My passion for nursing

I love being a palliative care nurse. People frequently ask, ‘How do you do this job?’ and I think to myself - this work needs me as much as I need it. It’s almost like my religion. I absolutely love my job - I’m very lucky.

At Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, holistic and compassionate care is the cornerstone of everything we do. It’s about providing comfort and support to people going through their hardest times.

Many people associate it solely with end-of-life treatment, but our services extend far beyond that. Some patients come for symptom management, gaining confidence in knowing they would like to be here when the time comes.

I’d say we’re a lot of fun - and that’s really important. We laugh! Of course, we’re serious when we need to be, and we’re privileged to witness some deeply meaningful moments.

What we do try to do is to create a normality for people as well. We help set goals for patients – whether it’s getting in a wheelchair, sitting in the garden and feeling the fresh air and the sun on their face, or fulfilling a lifelong wish, like a special trip to the seaside.

I’m very proud to say that I’m a nurse. I did leave nursing for seven years, but there’s absolutely nothing that can touch it. It’s been my rock and foundation. I love coming to work: every day is a new day.

It’s profound. People say it’s a calling, or a vocation. And it is, but it's so much more than that. A good nurse needs to be so many things: someone who is highly skilled, safety conscious, self-aware and a critical thinker.

At Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, we help people live fully while they are unwell or approaching the end of life. Sometimes it’s the little things, not the big things, that make all the difference.