I HAD the pleasure recently to interview Catherine Poschich, the nursing unit manager for the surgical ward at Bathurst Hospital.
The surgical ward is a specialty area of our hospital with 17 full-time nursing staff members kept very busy nursing patients of the 15 surgeons who specialise in orthopaedic and general surgery.
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Cath completed her education at MacKillop College in Bathurst before enrolling at Charles Sturt University to study a Bachelor of Nursing.
After graduating, Cath spent her new graduate year at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, and then continued to work there in the spinal injuries unit before returning to Bathurst Hospital in 1997 as a registered nurse in the surgical ward.
Cath enjoys the diversity of a surgical ward with 15 beds fully utilised with knee, hip, and shoulder surgeries and replacements, as well as general surgery, and gynaecology patients.
An exceptionally well-educated manager, Cath was the successful applicant for the position of nurse unit manager in surgical in 2001.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of NSW, a Master’s Degree in Health Science Education from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Nursing – Orthopaedic Specialty from the University of Tasmania.
In her spare time, Cath also enjoys running.
She runs in the City to Surf each year and completed her first marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon, in 2016.
When talking to senior managers within the hospital and to Cath’s staff, it is obvious that she is highly regarded for her efficiency and her empathy with patients and staff.
As the nursing unit manager, she is responsible for the day-to-day running of the ward, patient safety, staff development and the professional development of her team.
Cath credits the success of the ward to teamwork and the dedication of her staff to high quality care.
Bathurst is fortunate to have such highly trained and skilled staff in the surgical ward, where all disciplines work together and are very committed to making a difference for their patients.
The future for all nurses will be a high-tech world where patient information and medicine dispensing is online and there is a continued focus on evolving technology and its application in the health sector.
The focus for Cath is on her patients, and she is fortunate to work with such a dedicated team who are highly skilled, empathetic and compassionate in their practice.
If you are lucky enough to be in the ward on a Friday, Cath makes a great cheesecake and lemon pie as a treat for the staff.
Bathurst residents salute the staff of the surgical ward at Bathurst Hospital.