Southern DHB Nurse receives Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Southern DHB is delighted to announce Pacific Island Nurse Specialist Sandy (Vaeluaga) Borland received a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in this year’s Queens’ Birthday list.
Mrs Borland began working at the Southern DHB in 1984 as a Nurse Aid at Kew Hospital (now Southland Hospital). After working as an Enrolled Nurse, she completed further study to become a Registered Nurse in 1999. With significant clinical experience in the surgical ward, dementia unit and day surgery, Mrs Borland then joined the Pacific Island Case Management Nursing Service in 2004.
Mrs Borland is humble about her award and says it is a team effort. She acknowledges her colleagues who are also very passionate about supporting the Pacifica community and ensuring patients receive the best possible support and education on their health care journey.
“I just keep doing what I am doing, focusing on relationships, and ensuring our Pacifica community is able to reach the health care they need.”
Supporting the Pacifica community is a family affair with sister Pauline Smith receiving a MNZM in 2021 for services to the Pacific Arts and Community.
Judy Geary, Charge Nurse Manager, Community Nursing Southland is very proud of Ms Borland’s achievement and her commitment to providing holistic health care to the Southern community.
“Sandy demonstrates kindness and compassion every day. She is always there to help those in need, often working after hours offering advice and crisis support. Her key strength is walking alongside patients on their health care journey. Her caseload is frequently acute and complex, and she advocates tirelessly for her patients.”
“Sandy works very hard to promote health and health literacy. She is instrumental in supporting successful health initiatives at the Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust Community facility in Invercargill including the Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist Clinics, Cervical Screening and the COVID Vaccination Clinics where Pacifica has excellent attendance rates. Sandy knows her community well, and they know and trust her.”
Southern DHB Chief Executive Chris Fleming congratulates Mrs Borland on behalf of the Southern DHB. “We are very proud of Sandy and her award. Sandy is an expert navigator in assisting patients and their families through their health journey and we highly value her advocation for Pacifica people in our community.”