155 years of nursing and it’s still not a wrap!
Urbenville MPS celebrates long service recognition for three staff members this year. RNs Gail Card and Jean Ellevsen, and EN Sherryl Mathieson, have racked up nursing careers of 50, 52 and 53 years respectively.
At a morning tea on Friday 12 July, the three nurses were welcomed with Tina Turner’s rendition of “Simply the Best” to a crowd of their colleagues, and special guests Katharine Duffy (NNSWLHD Director of Nursing and Midwifery) and Narelle Al-Manro (Nurse Manager, Nursing and Midwifery Workforce).
MPS EO/DoN Nancy Martin read out the citations. Katharine Duffy presented the certificates and 50-year badges. Jean, Gail and Sherryl were relieved they did not have to make any speeches.
The flower bouquets were beautiful and there wasn’t one piece of cake left. Some Urbenville MPS aged care residents joined in, and the latest Urbenville citizen Dylan was brought in by his mum Leanne, another Urbenville RN currently on maternity leave.
With plans for retirement still a way off, Urbenville is very lucky to have three nurses with such a wealth of experience who find joy in their everyday nursing practice. Well done Gail, Jean and Sherryl!
Gail Card, RN
Gail started her training at Murwillumbah Hospital in 1974, graduating in 1977. Then came midwifery training at St Margaret’s Hospital in Sydney which was followed by her midwifery career until 1997, following her passion for antenatal care, high risk pregnancy, grief and pregnancy loss.
Gail’s midwifery career spanned working in NSW, SA, QLD and Manchester in the UK. For eight years Gail was Nursing Unit Manager of the Antenatal Unit at Auburn Hospital in the Western Sydney Area Health Service. During this time Gail completed her Bachelor of Health Management degree.
Since 2003 Gail has worked as RN and Hospital in Charge at Urbenville MPS, and for a time was Nurse Manager. She has served as the NSW Nursing & Midwifery Association’s Urbenville delegate since 2007.
Gail remains registered as a midwife and has caught a few babies since coming to Urbenville!
Jean Ellevsen, RN
Jean started her nursing career at North Sydney Mater, then worked at Dubbo Base for 12 months. On moving to the Northern Rivers, Jean began working at Urbenville in 1982, when it was a small rural hospital, not the Multi-Purpose Service as it is now.
Jean has seen many changes over her 52 years of service, including the introduction of numerous technologies and changes in health service leadership.
During all this time, Jean’s caring nature, her selflessness, clinical skills and dedication to helping others has been recognised by peers, patients and aged care residents alike. She is a respected and valued member of the community but is always humble about her achievements.
Jean has played an active role in providing emergency care and saving the life of several community members over the years. Jean continues to provide care and support in her role as RN and Hospital in Charge at Urbenville and is a valued and vital member of the Urbenville MPS team.
Sherryl Matheson, EN
Sherryl started her training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Lismore in 1972, alternating with study blocks at Lismore Base Hospital.
Sherryl’s EN training was completed at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Camperdown where her love for looking after premature babies, sick babies, toddlers and teens enabled her to provide the care and compassion needed for her patients, not all of whom were destined to go home.
Sherryl’s nursing career has taken her to many health services, from Beaudesert in Southern QLD to sites across the now NNSWLHD. She comes from a line of long-living nursing women, with her mother and four aunts taking up the profession. Two of her sisters have also studied nursing.
In 2009 Sherryl started as a casual Enrolled Nurse at Urbenville MPS before becoming a permanent staff member in 2011. Sherryl just loves her job and the care and compassion she is able to extend to aged care residents. That is why she has continued her nursing career for over 50 years.
Images
- top story image, staff at Urbenville enjoy a morning tea to celebrate Jean, Gail and Sherryl
- (from left back) Gail, Katharine, Nancy. Front Jean and Sherryl
- Katharine and Gail
- Katharine, Sherryl and Nancy
- Katharine, Jean and Nancy
- certificates celebrating a combined 155 years.
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