Colin Woodhouse
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha/Canterbury
Having trained in Leeds, UK I qualified as a Registered Nurse 2000. Prior to training my first job in health was as a hospital aide in the brain injury rehabilitation unit in Edinburgh. That was the start of my interest in Neurosciences, and since qualifying I have worked in the field for well over 17 years. I am now the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Neurosciences in Christchurch.
In addition to being a neurosciences nurse I have also been a patient having suffered a significant traumatic brain injury in January 2011. Fortunately, I have made a very good recovery and returned, pretty much, to the level of function I was at pre-trauma. It did take quite a long time though. That experience has given me a far better understanding of brain insults and the pathways to recovery. I certainly know what ‘a long time to get better’ means. In addition to my clinical work I am currently doing post-graduate research on Spiritual Support in the public hospitals. In addition to that I am part of a national multi-faith and no-faith Spiritual Support research group. |
Patient Story - Both Sides of the Counter
I have been a registered nurse for 23 years. The majority of that time has been working in Neurosciences. In 2003 I experienced my first seizure. In 2011 I had a second seizure which resulted in me sustaining a significant traumatic brain injury. From looking after TBI patients I transferred to being a TBI patient who needed looking after. This presentation covers my story of being in hospital, and of the long slow process of recovering from a TBI.