A sense of fairness

October 1, 2020

Geraldine Kirkwood has been working in New Zealand since she and her husband, also a registered nurse, arrived from the United Kingdom in 1997.

Geraldine KirkwoodShe trained at Romford College of Nursing and Midwifery in Essex, graduating in 1993, and developed a background in surgical and orthopaedic nursing.

Advertisement

Over the last 23 years, she has worked in Auckland, Dunedin and in the private sector, and been a clinical charge nurse and a charge nurse manager at Waitakere Hospital’s outpatients department for the past 15 years.

“I enjoy working with patients across our DHB and supporting my team to deliver the best care possible. I am an active member of the Greater Auckland Regional Council and am privileged to be on the national delegates committee for my DHB. I have supported members going through employment issues and have an innate sense of fairness. I have supported colleagues with COVID-related questions and stresses, and am a strong advocate for effective nursing leadership and empowering nurses to have a voice.

“I supported my DHB with our life preserving services response planning during last year’s industrial action and with our local COVID-19 response this year.”

It was her passion for fair employment practices and collectivity that made her decide to stand for the board.

Advertisement

Openness and honesty are the qualities she believes board members most need. “We need to remember who we are representing and why they chose us for these voluntary roles.”