geoff hawkings - Waiariki Institute of Technology
geoff hawkings - Waiariki Institute of Technology
geoff hawkings - Waiariki Institute of Technology
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
32 2006 ANNUAL REPORT<br />
GEOFF HAWKINGS<br />
Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Nursing<br />
“I am not saying that doing the<br />
Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Nursing programme<br />
was easy – but it was one <strong>of</strong><br />
my best – if not the best, life<br />
decisions I have made”.<br />
Ge<strong>of</strong>f Hawkings moved from Opotiki in<br />
the Eastern Bay <strong>of</strong> Plenty to study on<br />
<strong>Waiariki</strong>’s nursing programme. He had<br />
been working in a rest home and left his<br />
home and his whānau to make the step<br />
up from carer to registered nurse.<br />
Now, with a Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Nursing degree<br />
he has begun work as a registered<br />
nurse in the orthopaedic unit at Rotorua<br />
Hospital. Ge<strong>of</strong>f started working as a<br />
staff nurse at Lakes DHB in January this<br />
year and is currently enrolled in their<br />
12 month new-graduate programme,<br />
along with other <strong>Waiariki</strong> graduates<br />
from his intake year.<br />
Being “50 something” meant that<br />
although programme content and study<br />
were new to him, he had a number<br />
<strong>of</strong> life skills he could bring to class,<br />
and he was a popular choice for the<br />
BN’s ‘outstanding Mokoia all-round<br />
student‘ in 2006, Ge<strong>of</strong>f’s support <strong>of</strong><br />
colleagues, his quiet thoughtful curiosity<br />
and his thoughtful contributions to class<br />
discussions have been appreciated by<br />
staff and lecturers.<br />
Ge<strong>of</strong>f is also grateful for the support<br />
and guidance he had from <strong>Waiariki</strong><br />
staff. As a mentor, Alison Anderson,<br />
challenged him to think in new ways,<br />
and she is one <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> lecturers<br />
he identifies as significant in his student<br />
journey.<br />
Although sensitive to others, new<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> the history <strong>of</strong><br />
New Zealand/Aotearoa through the<br />
Cultural Safety component <strong>of</strong> nursing<br />
brought a new dimension into Ge<strong>of</strong>f’s<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> potential health<br />
care needs for his own and other<br />
communities.<br />
He can identify a number <strong>of</strong> challenges<br />
during the BN programme, and he<br />
has a real sense <strong>of</strong> achievement from<br />
meeting and beating them all.<br />
“There were so many new things<br />
for me to learn, to become used<br />
to and to assimilate – not the<br />
least <strong>of</strong> them the cold Rotorua<br />
winters…but I overcame them all<br />
and am now building in a new<br />
career with the best possible<br />
training behind me”.
Change language