Contact

My name is Keely Rackham I am the current President of NZONA. I am a Registered Nurse, and am currently employed as the ward manager at Grace Hospital in Tauranga. I completed my Comprehensive Nursing at Wintec, and my degree at Manuka Institute of Technology, and my post graduate diploma at Wintec. I have enjoyed nursing in a wide range on clinical settings and specialties such as medical, cardio-thoracic, paediatrics’ and have a passion for orthopaedic nursing. Throughout my nursing career I have enjoyed continuing to learn through various study days, courses and conferences. I believe NZONA is a great way to network, discuss issues for nurses and promote orthopaedic nursing.

My name is Amanda-Wyn Burton and I am the NZONA secretary. I have been practicing as an orthopaedic nurse for over 30 years and have, for the most part, enjoyed every moment. My particular passion is education whether with the patient, family or colleagues, and have been privileged to have had the opportunity to do this in different roles i.e. educator, clinical nurse specialist over the years. I have been with NZONA since it first started and look forward to seeing it grow to meet the needs of the orthopaedic nursing community.

I’m Diane Lanting senior RN in Ward M6 (orthopaedics at Waikato Hospital).I have worked in Orthopaedics for greater than 20 years in that I have seen the treatment of orthopaedic conditions and fractures change. Very little traction is done now as most patients are operated on and go home. There are not the long-term patients that used to stay on the ward for 12 weeks anymore. I enjoy watching cricket, doing cross-stitch and knitting. I am also the Treasurer for the New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses Association (NZONA).

I completed my nursing training in 1979 at Northland Base Hospital in Whangarei. Since one of my placements as a student I have been interested in orthopaedic nursing. After registration I worked for about one year at Te Kuiti Hospital and attended one of the first Orthopaedic Nursing conferences in New Zealand hosted by the NZONA special interest group.

After getting married in 1980 I found employment at the Spinal Unit which only increased my interest in orthopaedics. After working there for a year I left to become a mother. After the birth of number 2 child I returned to nursing at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital. After initially working for Medoc, I joined the Middlemore staff and had since that time, spent most of my time in orthopaedics, shifting from acute care to elective surgery and progressing to senior nurse roles such as elective admissions and education. During this time I completed an undergraduate degree and MIT and postgraduate diploma and degree at AUT. As a result I was able to present twice at international conferences, including NAON in the US.

I have been privileged to be able to lecture at the University of Auckland and to assist with the development of NZONA. I left employment in 2009 but have continued my involvement with NZONA and have been blessed to meet many like minded people as part of that. I currently liaise between NZONA and the umbrella ANZONA group, representing NZ so that our voice is heard. Recently I have been party to the development of the Orthopaedic Nurse competencies, ensuring that our unique NZ cultural perspective is added to this most important work.

Susan Sharpe  RN – Expert level Casting Unit-  Middlemore Hospital.  Susan trained at Middlemore Hospital ,Auckland ,NZ Moving to the UK she worked at ST Thomas Hospital in ITU and the Dialysis unit. Gaining her Post Graduate Clinical studies in Renal Nursing certificate at Guys Hospital. Susan was the Clinical Tutor at ST Bartholomew’s Hospital for the JBCNS – Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies in Renal Nursing.

On her return from the UK in 1997 Susan gained the Orthopaedic post graduate course certificate Since then she has continued to work in orthopaedics and casting at Counties Manukau Health. Her present position is the Coordinator and Resource nurse of the casting unit at Middlemore Hospital. She is also involved in the education for both nursing and medical staff.

Susan Sharpe  RN – Expert level Casting Unit-  Middlemore Hospital.  Susan trained at Middlemore Hospital ,Auckland ,NZ Moving to the UK she worked at ST Thomas Hospital in ITU and the Dialysis unit. Gaining her Post Graduate Clinical studies in Renal Nursing certificate at Guys Hospital. Susan was the Clinical Tutor at ST Bartholomew’s Hospital for the JBCNS – Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies in Renal Nursing.

On her return from the UK in 1997 Susan gained the Orthopaedic post graduate course certificate Since then she has continued to work in orthopaedics and casting at Counties Manukau Health. Her present position is the Coordinator and Resource nurse of the casting unit at Middlemore Hospital. She is also involved in the education for both nursing and medical staff.

Qualification: RGON, PG Diploma

Current Position: 0.4 FTE as Scoliosis CNS for the South Island Scoliosis Unit at Dunedin Hospital.

Previous experience: I completed my training under the hospital-based system at Dunedin Hospital in 1975 and then worked in Neurosurgery until I travelled overseas in May 1977. On my return to New Zealand in 1980 I worked in the urology ward before starting my orthopaedic career in the trauma ward in 1981.

I became the ward sister of the elective ward in 1982 and have continued in various titles and job descriptions including Service Manager of the orthopaedic/ rheumatology and orthotic service. In 2007 I returned to a more clinical role as the Scoliosis Coordinator for the South Island. I have had other part-time projects within the orthopaedic service over the last 10 years to support patient outcomes.  My commitment to orthopaedics has spanned almost 40 years