72-year-old clinical nurse Lyn Groth has proven age is no barrier to achieving your career goals, attributing her life experience to shaping the nurse she is today.
“In 1991 I was involved in a car rollover in Rockhampton; my face felt like it was covered in glass so communication was difficult and I distinctly remember a nurse putting a warm towel on me then walking away,” Lyn said.
“I wasn’t able to move the towel and had no way of talking to the nurse, so it sat there, getting cold and making me uncomfortable; that moment inspired me to advocate the importance of communicating properly with our patients.”
Lyn’s career began in 1960 at the old Townsville General Hospital. She served for one month on Palm Island before taking a break in 1963 to raise her four children.
She returned to nursing 15 years later and studied nursing at James Cook University in 1997, graduating as a registered nurse in 2000 at aged 53 and completing her honours in aged care in 2002.
“I completed my honours degree focusing on aged care and the barriers to complaints resolution,” Lyn said.
“In my research I found that as medical professionals we have the power to empower our patients or disempower them; communication is integral to that and ensuring our patients are heard.”
Lyn worked at The Townsville Hospital in Medical Ward 1 for 14 years before a short stint in the palliative care unit and finally, moving to the new sub-acute care unit (SACU) on Eastern Campus.
Lyn said it was the love of her work that kept her inspired.
“I like what I do; I like teaching and I like helping people learn things,” she said.
“My life experiences have made me reflect on my own practice and has made me the type of nurse I am today.”
Lyn’s supervisor, SACU nurse unit manager Melanie Poxton said Lyn was an incredible asset to her unit.
“Lyn is very respected by the nursing team in SACU for her extensive knowledge and her ability to teach and support other staff,” Ms Poxton said.
“Lyn is an exceptionally compassionate nurse who has high standards and places the person at the centre of their care. We are privileged in SACU to have Lyn as one of our team members.