People Like You - Rae

DIETETIC AND SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY ASSISTANT

For twenty years, I worked in administration roles in health. I started as a receptionist and then became a ward clerk. Although I enjoyed the work, my desire was to work more with patients. I wanted to help patients in rehabilitation settings to achieve positive results.

On the CMDHB Careers website I found this job. It was quite a job change. The offer of supervision and on the job training encouraged me to take the job.

As a Dietetic Assistant one of the things I do is screen patients for malnutrition. I ask questions about their appetite and measure their height and weight. I then enter this information on the computer. If a patient comes up as high risk, I refer them to a dietitian.

I also run therapy breakfast groups. Here patients practice making their own breakfast. This encourages independence and helps with any physical or cognitive problems they’re working on.

The other part of my job is being a Speech Language Therapy Assistant. I work through exercises with patients. After this, I let the Speech Language Therapist know how patients are going with their exercises. I also help run communication groups. This helps patients improve their speech by talking with each other.

I strongly encourage anyone who has a desire for a more fulfilling job to stop thinking about it and make the change. It may mean moving out of your comfort zone but it is well worth it.

Rae
Dietetic and Speech Language Therapy Assistant at Middlemore Hospital

For more information contact:

Vicki Paulin
Professional Leader Nutrition and Dietetics Service
Counties Manukau District Health Board
Phone: 09 276 0044 ext 2412
Email: Vicki.Paulin@middlemore.co.nz

Helen McLauchlan
Professional Leader Speech Language Therapy
Counties Manukau District Health Board
Phone: 09 276 0044 ext 5006
Email: Helen.McLauchlan@cmdhb.org.nz