La Trobe Nursing Graduate Wins Prize
Erin Hamilton has won the "The Kathleen A B Smith Memorial Prizes in Nursing: Graduate Nurse" which is awarded annually during Alfred Week at The Alfred Hospital. Erin is a graduate of the La Trobe School of Nursing & Midwifery. Part of the nomination from Erin's Nurse Manager reads:
"Erin Hamilton has been an exceptional graduate for varied reasons and I believe a nursing leader of the future. Her understanding and demonstration of reflective practice has been instrumental in her development as a professional. Erin takes responsibility for her own learning and actively seeks learning opportunities…Erin is already demonstrating that she has the right attributes to be a primary nurse. Erin challenges underlying assumptions, she is accountable for her actions, and positively influences the practice of others."
Erin’s submission read in part;
"My role as a nurse is to make a difference…One minute I can be giving extra fluids and pethidine because my 26 year old patient is rigoring in the bed and dropping his blood pressure. Once stabilised I then can attend to my other patients which could be a 37 year old woman dying who has different care needs and the most important thing I might do all day with her is listen, hold her hand or spend time with her 10 year old son while other friends come in to say their goodbyes. It certainly is a challenge and there are times when it is very emotional. However, the patients and their stories have shaped the way in which I go about my practice…"
Kathleen Annie Buller Smith was a registered nurse from South Yarra who died on 3 August 1961. She left her residuary estate to the hospital to be used for research. In 1985 the executer of the Smith Estate asked the hospital to consider a small annual prize to one of the nurses in memory of the late Kathleen Smith on the grounds that she would have appreciated some recognition of her bequest.
To this end a number of Kathleen AB Smith Memorial Prizes in Nursing were introduced. One of these prizes is "The Kathleen A B Smith Memorial Prizes in Nursing: Graduate Nurse".
Congratulations to Erin Hamilton.
