This is part two of a series profiling nurses and midwives in our area. The year 2020 is the World Health Organization's International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The year-long effort celebrates the work of nurses and midwives.
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Michael Rohr came from the army into nursing and hasn't looked back.
The nurse unit manager specialist teams Port Macquarie community health had an aptitude for science at school but wasn't sure back then about what career to pursue.
"I've always been empathetic, and it's a bit of a cliche, but I do like helping people," Mr Rohr said.
Nursing was the right fit after a stint in the army.
Mr Rohr sees nursing as a calling, and as such, believes a lot of people enter the profession for the wrong reasons.
He said nurses looked after people at their most vulnerable, so having empathy was important.
"If you don't have that [empathy], I don't think nursing is the right career for you," Mr Rohr said.
The nurse with 21 years' experience has worked in the private and public health systems.
His job with the Mid North Coast Local Health District involves managing a team across areas including dietetics, hospital in the home and chronic care in Kempsey, Wauchope and Port Macquarie community health.
Hospital in the home works like a virtual hospital ward with treatments, such as intravenous antibiotics, delivered at home.
Mr Rohr works with an experienced team and is a firm believer in community nursing's important role in health care.
"I help them do their jobs and I don't try to tell them what to do," he said about supporting the team of staff.
"I think there is mutual respect in that."
Mr Rohr said it was a great job and quite a versatile role.
He said the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife would lift the profile of the professions.
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