New nurse practitioner joins practice
A nurse who wanted to boost access to primary care in her community has become the third nurse practitioner working at Te Whatu Ora Taranaki’s South Taranaki Rural Health general practice.
Lisa Thompson, who has worked as a nurse for 20 years, has recently completed her master’s degree in advanced nursing practice, graduating with first class honours, from the University of Auckland.
She said the most rewarding aspects of her new role are working within a great team of likeminded clinicians, and when patients really engage and make positive changes to their health.
It took Lisa four-and-a-half years to complete her degree, and throughout her journey she was supported by the Rural Health team and Dr Tom Dawson, who was her mentor and clinical supervisor.
‘‘Having Lisa on board in her new capacity is hugely valuable,’’ interim South Taranaki Rural Health manager Stephanie Besseling said.
‘‘As a nurse practitioner, Lisa now has the authority to carry out a greater range of tasks independently. This includes things such as assessing, diagnosing and prescribing medication. Her excellent clinical skills and knowledge provide additional resource to the practice, to meet the needs of the South Taranaki population.’’
Thompson is one of nine nurses across Te Whatu Ora in Taranaki that are either qualified nurse practitioners or are training for the qualification.
The role is usually a community-facing role and Te Whatu Ora in Taranaki is continuing to look at opportunities for nurse practitioners to make a difference to patient outcomes.
The New Plymouth District Council has dipped into its major events fund to bring Super Rugby back to problem-plagued Yarrow Stadium.
After an absence of six years, the Chiefs will host the Reds on Friday, May 12.
Despite having just one operational stand, and a seating capacity of 12,000, including the terraces, the Chiefs have agreed to move from their usual home base of Hamilton to play the round 12 match.
‘‘Like all of our provincial unions, the last couple of years have been a real struggle for Taranaki with the impacts of
Covid, alongside not having a stadium due to their stands needing earthquake-proofing,’’ Chiefs chief executive Simon Graafhuis said.
Taranaki Rugby has maintained a reasonably small shareholding in the Chiefs but has been unable to host matches because of the rebuild of Yarrow Stadium.
After breaking away from the Hurricanes and aligning with the Chiefs in 2013, Yarrow Stadium played host to two annual matches before that allocation was halved in 2016.
The cost of the contentious full rebuild of the stadium ballooned last year by 40% to a projected $70 million, with no guarantee it won’t rise further.
The reopening of the stadium proved problematic last year when delays to the installation of the West Stand roof, blamed on the weather by owners Taranaki Regional Council, meant spectators had no cover.
A new PVC roof was installed months later, while a redesigned East Stand was due for completion some time next year.
‘‘It’s an exciting time being able to bring large events back to Yarrow Stadium, and it will be great for Taranaki to be a part of the first of many major events in the venue,’’ New Plymouth District Council group manager community and customer services Teresa Turner said.