Sue Hayward told her colleagues at Te Whatu Ora Waikato she wanted a low-key farewell when she left nursing after 47 years last week.
Waikato Hospital nursing leaders farewell chief nurse Sue Hayward, centre, of Cambridge last week, from left: Betsy Smith, Anne Ellison, Jan Adams, Denise Bregmen-Hurst. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Fat chance! Waikato Hospital’s Bryant Education Centre theatre was packed with family, friends and workmates who came to say goodbye to the woman who graduated as a nurse in 1977 and went on to spend the last 16 years as chief nurse in Waikato.
Hayward, who lives in Cambridge with husband Alan, was genuinely surprised as she walked into the full theatre having already been taken aback by the presence of her family from Christchurch and Tauranga in a nearby lounge.
“I’m in awe of Alan who kept a secret,” she told the gathering.
“I will miss the people and being associated with a profession like nursing which has been me since I was 17,” she said.
Sue Hayward (nee Dorrian) as a nurse aide when she started her training in 1973.
“I do want to just say all these wonderful comments that have been made about me and my work, I couldn’t have done it without standing on the shoulders of those who came before me,” pointing to Pinnacle Midlands Health Network general manager and nursing director Jan Adams, also from Cambridge, who preceded her at Waikato.
“I now hand the mantle over to Cheryl Atherfold to continue on with it and together as nurses we can make a difference.”
Hayward began her nurse training in Dunedin and completed it at Wellington Hospital – taking a break to get married and have a baby as there was no maternity leave at the time.
Her clinical background was in neonatal. She was unit nurse manager in the neonatal unit at Northland Base Hospital in Whangārei, service manager neonatal at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and then director of nursing services at Christchurch Hospital.
She moved to Waikato District Health Board in 2008 to become director of Nursing and Midwifery in charge of 2300 nurses and midwives at hospitals in Hamilton, Thames, Taumarunui, Te Kūiti and Tokoroa.
The title changed in more recent times to chief Nursing and Midwifery officer.
Throughout her career Hayward has been committed to improving service delivery and developing systems which better support the nursing workforce.
“Nurses now have more career pathway opportunities, whether it’s clinical, educational or in management and leadership,” she said.
Former chief executive Kevin Snee said in his farewell to Hayward that she had been a “rock” in his management team during testing times like Covid and the cyber-attack in 2021.
“She is a genuinely nice person with sound judgement. Ask her to do a role or solve a problem and she would sort it out. She was a very, very safe pair of hands,” he said.
“Nurses were remarkable managing testing, caring for patients with the virus and normalising the widespread use of personal protective equipment in hospitals and public settings,” said Hayward.
Sue Hayward cuts her farewell cake. Photo: Kathryn Jenkin
The cyber-attack was another major crisis where everyone, including nurses, had to revert to traditional methods of working.
“It helps that nurses tend to always have a pen and paper in their pocket,” she said.
“Teamwork is how we get through everything, whether it’s Covid-19, a cyber-attack, a multi-car crash, or another serious event. The team comes together, and you can visit any ward, theatre, or emergency department to see that teamwork in action, making things happen.”
Health New Zealand Waikato regional director Chris Lowry said in Hayward’s 16 years as chief nurse she remained passionate in her job and made sure that nursing was at the forefront of putting patients and whānau first.
“All of you contribute to what we do on a daily basis which of course is to provide care to the patients who come into our organisation and every time they come in with their family, they are vulnerable,” said Hayward.
“The fact we have got the privilege to make a difference to their experience and their outcomes means so much.
“Every single one of those patients and their family members, may not always remember what your name is but they will always remember how you made them feel. Whether you are a ward clerk, orderly, nurse or consultant.”
Jan Adams, left, and Sue Hayward, enjoy the relaxed Cambridge lifestyle while developing Waikato University’s new nursing programme.
Three years ago, Waikato University appointed her an honorary professor in the School of Health for her role in establishing the new nursing school at the university.
See: Nursing colleagues honoured
Hayward recently renewed her New Zealand Nursing Council registration but has no plans to continue working in a profession that has been her life.
Her advice to new nurses?
“Embrace opportunities, trust that your confidence will grow over time, identify role models – even if they don’t know that’s what they are – practice professionalism with your colleagues, and support those who seek to learn from you.”
Nursing’s loss will be her family’s gain. She has three sons and seven grandchildren and will make plans with them knowing she can be there. Plus she plans to travel, visiting places in New Zealand she and Alan have lived “and those we have not” plus explore Europe and the UK, learn to ride her e-bike, take up rock and roll dancing and get fitter.
See: Hit the Target
See: Nurses return 60 years on
Sue and Alan Hayward, centre, surrounded by their children and grandchildren with Te Whatu Ora Waikato colleagues past and present. Photo: Kathryn Jenkin.
