Today, Tuesday, 12th May, is International Nurses' Day, which shines a light on the wonderful work that nurses do every day.
To celebrate our colleagues, we have been hearing from our Community Nursing teams. Based out in people's homes and at Dean Clough in Halifax, our Community Nurses provide fantastic support to our patients, as well as playing a vital role in helping patient flow in our hospitals.
Before we hear from some of the nursing team, here is just a snapshot of the feedback they receive:
- Palliative Care: "You are all shining lights and a credit to the NHS."
- Bladder and Bowel: "Emma made me regain my confidence and offered unwavering advice and empathy... I am able to go out once again thanks to her nursing knowledge and care."
- Rehab and Reablement: "I feel so much weight lifted off my shoulders."
Here's what some of our team told us about what it's like being a Community Nurse:
Nursing Associate, Shauna Morrow-Lloyd, said: "The role, in a word, is different. Every day is unique and rewarding. Working in the community gives you an opportunity to really get to know your patients and build a rapport. It feels more personable.
District Nurse, Abigail Crowther, said: "I love every part of working as a district nurse in the community. I like seeing different patients in different environments. It's the best of both worlds because I get to be patient-facing but also get to manage staff."
District Nurse, Maria Greenwood, said: "We have regular team meetings and interact with each other via WhatsApp every day. We make sure we see each other's faces - even if it's just over Teams."
Healthcare Assistant, Frailty at Home Team, Mabel Ayo-Ajayi, said: "My role is fun. It's adventurous because no two days are the same. You learn a lot and you learn to take responsibility for your patients because you are mostly working on your own.
"As a team we do have daily catch ups, and there is an open line of communication between us. Everyone is just a phone call away."
District Nurse, Nicola Burnell (pictured second from right in the main image), said: "The job is so rewarding - everything we do is for our patients, so when we get really nice feedback from them or their families, it makes it all worth it."
Thank you to all our wonderful nurses.