Staff profiles
Bailey Harvey
Occupational health clinical nurse specialist
What does your work involve?
I’m here to provide support for the staff of our DHB. My role is quite varied – I’m involved with work and non-workplace injuries and rehabilitation, implementing measures to keep staff safe and healthy, project work, health monitoring, health promotion and DHB vaccinations.
Staff can always contact me directly by email or phone – I can help with injury/illness queries, ACC or non-ACC, vaccination updates, issues affecting work and return to work plan implementation and guidance for employees and managers.
Best things about being a nurse?
I’ve always felt it’s a privilege to be a nurse. We’re very lucky to be a part of someone’s health journey and help them when they’re at their most vulnerable. I love that the interactions I’ve had with people through this profession have helped to shape my own values.
I’ve been very fortunate to have had many memorable experiences and encounters with people as a nurse. Some of my favourite experiences include being a part of amazing teams with inspiring and passionate people.
The friends I’ve made in nursing have been the most influential people in my career – we all have the same crazy caring gene and are super supportive of progression and in times of sadness and stress.
Tell us about your team
I work alongside the Health and Safety team. As the occupational health nurse specialist I provide employee health support in conjunction with our Taranaki DHB health and safety guidelines. I also work closely with the Infection Prevention and Control nurse specialists for staff wide vaccinations and the influenza campaign.
This role allows me to interact with all Taranaki DHB employees, and I really enjoy getting to know people from different departments and understanding how they contribute to our community and hospitals. Forming these relationships enables me to provide support and assistance in keeping all our employees safe and supported at work.
Why nursing?
My mum thought I’d be good at it and she’s always had my best interests in mind, so I listened. My late grandmother was especially proud to have a nurse in the family and really encouraged me through my studies. I’m glad I listened, it’s given me a very diverse career in which I’ve never been bored and there’s always something to learn and someone new to meet.
What’s your nursing background?
I’ve been a nurse for more than five years, after graduating from WITT. I started as a new grad at Taranaki DHB in the Neo Natal Unit and moved into the Emergency Department. I’ve worked the last two years outside of the hospital in a GP practice and a private occupational health company.
From working inside Taranaki DHB and outside within the community I’ve gathered various skills and qualifications which have helped me become well rounded and suited to the occupational health role. These include audiology, spirometry, drug and alcohol testing, and fit testing. I’m an authorised independent vaccinator, work place ergonomics trained, an authorised smear taker, sexual health and contraception management trained, and Jadelle implant insertion trained.
What inspires you to go to work each day?
Working in a fun and like-minded team – we all want to make things better for Taranaki DHB staff. I also have a very expensive hobby!