Health NZ Southern’s nursing leaders know they have an awesome workforce doing the hard mihi day in and day out.
But when a lot of feedback started to roll in for one nurse, they collectively wanted to note the excellent work she does.
Enrolled Nurse Tracy Graves has spent 11 years at Dunedin Hospital and is entering her fourth year working in the elective pod on Ward 3C.
Surgical Services and Radiology Directorate Director of Nursing Sharon Jones says, in the past year they received 23 written statements from patients thanking Tracy.
“She is the most amazing nurse, and all of these patients say she had a positive impact when caring for them,” Sharon says.
In fact, when I went to see her in the ward she was so humbled by the feedback and those patients in the room nearly mobbed me wanting to tell me about her excellent care, Sharon says.
“We know all our staff do a great job, but Tracy is clearly doing something extra special. For a patient to write in and tell us that we need to appreciate one of our workers for the care they give takes time and effort beyond just thanking nurses directly.”
Tracy says nursing fits her values of wanting to help people and a nurse assists people at what can be their most vulnerable times in their lives.
Patient feedback for EN Tracy Graves.
While nursing can be overwhelming for everyone when they first start out, her advice is to never give up and to find your niche.
She feels right at home in the elective pod and has no plans to leave it. With her colleagues she does pre-admission talks to the patients on what to expect when they arrive on the ward and the requirements to be able to mobilise as soon as it is safe to do so after their surgery.
“One of the most rewarding things for me is helping patients to get back up on their feet after their respective surgery. Seeing them mobilise again and be confident is an amazing feeling,” Tracy says.
Feeling very humbled by the feedback she has so far received; she simply puts it down to loving her job as a nurse.
“There are challenges when we are short-staffed and you can’t give all the time to the patients that you’d like, but I love what I do.”
Being in a supportive environment on Ward 3C assists everyone in doing their best.
“I would like to mention two people who have had a positive impact on my career and that is Nurse Practitioner Anna Doherty and ACM Maryanne Mulcahey, who both gave me a start in the elective pod. Their support of me and giving me a chance has been wonderful,” Tracy says.
Did you know?
- The Ward 3C Surgical Elective Orthopaedic unit is an eight-bed area within the C pod where patients undergoing elective orthopaedic procedures such as hip and knee joint replacements are placed.
- Most of these patients have their care delivered against an agreed patient pathway for each procedure to optimise their recovery.
- Staff are experts in promoting enhanced recovery after surgery, which decreases the patient length of stay and allows more people to flow through the unit and receive their surgery.
