Nursing excellence awarded
THE Health Department has announced the winners of this years’ Nursing Service Excellence and Cecilia Makiwane Awards and seven of them are from the Western Cape.
The awards seek to recognise nursing and midwife excellence and motivate nurses and midwives working in all fields who foster high professional standards, ethics, management, leadership and values.
Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said the awards were an opportunity to pay tribute to nurses who exceeded expectations through their commitment to serving and society.
Among the winners, per category, were Moira Kiness from Groote Schuur Hospital: General Nursing; Lusanda Nduneni from Tygerberg Hospital: Midwifery Nursing; Fiona McCurdie from Groote Schuur Hospital: Speciality Nursing; Thembisa Yekani from Michael Mpongwana Clinic: Community Nursing/Primary Health Care; Dr Anso Truter, from the Western Cape College of Nursing Metro West: Nursing Education; Theresa Wulff from Groote Schuur Hospital: Nursing Education; and Catherine Love from Alexandra Hospital: Psychiatric Nursing Leadership and Management.
“We’re presented with a moment to stop and consider this group of men and women who overcome often unforeseen challenges every day to deliver excellent person-centred care to patients,” Mbombo said.
Department head Dr Beth Engelbrecht said the department could be proud of the calibre of nurses in the province.
“It brings me immense joy to share in the honouring of our 2019 Nursing Service Excellence and Cecilia Makiwane Awards nominees.
“Your selfless commitment to the department and every patient you serve daily does not go unnoticed”, Engelbrecht said, while addressing 31 nominees.
Midwifery Nursing winner Nduneni said she was excited to be recognised as one of those nurses who added value in the workplace.
“It also shows that others are aware of my contributions in making a difference in the lives of the patients we all serve,” Nduneni said.
Psychiatric Nursing winner Love said: “Every day I oversee my wards, give help where I can and remain alert as to what I can do. Very high on my agenda is caring for patients and selfcare. We ensure that they are actively involved in outings. Presentation and looking after yourself is key… I ensure my patients are always neatly dressed.”