The Nursing Science Department can add another trophy to its case after graduate Helene Mausling walked away with the Ian Webster Silver Medal Award.
Helene, who studied part-time and completed her BTech: Occupational Health Nursing in 2017, received the award during the recent SA Society of Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners (SASOHN) National Conference held at the Spier Conferencing Centre.
She scored the highest marks in the country for the course.
“I did not expect to receive an award at all. I feel very honoured that an institution like SASOHN will recognise and reward a student in such a way,” said Mausling.
Prof Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science, said CPUT scored a double win this year.
Not only was Mausling the overall winner but because of the marginal difference between her mark and that of another CPUT graduate, Yolanda Koorzen, the executive decided to award Koorzen a medal as well.
Koorzen will receive her award at the first function hosted by the Western Cape SASOHN Committee in 2019.
Mausling said her grandmother and aunt were both nursing sisters but it was not until a friend started working in the field that she gained an inside look into nursing.
“That persuaded me to pursue a career in nursing. I have not looked back since as I feel this is my calling.”
She said it was difficult to juggle her studies, work and family life but that she always made time for her family and friends.
“I still remember what one of my lecturers told me as I started as a student nurse. She said that even if you don’t feel like studying you just grab your collar and put yourself down in front of your books and figuratively that is what I did.”
- Each year training institutions across South Africa, who offer a post-basic degree programme in Occupational Health Nursing, are invited to submit the names of students who achieved 75% or above to SASOHN to assess eligibility for the Ian Webster Silver Medal Award.
The SASOHN National Educational Representative and the SASOHN National executive members then review all the submissions for the highest mark attained. Recipients have to hold SASOHN membership.
This award was donated to SASOHN by Prof Ian Webster on his retirement from the National Research Institute for Occupational Diseases in 1998 and is awarded annually.
Written by Ilse Fredericks
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