Hello, my name is Angela Crespin and this is my story.
On my return to the workforce after raising my 3 sons I was employed in a clerical position at Kenepuru Hospital due to decisions made on the phasing out of Enrolled Nurses. During a staff shortage my Team Leader offered me a nursing role working in the Diabetic Foot Clinic with Podiatrist Angela Bayley. It was through Angela that I found my niche for wound care; her teaching gave me the passion to make a difference for our often much-challenged patients.
My next move was into the Surgical and Vascular Outpatient’s Department at Wellington Public Hospital, again dealing with challenging wounds and patients working with the Wound Care Specialist Nurse. Joining the New Zealand Wound Care Society has been my platform for increasing my knowledge in wound care and products.
I am now employed in primary health managing our wound clinics as a wound care specialist with a predominately elderly patient base of 10,500 patients.
Providing continuity to my patients in my wound clinics allows me to provide a holistic approach to wound healing. During my wound assessments I am able to build trust with my patients and ensure they receive the treatment they need whether it is within our service or referred to an outside agency for further investigations.
My wound care plans have saved my patients from surgical intervention, saving them an admission to hospital and saving huge costs to the health budget.
I am proud to be an Enrolled Nurse and making a difference in healthcare!