News

Chittering nurse fulfilling her dream

Mar 13, 2017

Chittering resident Susan Dugay has wanted to be a nurse since receiving a nurse’s ‘dress-up’ costume for Christmas as a young child.

This desire to nurse has resulted in a much-loved, lifetime career as an enrolled nurse for Susan who began work in the United Kingdom before migrating to Australia in 1990.

A highly valued member of the operating theatres team at Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) since 1999, Susan’s current role is in the holding bay area where she is dedicated to pre-operative safety checks, comforting and reassuring patients who are anxious prior to surgery.

Her dedication to patient safety and her calming care of vulnerable patients has seen Susan named as a finalist in this year’s WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

The awards are run by the Western Australian Department of Health every year to recognise nurses and midwives who have made an exceptional contribution to their professions in WA.

Operating Theatres Clinical Nurse Specialist Tania Arnold nominated Susan for the award in the Excellence in Enrolled Nursing category and says she is well deserving of a win.

“Susan often receives praise for her empathy and assistance towards patients, family members and theatre staff, one example is her ability to reassure Dads who have had to leave the operating theatre whilst emergency caesareans are performed,” she said.

“She sits with them and chats, averting their attention away from fear of the unknown and provides this intuitive support every day to all around her.

“Susan is a dynamic staff member who is diligent in her care, promotes high standards in others and always puts patient safety first,” she said. “She is our gatekeeper.”

Director of Clinical Services Ben Irish said he was very impressed with Susan’s dedication and her willingness to share her career experience and knowledge to students and other learners.

“Susan provides fabulous support for others learning in the busy operating theatre environment, helping them to add meaning to the tasks they perform and establishing a high standard of practice that then lasts the length of their careers,” he said.

“Her advocacy skills and steadfast commitment to patients being informed, feeling at ease and safe make her role model for all nurses and medical staff in the operating theatres.”

The award winners for 2017 will be announced at a Gala Ball being held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday 6 May.