Nurses Day – Thank You to Canterbury Nurses

DATE: 12 May 2008

SUBJECT: International Nurses Day – Thank You to Canterbury Nurses

Nurses around the world are celebrating International Nurses Day today, Monday 12 May – the birthday of Florence Nightingale. This includes the 5,000 plus nurses in Canterbury, more than half of whom work for the Canterbury District Health Board.

Mary Gordon, CDHB’s Executive Director of Nursing, says, “it is a day for the community and those who employ nurses to say thank you to them for what they do. And for nurses and everyone involved in the training and education of nurses to stand back and look at what they have achieved in the past year."

“I am very proud to be one of the nursing leaders, who work with the many dedicated and talented nurses in Canterbury,” she says.

“As well as working hard for their patients, a vast number are studying to improve the level of care they provide and further raise the standards in our profession. It is a career that many people become incredibly passionate about and their clinical practice and successes reflect that."

CDHB is marking International Nurses Day with a variety of activities for nurses including a showcase of presentations from nurses who are leading practice innovation across the healthcare sector and presentation of the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award, Making a Difference Award and Leadership in Nursing Award.

In Canterbury, nurses fill a wide variety of roles including positions in General Practice and primary care, community nursing, aged care services, child care services, mental services, teaching, hospitals and welfare organisations.

They are also part of many initiatives in which nurses are either taking a leadership role or are actively involved.

“This year, more nurses than ever before are training at Canterbury Polytechnic Institute of Technology but in the next few years we will need a whole lot more to take up this rewarding career,” Mary says.

If you are interested in training to be a nurse, contact the CPIT for further information. If you would like to return to nursing after time away, contact Deb Mason, Nursing Recruitment Facilitator, Canterbury District Health Board Department of Nursing, on 03 3641150 or deb.mason[at]cdhb.govt.nz

ENDS

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