Indroducing Waiouru's public health nurse

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 460, 3 November 1992, Page 5

Indroducing Waiouru's public health nurse

By

Jan

Savell

Jeanette Osborne is Waiouru's new public health nurse. She believes being accessible will be the key ingredient for her new role. Prior to her recent four month stint as public health nurse for the Waimarino area her experience has been mainly hospital based.

She is currently completing a 'Post Basic' course in community health through Manawata Polytechnic and says she is really enjoying the new job. "There is no uniform for a start. That makes everything more personal," said Mrs Osborne. She believes her role is very important especially in a community like Waiouru.

"We're really quite isolated and most don't have the support you get from the extended family. I have no trouble identifying with the mothers, especially with their husbands away and all the other stresses and strains. Sometimes half the problem is nobody to talk to and a listening ear is all that is needed sometimes." Jeanette is in the busi-

ness of primary and preventative health care. Anyone can approach her for ear checks and she is able to refer directly for vision and hearing testing, to the visiting paediatrician, asthma educator, psychiatric staff and a host of other health professionals. She enjoys working as part of a team providing health care for the community. Although Waiouru's unemployment is not at the level she saw in the Waimarino Jeanette believes people still need her free services. "Even though they are

working they still have commitments," she said. She doesn't want anyone to miss out on health care because of the possible cost. Jeanette has a busy schedule which includes health education and school visits over an area which includes, Ngamatea, Karioi, Mataroa, Papanui Junction and Rangiwaea. She arranges her work to allow herself to be in her office from 8 am to 9 am each day to ensure she can be reached. If she is out a message can be left on her answerphone, telephone 387 6542.