June 2008

Victorian nurse wins national award

Royal Melbourne Hospital nurse Kelly Leiper has been named Australian Graduate Nurse of the Year at the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards.

The award, which includes a $5,000 travel and education grant, recognises Ms Leipa’s passion for aged care and dedication to improving care for elderly patients.

‘Aged care is my passion.

‘There is so much in the field that we can improve on, so much more that we can do,’ Ms Leipa said.

‘Aged care nursing is where I believe I can make a difference—to my patients and their families, as an individual, in society as a whole and nursing as a profession.

‘Given our ageing population and aged care nurses themselves getting older, it is extremely important that young people like myself go into this area.

‘Aged care doesn’t have to be an area to go once we are tired of the acute pace at the end of our careers.

‘As a young nurse in aged care, the sky is the limit.

‘You can move further faster and make a difference which influences the care an individual receives for the remainder of their life.’

Ms Leipa undertook the RMH graduate nurse program in 2007, which included a rotation on an aged care ward at RMH Royal Park Campus, and she has enthusiastically embraced aged care as her chosen field.

She is highly regarded by her colleagues for her clinical skills, care and compassion, learning and teaching ability, innovation, calm outlook regardless of the pace or pressure and quick and dry sense of humour.

Earlier this year, she was awarded the hospital’s A.H. Wall Prize for the first year nurse who displays the most thoughtfulness in the care of patients.

She is continuing her studies, undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Aged Care) at a course run by RMH in conjunction with the Australian Catholic University.

‘We’re very proud of Kelly winning this national award,’ said head of nursing at RMH Associate Professor Denise Heinjus.

‘She has highlighted the quality of our graduate nursing program and the very important and challenging area of aged care.’