Rachel Atkin

Chairperson

Born in the UK in Liverpool. My parents immigrated to Tauranga in 1972.

All my schooling was done here in Tauranga and as a 17-year-old I headed across to Taranaki to do my nursing training (1987-1989).  I came back to Tauranga Hospital for 18 months as a brand-new RN and worked in a surgical ward.

At 21 I headed to the UK where I spent the next 10 years dividing my time between London, Liverpool and traveling.  It was in Liverpool in the mid 90’s (Aintree University Hospital) where I learnt to be an ICU nurse in a 20 bedded ICU.  In 2001 I came home back to Tauranga Hospital and have been here ever since.  I have been in the Nurse Educator role for ICU/HDU/CCU since 2007 and finished my masters in 2008.

I joined the college in 2001 in the role of treasurer representing the Te Manawa Taki region and in March 2024 I stepped into the role of Chairperson.

I am very proud of the amazing collaboration and networking that has taken place for some years between all ICU Nurse Educators throughout NZ. The forum we belong too for sharing of resources and ideas was invaluable when COVID hit our shores, particularly for those of us in the smaller regions.  

Chrissy Hathaway

Treasurer

Kia Ora. My name is Chrissy and I currently work as a Registered Nurse in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship Hospital plus as a Flight Nurse for New Zealand Air Ambulance Service Ltd, in Auckland.

I have previously worked as an R/N and Clinical Charge Nurse in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care (8 yrs. as CCN) and completed a PG Dip in Health Sciences: Adult ICU Specialty Nursing Practice, when employed there. I have recently been seconded to a committee position representing the Northern Region and have taken on the Treasurer role.

I look forward to representing the Northern Region as I am passionate about Critical Care nursing, promoting the aims of the College and disseminating important information to members in the greater Auckland region.

I am very excited at the opportunity to work alongside other NZCCCN committee members to raise the profile of Critical Care nursing, HDU nursing, CCU nursing, Research, and Outreach/PAR nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Helmer Zijdel 

Committee

I am a Nurse Educator in the Critical Care Complex in Middlemore hospital.

My nursing career started in Middlemore with a NETP programme in Orthopaedics and Surgical wards. I then spent several years travelling the world and worked in a surgical HDU in Edinburgh for 2 years. I eventually returned to Middlemore and joined the Critical Care Complex. I was a staff nurse here and progressed to ACCESS and shift Co-ordination roles. I started as a Nurse Educator in 2012 and I still continue to enjoying the challenges and opportunities of my job.

For the last 10+ years I have helped support the New Zealand Critical Care Nurse Educator Forum and I really enjoy bringing people together. I look forward to this opportunity to work with and collaborate with like-minded professionals on the NZCCCN committee, supporting standards and practice in critical care across the Motu.

Alicia Osland RN, BSN, MSN

Membership and committee member

I am an immigrant from America who settled in Dunedin in 2013.

My nursing career began in middle-American ICUs, specializing in burns, ENT, and plastics, followed by experience in a general ICU. I also had the opportunity to teach at Indiana University.

I am privileged to be part of the Te puna wai ora (Dunedin ICU) team, where I am passionate about delivering excellent patient care and improving outcomes, particularly through mentoring RNs in their postgraduate studies. A highlight of my career has been serving as a flight nurse, which allows me to soar over Aotearoa alongside an exceptional aeromedical team.

I am deeply committed to lifelong learning and continuously seek opportunities for professional development. My involvement with the NZCCCN committee allows me to collaborate with expert RNs across the motu to enhance critical care nursing in Aotearoa.

Melissa Evelyn

Critical Comment and committee member

I have been working in the Waikato Intensive Care Unit for the last 10 years and have recently been appointed into an Associate Charge Nurse Manager role. I have been involved in ICU research and ICU transports within the unit – both of which I have a passion for. I have previously nursed in the Wellington Intensive Care Unit and the General Surgical, Vascular and ENT ward in Wellington also.

I hope that by being a committee member of the NZCCCN I can network with critical care Nurses across the country as well as making a positive contribution to addressing the challenges that we face in our critical care workforce.

Ngá mihi nui,
Melissa

Diane Pollard

Committee Member

My name is Diane Pollard and I have been working in the Critical Care  Unit  at Te Nikau, Greymouth Hospital,  since 2013 and prior to this worked at Ashburton Hospital and Western Australia.

I have been a committee member of the College of Critical Care Nurses , NZNO,  since 2022.

My role on the committee is to review consultation documents on behalf of the committee and the NZNO;  including documents about changes to Occupational Health practices,  Pharmacy proposal to make changes to the length of prescription prescribing,  and changes the government wishes to make to the current Health Act.

I have also provided my own nursing practice examples to the NZ Nursing Council demonstrating,  on behalf of the committee,  how the new POU can be applied to NZ nursing practice.  Five of the examples I submitted have since been published in the NZ Nursing Council document giving nurses practicing in New Zealand guidance on how they are to meet the new POU standards.

Diane Pollard

RN

CCU, Te Nikau Hospital

Sarah Imray, MN Nursing

Committee member

I am the Clinical Nurse Specialist of the PAR sevice based at Wellington hospital.

I am passionate about patient safety and the importance of early recognition and rapid response. I have worked collaboratively with consumers in developing a family escalation pathway, Kōrero Mai.  Working with consumers was very humbling and it was a priviledge  to have  been given this opportunity.

I am a current committee member of the NZCCOF, playing an integral role in the development of National standards for outreach services across NZ. I am also on the Advisory committee for the International Society for Rapid Response Systems, IsRRS.

Fran Sciotto

Critical Comment and committee member

Originally from New York City, Fran relocated to Wellington from Florida, USA in 2024. She brings extensive experience from a Level 1 Trauma Centre mixed ICU, specialising in the care of high-acuity trauma, medical, surgical, neurological, and vascular patients. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing Education and served as an Associate Professor of Nursing at the College of Central Florida.

In the Wellington ICU, Fran focuses on clinical research and simulation, serving as a Research Champion and a member of the Simulation Faculty. Fran is delighted to join the NZCCCN and looks forward to collaborating with colleagues to advance critical care practice across New Zealand.

Angela Clark

Professional Nursing Advisor, (PNA) NZNO

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