The Health Quality and Safety Commission’s Open for Leadership Awards are given out monthly to DHBs around the country – two a month from February to November.
Each month two DHBs are asked to put forward one candidate in the first five years of their career or clinical practice, who has shown clear emerging leadership qualities and made a difference to patient care.
Six nominations were received by the Hauora Tairawhiti Board. One of the nominees will receive an Open for Leadership Award trophy, funding for training of their choice and national recognition.
One of Hauora Tairāwhiti’s nominees is profiled below
Health Quality and Safety Commission Open for Leadership Award nominee, Operating Theatre Nurse Michelle Goldsmith.
Michelle Goldsmith did her NeTP in Theatre 2015 and is now into her third year as an Registered Nurse and is on track to complete her PG Cert this year.
“It is nice to know and hear that people are happy with my work. You show up and you get on with it so it is amazing to be nominated and to have supportive staff around me,” says Michelle.
“Congratulations to the other nominees.”
Theatre Manager Sharon Patterson nominated Michelle.
“I find Michelle quietly efficient. She has an excellent attitude and is caring and compassionate with her patients,” says Sharon.
“She is passionate and enthusiastic about learning new skills. You wouldn’t realise that Michelle has only had 2 years post-grad experience. She picks up practical skills quickly, clearly backed up with evidenced theory.”
Michelle is already a functioning ophthalmology Theatre nurse and has just started to learn to scrub for Total Hip Replacements, performing her first scrub ‘unbuddied’ and “extremely well”.
Around the Theatre Ward Michelle is known to put her hand up to participate and lead theater projects too.
“Anything she does she shows commitment and focus, excels in delivery and completes the project. The team leaders know that when Michelle undertakes something it will be completed and to a high standard,” says Sharon.
In the last year Michelle has been instrumental in taking the lead on the introduction of the Waikato Provation system into Endoscopy.
This involved being trained along with a colleague at Waikato Hospital as a Super User, working with IT on implementing, updating software and testing the upgrades. She has also ensured and delivered the training to all the Theatre staff.