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Frieda Paton - Frieda Paton

Variety characterizes Frieda Paton's work life leading to the diverse interests reflected in her writing. Currently she is a small business owner, part-time occupational health nurse, crafter for profit and writer for pleasure and profit.

While originally qualifying as a nurse and then obtaining a Master's Degree in Nursing Education, Frieda's career followed a path where research and writing were always a major part of her work life.

As part of the team in a newly established section of genetic health services in the SA Department of Health she compiled health education material and scientific articles. As Education Officer at the South African Nursing Association she managed a publication section as well as researching and compiling reports on national nursing education and nursing service issues.

Later Frieda was appointed editor of Nursing News the monthly newspaper of the national nursing association with a circulation of over 100 000 and of Curationis – the South Africa Journal of Nursing, an accredited nursing research journal. She has also published numerous articles in accredited journals as well as health articles in lay publications. She has co-authored three nursing textbooks, the most recent being Mellish, JM; Oosthuizen, A and Paton, F (2010) An Introduction to the Ethos of Nursing. 3rd Edition. Sandton: Heinemann.

From 1986 to 1998 Frieda was a senior educator at the University of South Africa, a distance education university, where most teaching is done through the written word. Her main subjects were Nursing Education and Nursing Research.

In 1998 Frieda opted out of city life to settle in the historical village of Pilgrim's Rest, South Africa. With her husband, Chris, she owns and runs two tourist oriented gift shops. She was soon recruited to work part-time as an occupational health nurse at the local mine where she deals with medical surveillance as well as day-to day ailments and injuries. Being the only health professional in the village is permanently on call for local accidents and emergencies.

To support her daughters' horse riding sport, Frieda started manufacturing and selling handmade paper in 1993. Paper making is now part of her business but she has extended her range to include other craft products, trying as far as possible to use recycled materials.

After realizing that she actually misses the stimulus of research and writing Frieda decided to venture into freelance writing when her work at the mine was scaled down in the beginning of 2010.

See more about my writing and web activity here Frieda Paton