Auckland City Hospital’s cardiovascular directorate has recently created a short video called This is Us to celebrate its people and its mahi. General Manager Jackson Cutting says the video was made so hard-working kaimahi could reflect on the amazing work they do, and patients could know them as people.
“Clinical outcomes are really important, but so is feeling cared for, understanding the process, feeling comfortable to ask questions, and seeing that we are just people like you,” says Quality and Equity Manager Jenna Keepa.
The video features a range of kaimahi discussing everything from memorable moments to what makes them feel proud.
The cardiovascular directorate employs over 900 people, from heart and lung transplant surgeons and specialist nurses to dieticians, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists and more.
The directorate is unique globally, due to its scale, the combination of services and its leading research units, known worldwide for doing first-in-human clinical trials and using the best, newest technology available.
The directorate also boasts one of the highest numbers of specialised nurses in Aotearoa.
Nursing Director Jo Wright says “Nursing in cardiovascular care offers exceptional opportunities for highly skilled nurses. With a team of experts across various specialities, we can provide the advanced nursing care necessary for complex needs. We take great pride in training and supporting nurses at all levels, from junior to senior positions, to help nurses reach their full potential."
Sometimes, there is literally only a few minutes’ notice for a cardiovascular team to be on a helicopter retrieving and saving the life of a critically ill person. A holistic, patient and whānau–centred approach is needed if their patients are to recover from often life-changing surgery.
“Being well doesn’t just mean being free from disease, it means looking at every aspect of wellbeing,” says Jenna. Jackson adds that it’s not about one intervention or one event, it’s about the patient’s whole journey.
This is Us will be shared with patients and referrers, giving the community a special insider’s view of a team that might one day change their lives.
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