Caring for 130 years
Celebrate International Nurses Day
THESE three women have been caring for Toowoomba residents when it’s needed most for a combined 130 years.
As nurses at each of the city’s three world-class hospitals, they have been the ones working behind the scenes with patients and today will celebrate International Nurses Day.
For Barb Bishop, the nurse manager at Toowoomba’s Baillie Henderson, each day of her 51 years at work has been rewarding but today will bring a little more recognition for the role she plays in the city’s health sector.
“We do get recognition every day from our patients, but it’s a nice day,” she said.
Combined with Claire Hill’s 52 years service at St Andrew’s Hospital as admissions nurse and St Vincent’s nurse unit manager Wendy Kelly’s 35 years, the three dedicated professionals have helped treat more than 70,000 patients.
And they wouldn’t change their jobs for anything.
“Patients put their trust in us completely,” Ms Kelly said.
“We hold that trust, and we respect that trust.”
Ms Hills agreed.
“We can go into the patient’s room and immediately feel the trust they put in us, and how they open up to us,” she said.
TSBE Health general manager Jaden Frame, who leads the initiative raising the profile of the region’s health sector, said Queensland was home to more than 70,000 registered and enrolled nurses.
“After speaking with our nurses today and learning of their 100-plus years of combined service to our region, I believe the Darling Downs offers fantastic opportunities for medical staff wanting a rewarding career that strikes a good work-life balance,” Mr Frame said.