Nurses at Mt. Hagen Provincial Hospital are now better equipped with new knowledge and skills to enhance their day-to-day nursing care with patients, thanks to the two visiting nurses from St. Vincent Hospital in Toowoomba, Australia.
Clinical nurses Jodie Mayers and Janet Hassall visited the Hospital from August 11th to 22nd, 2025, to share their expertise and experience, resulting in lasting improvements in patient care. They collaborated closely with the local nursing staff to enhance patient care, infection control, and nursing procedures, praising the dedication of the local nurses and describing them as “brave and kind.”
Nurses from various wards and units participated in the training sessions and gained valuable skills. Jodie expressed her admiration for the clinicians, stating, “Even though the hospital has limited resources, they still do their best every day.” She highlighted that, despite coming from different hospitals, they all share a common goal of providing the best possible care for patients.
The visit led to several improvements in hospital practices. According to Sr. Josephine Bulda, Paediatric Assistant Unit Supervisor, noted that they have implemented safer procedures, such as discarding nasal prongs after each use rather than disinfecting and reusing them. “We have learned and adapted new practices that improve patient care,” she said.
Sister Julie Ekya, Supervisor of the Medical and ICU Ward, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the new patient reporting form has streamlined shift handovers, making them faster and more efficient. “We are grateful for what the nurses taught us and have already started using it in our wards,” she remarked.
Sister Miriam Wapulu, Acting Sister in Charge of the Medical Ward, also added that nurses are now using normal saline instead of sterile water to flush IV cannulas, aligning with updated medical standards.
In addition to the training, the visiting nurses also donated a variety of medical supplies including; x10 blood pressure cuffs, x16 stethoscopes, x3 spirometers, x10 thermometer covers, scissors, forceps, x35 test strips, 10 pulse oximeters, and some nursing torches.
The nurses at Mt. Hagen Provincial Hospital expressed their gratitude for this generous donation.
Before leaving, the visiting nurses thanked the hospital’s acting Chief Executive Officer Jane Holden, its management and staff for their support and expressed hope to return in the future.
