After qualifying as a nurse in 1978 aged 21, Andrea started her career at a hospital in her hometown of Halifax. However, shortly afterwards, she relocated with her partner and faced with the challenge of not being able to drive to the hospital, decided to take a career change.

“A nurse is just something I’ve always wanted to be”

“I worked as a secretary for a local car parts company for about a year and then one day I suddenly just thought ‘what on earth am I doing?’”, said Andrea. “I knew it wasn’t right for me. I was aware of Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice as a former colleague worked there, so out of the blue I thought I would ring up and see if there were any jobs. She invited me along for a chat - and the rest is history!

“I’m not sure why I chose nursing, but I can’t remember wanting to do anything else. A nurse is just something I’ve always wanted to be.”

“I’ve always worked on the hospice’s inpatient unit and during that time I’ve had the privilege of caring for hundreds of patients”

As she celebrates her 40-year work anniversary, Andrea shares some insight into what it is like working in palliative care with Sue Ryder.

“I’ve always worked on the hospice’s inpatient unit and during that time I’ve had the privilege of caring for hundreds of patients. I often bump into people who remember me, and in some cases I have looked after multiple members of the same family. I think in those situations having that connection straight away can be reassuring, because they know me and they know their loved one will be ok.

“A lot of people say that there is something you can feel as soon as you walk in the door at the hospice. My dad passed away here six years ago and my mum said that as soon as you walk in you get a sense of relief and comfort. There’s something about the atmosphere - I can’t explain it, but it’s really special.”

“Ultimately, though, the level of care at Manorlands has never changed and will never falter. It’s homely and full of love”

During her career Andrea has seen palliative care evolve and become a much more specialist area of nursing.

“Hospices used to just be seen as a place where people went to die, but it's not a one-way street anymore and you now see people go home well after symptom management. Nowadays, the drugs are also far more specialised and we can offer a range of complementary therapies and services.

“Ultimately, though, the level of care at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice has never changed and will never falter and that’s what matters to people. It’s homely and full of love.”

Special moments

“I just love my job. I feel like it’s part of me and I’m part of it and I’m at my best when I’m at work. I can honestly say that after four decades, nothing phases me. I will go into any situation and just do whatever it takes.

“In this role it’s all about doing your best, because you only have one chance. You can’t treat anything like a rehearsal. When somebody is in the last days of life, you look at their family and you know that these are the moments that they will remember forever.

“As you gain experience, you get better at gauging situations. You know when somebody needs a hug, a hand, or even if they don’t want any physical contact at all. It’s like a sixth sense that you develop. I lost my partner last year and that experience has given me a deeper understanding of bereavement, which allows me to do my job better as I can empathise with how they are feeling.”

“We can’t change what’s happening for the person, but we can improve the journey”

Andrea is keen to encourage others to consider a career in palliative care.

“I work with a fabulous team and you just feel like you belong to a little family. At Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice we’re all different people away from the job, but at work everybody is like-minded and singing from the same hymn sheet.

“If I was giving advice to people who might be considering a career in palliative care, I would say that it’s a job you can make your own, within certain bounds. There isn’t a script and no-one tells you exactly what to say. It’s also incredibly rewarding. We can’t change what’s happening for the person, but we can improve the journey and make their last days as comfortable and reassuring as possible.

“For me, nursing is my vocation and for some reason it’s meant to be. I always think that if I bump into someone and they say ‘Where are you working now?’ they don’t really know me at all! I am where I have always been.”

Read stories from other Sue Ryder Nurses about their experiences of providing end of life care in our hospices and people's homes.