Elly Harris, Liz Mioduchowski, Marian Mansbridge, Jess Payne: Terang nurses celebrated

From a nurse who has spent her lifetime in the industry to one who has travelled the world — these are hospital workers being celebrated in south-west Victoria today.

Marian Mansbridge, Liz Mioduchowski, Elly Harris and Jess Payne.

From a nurse who travelled the world to a woman who has spent her lifetime in the profession, these are the hospital workers being celebrated in south-west Victoria today.

In recognition International Nurses Day on Thursday, the Warrnambool News spoke to Terang Mortlake Health Service nurses about their dedication and what inspires them to do what they do.

And here are some worth celebrating:

Elly Harris. Picture: Supplied

Elly Harris, 28

Ms Harris grew up in south-west Victoria looking up to her mum and grandmother who were both nurses.

“So it was in the family, and as I got older, I thought that’s something I really want to do,” Ms Harris said.

She has been a nurse for three years — spending her first two years in Geelong when the Covid pandemic first hit Australia.

“My first year of nursing was Covid,” Ms Harris said.

“It was a hard gig down there. But it’s nice to be back home and you learn a lot still.”

Ms Harris has since returned home to work at Terang and Mortlake Health Service, and South West Healthcare.

“Some days can be so hard, obviously it can be an equally rewarding job,” Ms Harris said.

“Sometimes you see people take their last breath or massive changes to their lifestyle, and it just can be really draining as a nurse, on the family and the patient themselves.

“But for a nurse, you have to keep going. Whereas a day like today, you can actually reflect and think, you know, what we do is great.

“I think that on nurse’s day you just look back and think what we went through and how we’re still going through it, but what an amazing job.”

Liz Mioduchowski. Picture: Supplied

Liz Mioduchowski, 44

Ms Mioduchowski has been a nurse at Terang Mortlake Health Service for 23 years.

Now a nurse Unit Manager, she finds her job an honour.

“I love being able to look after people from the beginning, right to the end, and being involved in the personal life of people in terms of their care,” Ms Mioduchowski said.

“It’s an honour for me. It’s not just a job. It’s an honour to be involved with people all the time and have them trust you to look after them.”

Ms Mioduchowski said being a rural nurse meant you got to explore a hospital — from emergency, theatre, aged care (or all of the above).

“That’s the variety of being a rural nurse. It’s not one category of nursing. You become a jack of all trades.”

Marian Mansbridge. Picture: Supplied

Marian Mansbridge, 64

Marian Mansbridge has worked as a nurse across the world for more than 40 years, and is now working at Terang.

“I went into nursing and just enjoyed it. I started as an enrolled nurse, and went on to do my registered nurse training which allowed me to live overseas for sixteen years,” Ms Mansbridge said.

“I worked in London for 11 years, and the United Arab Emirates for five years.”

Ms Mansbridge believes International Nurses Day is the recognition nurses deserve during the pandemic.

“We need to be recognised, especially with all of the dramas of Covid — we need that recognition just for support,” Ms Mansbridge said.

Jess Payne. Picture: Supplied

Jess Payne, 29

Ms Payne is the aged care nurse unit manager at Terang.

She has been a registered nurse for nine years — her younger sister having recently followed in her footsteps.

“My dad’s sister was a nurse and she was someone who I really admired and the reason why I took a career path in nursing — I think it’s really beautiful now because my younger sister is also a nurse,” she said.

Ms Payne said caring for the community at their most vulnerable was a privilege.

“It’s a real privilege to be able to care for people at some of the most vulnerable times in their life,” she said.

“I think sometimes we take for granted how precious good health and life is. So to be able to assist someone to improve their quality of life I find really rewarding, particularly in aged care.”

She added: “Considering the couple of years we've been through and how difficult it’s been for not just nurses but the healthcare system — it’s nice to be acknowledged that one day even though we’re rewarded every day with our roles and the privilege that we have for caring for people.”