PEGASUS 2025 – RANGIORA GRADUATE NURSE WINS EXCELLENCE AWARD

Nursing graduate, Mariapaola (Paola) Mastroviti, was recently awarded the Excellence in Professional Nursing Practice Award at her Nurses Entry to Practice (NETP) graduation ceremony.

“It was unexpected and took me by surprise. It has given me a big boost of confidence and it made me feel I am on the right track,” Paola said.

She was nominated for the award by her Nursing Team Leader at Medical Corner Doctors in Rangiora, Alicia Cowie. Paola is one of the first NETP students ever recruited by Medical Corner Doctors, but it is a direction Alicia is passionate about.

“I believe in the future of all our nurses. These are our colleagues of the future and if we do not give them quality education and support, we will lose them,” Alicia said.

Paola moved to New Zealand from her homeland, Italy, in 2013. After working as a Healthcare Assistant in aged care and seeing the work nurses do, she was inspired to start her nursing training. Paola has a passion for education and is an advocate for equity.

“I enjoy learning new things and adding to my skill set, especially in a general practice setting where you are dealing with anything and anybody,” Paola said.

“I grew up following the work of organisations like Doctors without Borders and Italian NGO Emergency who are doing amazing work in war[1]torn countries. It is inspiring but there is work to do in our own backyard, too. I feel like nursing is a way to advocate for people and a way to strive for better health outcomes for all,” she said

Read the full November newsletter here