Award acclaim for nursing graduate

Marie Jarden Award winner Lisa Martin with Andy Jarden.

An "outstanding" nursing graduate is the winner of this year's Marie Jarden Award for the most professional graduate.

Lisa Martin, who is in her first year of nursing practice, was nominated by her clinical nurse manager for the award.

The Marie Jarden Award was established by Mrs Jarden's husband, Wanganui Chronicle general manager Andy Jarden, and their three daughters, after her untimely death in 2012.

Whanganui District Health Board director of nursing, Sandy Blake, said applicants for the award must be in their first year of nursing practice and demonstrate professional nursing skills.

"I expect all nurses to display these attributes but Lisa demonstrated a particularly high standard," Mrs Blake said.

Ms Martin said nursing had been her childhood dream.

"As a child I spent a lot of time in hospital and used to observe the nurses and dream of becoming one myself.

"That in itself makes this award all the more special."

Ms Martin received a glass trophy for her win.

After finishing school, she completed a one-year health science course through Whanganui UCOL where she continued with her three-year nursing degree.

Ms Martin and her 13 classmates graduated from their year-long post-graduate nursing programme this month.

During this time they gained work experience working across the WDHB and in the Gonville Health Centre, Whanganui Prison and Wicksteed House medical centre.

"The standard of our graduate nurses this year has been very high, and we are extremely proud of them all," Mrs Blake said.