International Nurses’ Day
International Nurses’ Day takes place on 12 May and is an opportunity for us to celebrate and thank all our nursing colleagues who provide care for our patients when they are at their most vulnerable and who make a difference to their lives and the lives of their families and loved ones.
Nursing is such a privilege and to be a part of someone’s lives, helping them on their road to recovery is such a special moment. We’re sharing some shining examples of nursing care by our colleagues, which you can read below. If you’ve felt inspired and are interested in joining the Nottinghamshire Healthcare family, you can find everything you need to know at https://recruitment.nottshc.nhs.uk/.
What nursing means to our staff
We know our nursing staff are fantastic and passionate about their job. Below are some quotes about what nursing means to some of our staff and also what it means to our staff that work with nurses. If you feel inspired after reading these and are interested in joining the Nottinghamshire Healthcare family, you can find everything you need to know at https://recruitment.nottshc.nhs.uk/
Nursing means to me - caring and helping people at their most vulnerable time
What nursing means to me?
“Nursing means to me - caring and helping people at their most vulnerable time. I enjoy talking and discussing the outcomes of what patients want, seeing the impact of our skills in helping people at the most vulnerable time.
“Seeing patients come into hospital for procedures that has helped them when in pain, working with them in the community to help with the recovery of wounds and helping them improve their ability to self-care at home are just a few things where my nursing skills have impacted on patient care.
“If you are thinking of joining the nursing profession, please do it. It’s a career with wide opportunities to develop, with rewards that only nursing can give.”
Les Shorthose
Community Nursing Team Leader
Ashfield Community Nursing Team
Every day I am both inspired and humbled by the courage of our patients and relatives.
What nursing means to me?
“Nursing is my greatest achievement. It's a constant challenge, but most importantly it's an honour and a privilege.
“I enjoy meeting the incredible patients, during such an important part of their lives (I nurse at the hospice). Every day I am both inspired and humbled by the courage of our patients and relatives.
“I attended a patient’s funeral recently after being asked personally by the family to attend. At the funeral his partner said "You made such a big difference to his life, he thought the world of you, you truly listened to him" and I think this recent experience really describes the incredible position we are in and the impact we can make to peoples’ lives if we get it right.
“If you are thinking about becoming a nurse - do it! Find which area you're passionate about and pursue it, it will be really hard at times but so rewarding. Nursing is so varied no two days will ever be the same.”
Ellie Morton
Staff Nurse
Bassetlaw Hospice
They exemplify what it means to be a nurse
What I enjoy about working with nursing colleagues?
“I want to acknowledge Sharon Howe, Head of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience and Louise Page, Modern Matron. They exemplify what it means to be a nurse. Together they have led the way in the Directorate for nursing colleagues and all other disciplines. Achievements are so many but perhaps the most impactful ones have been leading QI initiatives around sexual safety, educating and leading quality assurance on our in-patient wards and establishing patient/carer involvement group. “Sharon and Louise also offer 1:1 mentoring conversations for nursing colleagues in the Directorate.
“I have worked with so many inspirational nurses over my years in the Trust, when I think of those people the words that come to mind are, expert, kindness, and trust. I am so pleased that the Trust acknowledges the value of nursing on this special day.”
Emma Hutton
General Manager
Mental Health Services for Older People
I have the privilege of assessing and treating the sexual health needs of the intellectual disability population in Nottingham City
What does nursing means to me?
“Ultimately supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to feel happy and safe in the environments and cultures within which they live.
“I have the privilege of assessing and treating the sexual health needs of the intellectual disability population in Nottingham city. There is never a dull moment in the role and answers to sexual health assessments are very unique and never predictable.
“I recently worked with a young man who did not have capacity to consent to sexual relationships. Previous interventions from other professionals had still reached the same conclusion. After working with him on a 1:1 basis for nearly a year and following this assessment and treatment, an independent psychologist assessed him as having gained capacity following working together as a team with me.
“To anyone thinking of a taking up nursing career, I would say, go for it! In the 24 years I have been registered I have always taken great pleasure in supporting our Multi-Disciplinary Teams to deliver high quality intellectual disability assessment and treatment.”
Rebecca Sams
Community Intellectual Disabilities Nurse
City South Community South Learning Disability Service
Excellent leaders, work well under incredible pressure and good team members
What I enjoy most about working with nursing colleagues?
Olga Poplavska and Olasunbo Lawson, Deputy Ward Managers at Lings Bar Hospital, have both been so welcoming and supportive to me as a new starter and when I returned to the Trust. They are both excellent leaders, work well under incredible pressure and are good team members. The nursing team on Forest Ward are all amazing staff members.
Stacy Ring
Occupational Therapist
Lings Bar Hospital
Becca has advocated for nursing colleagues across MHSOP
What I enjoy about working with nursing colleagues?
Rebecca Bracken, Clinical Operational Manager, has advocated for nursing colleagues across Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP). She champions the skills and expertise of mental health nursing through every forum she attends and personifies what it means to be a nurse leader.
Emma Hutton
General Manager
Mental Health Services for Older People
The professional satisfaction can be great and the peer support available is amazing
What nursing means to me?
“Nursing is a chance to bridge the health inequalities for learning disability patients and improve their lives.
I enjoy meeting people and working with them to improve their situation. The project I'm doing at the moment is increasing the uptake of the annual health check for BME LD patients in Nottingham City. This is having a direct impact on their health potential.
I don't expect high wages or recognition, but the professional satisfaction can be great and the peer support available is amazing. The number of opportunities available within nursing is vast. We have evolved our profession so much since Florence Nightingale’s Day.
Helen Webster
Primary Care Liaison Nurse
Clifton Cornerstones
What I enjoy about working with nursing colleagues?
As the service user’s allocated Social Worker, my professional view is that the work carried out by Rebecca Sams,Community Intellectual Disabilities Nurse, was both exemplary and very effective.
This can be seen in terms of the evidence-based outcome in relation to his capacity on sex and relationships, and the pivotal role that this played in the legal process with the Court of Protection.
In addition, the input from the Community Nurse enabled the service user to be more positive about his sexual identity, whilst also increasing his awareness of his vulnerability to the risks presented to him from others. The work completed with the service user is also being regularly revisited with him by his support staff and has formed a foundation in his Support Plan to both ensure his ongoing safety and raise his self-esteem.
Tim Sinclair
Social Worker
WLDT North
John is always approachable and highlights the value and integrity of mental health nursing
What I enjoy about working with nursing colleagues?
John has played a central role in maintaining high standards of care by supporting nursing colleagues through challenging times. John is always approachable and highlights the value and integrity of mental health nursing by placing the patient at the heart of every conversation.
Emma Hutton
General Manager
Mental Health Services for Older People