A mental health worker known for his caring heart and empathetic ear has won the NSW Nurse of the Year award for 2020.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kieran Preston is well-known at Wagga Base Hospital for going above and beyond for his patients, but he also goes the extra mile to show care for his comrades in the Mental Health Recovery Unit.
The sheepish Mr Preston said it really was a team effort, and that everyone in the ward had risen to the occasion and helped each other out during this tough year.
"We've got such a great team. We look out for each other and make sure everyone's coping well," Mr Preston said. "Even when it came to the toilet paper crisis we made sure everyone was looked after."
He said the months of lockdown had been tough on everyone's mental health, for the nurses as well as the patients, which is why it had become more important than ever to look out for one another.
Mr Preston said he counts himself lucky to be surrounded by such compassionate and understanding people, which is what kept him going during the pandemic.
"I'm lucky enough my wife is quite supportive and at the same time I've got a great family and a great work environment," Mr Preston said. "It's important to learn to check in with yourself and the people around you and to create a system where it's actually okay to talk if you're not feeling great."
NSW Health's chief nursing officer Jacqui Cross said Mr Preston's empathy and dedication to mental health was exemplary.
"Every day he demonstrates the commitment and skills of nurses and midwives," Ms Cross said.
"Congratulations to Kieran on his 2020 Award, and on behalf of NSW Health I thank you for your continued dedication and enormous contributions to the health outcomes of patients and communities this year."