September 07, 2016
Rural nurse inspiration to peers
Maori nurses have given special recognition to an inspiring peer.
Pare O’Brian, who runs remote clinics in the eastern Bay of Plenty for Whakatane-based health provider Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngati Awa, was last night given New Zealand Nursing Association’s Maori section’s highest award.
Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says it’s the same Te Akenehi Hei award won in 2002 by her late mother, Puti O’Brien, the runanga’s founder and patron.
She says the fact the nursing practitioner was nominated by her peers shows the impact she makes.
"The award is about recognising how challenging it can be to walk in two worlds, to work under the western ways and practice but also to be culturally sensitive and engaged in that practice in a way that is culturally appropriate for our people. She inspire the members that she engages with and she certainly adds value to the role of nurses and nursing," Ms Nuku says.
She says Pare O’Brien shows the strength that comes when nurses are part of a community.
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