A rehabilitation nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital is one of six national finalists for a prestigious nursing award to be announced in Melbourne tomorrow.
A special commitment to the patient who became part of her family has won Kay Stevens a place in the finals of the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards in the Nurse of the Year category.
HESTA is one of Australia's largest superannuation funds, drawing members from the health and community services sector.
Ms Stevens befriended and later became a foster carer to Vincent, a young rehabilitation patient at Royal Darwin Hospital.
When she met Vincent two years ago he was recovering from a spinal cord injury that had left him with quadriplegia. Vincent lived on the Tiwi Islands and needed to be closer to rehabilitation facilities in Darwin. This meant an 18-month stay in hospital while he recuperated.
Ms Stevens, a career nurse who entered the profession as an 18-year-old, quickly formed a bond with the young man.
"I had an affinity with him since day one. He was just a special person right from the word go. Vincent will continue to come to my home for respite foster care for the next 18 months, or even beyond his 18th birthday if that's what he still wants."
Kay Stevens paid tribute to the other remarkable rehabilitation nurses who looked after Vincent during his time at Royal Darwin Hospital
"I want to recognise their contribution to Vincent's well-being. It certainly wasn't all me.
"The rehabilitation nurses and Allied Health staff I work with have been fantastic because Vincent's future has been a team effort and they deserve recognition. I am just lucky enough to be in a position to be able to continue my care of Vincent."
Kay Stevens said her decision to become Vincent's permanent respite carer seemed a logical one.
"I was lucky enough to be in a position to help him out. My family has always been a giving family; that's just the way I was brought up - you do something for someone else if they need it."
She said Vincent was involved in the decision-making at every step of the way and her adult children and the colleagues supported her decision.
"I went into the exercise with my eyes open, researching the support services available and making the necessary modifications to my home. Even so, the experience of caring for someone in a home environment as opposed to a hospital has its trying moments, and I've learnt a lot about tolerance, time management and planning".
Kay Stevens is one of six finalists in the Nurse of the Year category. The winner of this $10,000 award will be announced at a gala ceremony in Melbourne on 14 May.
Media inquiries: Michelle Foster 0419 818 414; Cameron Jackson 0401 116 144.
Release date: Wednesday 13 May 2009
