Sara Chapagai – Nurse Practitioner Intern
26th November 2024 | Back to News
Sara Chapagai is Nepalese and immigrated to New Zealand in 2014 with her family. She did a Bachelor of Nursing at Ucol in Palmerston North.
“There are moments when you break down – it becomes quite overwhelming because you are repeatedly exposed to life threatening challenges,” she says.
After completing her Bachelor of Nursing, she did a Master of Nursing at Massey University while also working full time and raising a young family.
Most of Sara’s work has been in acute care in the ICU, acute medical and stroke unit and urgent care at Palmerston North.
“There are moments when you break down – it becomes quite overwhelming because you
are repeatedly exposed to life threatening challenges,” she says.
“Some days I would go home and realise what a bad day it had been, and it would weigh on my mind.”
After working for four years mostly in ICU, Sara needed a change and wanted to explore primary health care.
“I love primary health care – I like the fact that primary health care is about prevention health promotion and empowering patients to advocate for their own health.”
She gets satisfaction from establishing long term relationships with her patients and maintaining the continuity of care.
“I like having the opportunity to truly get to know my patients.”
Primary health care nurses take a holistic approach to treatment and adopt the model Te Whare Tapa Wha which refers to the four pillars of health: taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family and social wellbeing.
Sara is new to Gisborne and to Three Rivers. She moved here with her husband and two young children.
When she is not busy being a nurse and mum, Sara loves hiking and exploring the great outdoors.