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For twenty years, I worked in administration roles in health. I
started as a receptionist and then became a ward clerk. Although
I enjoyed the work, my desire was to work more with patients. I
wanted to help patients in rehabilitation settings to achieve
positive results.
On the CMDHB Careers website I found this job. It was quite a
job change. The offer of supervision and on the job training
encouraged me to take the job.
As a Dietetic Assistant one of the things I do is screen
patients for malnutrition. I ask questions about their appetite
and measure their height and weight. I then enter this
information on the computer. If a patient comes up as high risk,
I refer them to a dietitian.
I also run therapy breakfast groups. Here patients practise
making their own breakfast. This encourages independence and
helps with any physical or cognitive problems they’re working
on.
The other part of my job is being a Speech Language Therapy
Assistant. I work through exercises with patients. After this, I
let the Speech Language Therapist know how patients are going
with their exercises. I also help run communication groups. This
helps patients improve their speech by talking with each other.
I strongly encourage anyone who has a desire for a more
fulfilling job to stop thinking about it and make the change. It
may mean moving out of your comfort zone but it is well worth
it.
Rae
For more information contact:
Vicki Paulin
Professional Leader Nutrition and Dietetics Service
Counties Manukau District Health Board
Phone: 09 276 0044 ext 2412
Email:
Vicki.Paulin@middlemore.co.nz
Helen McLauchlan
Professional Leader Speech Language Therapy
Counties Manukau District Health Board
Phone: 09 276 0044 ext 5006
Email:
Helen.McLauchlan@cmdhb.org.nz
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