julie always advocates for patients and their families, she communicates with medical staff and management to ensure all patient care requirements are undertaken in a safe and efficient way. Julie is seen as an inspiration to our junior staff members through her professional behaviour and clinical expertise. Julie is a role model to all staff, she maintains a clinical presence across all units at the Broken Hill Health Service to ensure staff feel supported after hours.
- Healing Heart Award (consumer-nominated award) - Mitchell Firkin.
Mitchell Firkin is a Registered Nurse who completed his new graduate year with the Far West LHD in 2016 and has been nominated for this award by a consumer. Mitchell is recognised for his ability to adapt his nursing and communication style in order to individualise the care he provides. Consumers have noted his reassuring nature and his ability to instil a sense of calm during confronting circumstances. He balances an appropriate use of humour and empathy into his professional nursing care. His likeable nature results in his patients feeling safe and well cared for whilst in the Emergency Department.
The Award recipients will be nominated in the NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2020 which will be announced in Sydney on the 10 August 2020.