Notre Dame University graduate Amy Wallace has been named Western Australia’s top Registered Nurse.
Recognised for implementing life-changing programs to improve the physical health of patients at Graylands Hospital, Amy received the WA Nurse/Midwife of the Year Award at the 2017 Nursing and Midwifery Awards on 6 May.
A graduate of the University’s Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership & Management, she also received the Excellence in Registered Nursing Award.
In her role as Clinical Nursing Specialist in Physical Health Care, Amy established the Graylands Hospital Wellness Clinic which aims to increase the awareness of wellness services to all patients and provides General Practitioners with a referral pathway for their patients who experience mental health trauma.
Since the formal launch of the Clinic last year, the number of inpatients referred to Amy or a doctor for a physical health check has increased from 25 to 180.
She also introduced the concept of an inclusive sports group for acute psychiatric inpatients which has significantly reduced patients’ aggression and self-harming behaviours.
“In my role I constantly strive to achieve understanding of the very poor physical health of mental patients who have a gap in life expectancy of up to 30 years when compared to the general population, Amy said
“I hope to continue to address these issues with the aim of improving their quality of life and promoting positive messages to the wider health care community so that others can also be inspired to make a difference in this vital area of nursing.”
Amy is currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Business at Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus.