Saturday 11 February 2012
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A day in the life of Sue Phillips, nursing team leader at Leckhampton Court Hospice
12 May 2010
I am responsible for 16 patients and line-manage a team of nursing staff at the hospice. My role involves planning admissions and discharge of patients, providing holistic care for patients as well as support to their families. Living 20 miles away gives me ample time to mentally prepare for work as I drive in each day.
Following the night shift handover, nursing staff are allocated to patients according to the skill mix of the team and the specialist palliative care needs of patients. I then discuss admissions and discharge with the medical team whilst the nursing team carry on providing personal care to the patients. The multidisciplinary team discusses each patient, identifying any concerns or issues over the last 12-24 hours. Nurses provide 24 hour care for the patient and are in the best position to inform doctors of any concerns and prioritise urgency of action.
A large part of a nurse’s role is working with patients to manage their symptoms and reviewing them on an ongoing basis as patients come in and out of the hospice.
My day is a mix of liaising with other departments and coordinating many different elements that support the delivery of person-centred, holistic care. I enjoy the fact that no two days are the same and it’s never boring. It’s a privilege to care for those who are very ill and ensure those dying are cared for with dignity and respect.
Many people would think this is a glum place to work, but often we are told by patients and visitors that there is a feeling of relaxation and peace at the hospice - as well as laughter. Yes, we have our sad times but we take comfort in knowing we have tried our best to help.
Sue Ryder is the first charity I have worked at and its evident it works tirelessly to meet the needs of a varied patient group, both here and abroad. To enable nurses to deliver quality care to those that need it most, we are reliant on the diverse skills and attributes of the many people across the charity who help raise voluntary income amongst other things.
As I drive home, I have an opportunity to reflect on the day and relax. I qualified as a nurse 32 years ago and have worked at Sue Ryder for the past eight years - it’s one of the best jobs I’ve had.