Source: Waikato District Health Board
Te Whatu Ora Waikato’s Nurse of the Year serves as a celebration of excellence acknowledging the extraordinary contribution of our nurses across many areas of healthcare.
The theme for 2023’s International Nurses Day was “Our Nurses, Our Future”, aligning with the commitment of Te Whatu Ora Waikato to cultivate our growing nursing workforce. There has been a strong growth in the number of new nurses graduating and working within the Waikato, and in our experienced nurses continuing their development and moving into roles such as Nurse Practitioners. This rise in the number of nursing professionals in the region suggests a promising outlook for the future of healthcare, as the nursing workforce plays a vital role in quality patient care and improving health outcomes.
The recipient of Waikato’s 2023 Nurse of the Year award was Nicola Griffiths, who serves as the Bowel Screening Nurse Lead. Krizia Ledesma-Libre, a Forensic Mental Health Nurse, was also presented with a Special Recognition award.
Nicola Griffiths, Waikato Nurse of the Year 2023
Nicola Griffiths, Bowel Screening Nurse Lead, played an instrumental role in developing an online tool that enables the entire Bowel Screening team to access information on all screening patients and their corresponding stage in the screening journey. Patients can now be accurately categorised and are visible to the team, ensuring they receive the appropriate level of care.
“Nicola incorporates Treaty of Waitangi principles into her practice, identifying barriers to patients receiving their Bowel Screening Colonoscopy, and works with stakeholders, including nurses, community staff, and administrative personnel, to improve the timeliness of patients’ procedures,” Sue Hayward, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer said.
“Thanks to Nicola’s efforts, patients receive a streamlined and high quality experience. The Bowel Screening team can easily access patient information and deadlines, allowing for timely processing and preventing any patients from being missed or lost in the system.”
Krizia Ledesma-Libre, Special Recognition Award 2023
Krizia Ledesma-Libre was recognised this year for her exceptional work in Forensic Mental Health nursing. Krizia’s knowledge and commitment has made a significant difference in ensuring that everyone has the necessary understanding and support to make a positive impact.
She has implemented staff trainings, supportive knowledge gathering and sharing initiatives that have improved team cohesion and benefited staff and tāngata whaiora.
“Krizia’s compassion, kindness, and respect for others has helped many tāngata whaiora who are going through the mental health system to regain a sense of hope. The job is not easy, but Krizia’s determination, thoughtfulness, and understanding make her a gem in this field of nursing and we commend her for her dedication,” Sue Hayward said.
