Brenda Dunn
New Zealand
Brenda received her nursing degree at the Thames School of Nursing in 1969. Until 1983 she served as a Staff Nurse at Sister Waikato, Green Lane, Christchurch, and Princess Margaret hospitals, extending her basic training and gaining experience in several specialties of Paediatric cardiology, Coronary care, Venipuncturist, Cardiothoracic course, and Intensive therapy unit in Women’s surgical.
From 1983 to 1985 Brenda was a Staff Nurse in the New Born Unit where she gained experience in Level 3 nursery with ventilated babies and managed the Spina Bifida outpatient Clinic. Then from 1985 to 1990 she served as a Staff Nurse in Acute Theatres. Between 1991 and 1996 Brenda was a Charge Nurse in Gynaecology, a challenging era, as laparoscopic surgery became established. She became involved in the clinical organization, training and utilization of the new procedures and equipment.
During her career, Brenda was also a private surgical assistant in general surgery, Acting Charge Nurse in General Surgery, Staff Nurse in Main Theatre at Waikato Hospital, Staff Nurse in the Emergency Dept. of Tokoroa Hospital, and served with the R.N. Agency and Rest Home Hospital/Community Hospital. Brenda was the recipient of the Nurse Carer of the Year in 2010 at Pohlen Hospital. She received her PG Certificate in Nursing Practice – Operating Room in 2002, her Certificate in Adult Teaching and from Auckland University in 2002, and a PG Certificate in Health Sciences – Emergency Nursing in 2004. Now retired, Brenda keeps busy working on the farmlet, and being active on support groups.