Nurses supporting one another!

Can you believe that I have now been qualified a full two years? I can’t!

It has been almost two years to the day since I donned the scary title of ‘Staff Nurse’, with all its responsibilities and rewards and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t want to be anything else.

I’ve had so many adventures (not to mention the near-miss disasters) in that time and my life has taken such a positive direction. I’d like to say I planned it that way, but I think it’s more default than design!

Carla reminded me last week that I will need to revalidate next year and I nearly choked on my Gregg’s sausage roll. I’m pretty good at keeping my portfolio up to date (thanks to the RCN website and Matt’s OCD) so I’m not worrying about it.

I’m more worried about the time flying past and not doing everything that I want to do!
I had a proper heart to heart with Carla about career progression and what my aspirations are – I honestly couldn’t hope for a better mentor and she said the best thing I could do is follow my heart if I want to be truly happy in what I’m doing.

My readers have been so supportive this year too; there have been some really tough times especially with the bullying I experienced with Jo. It has taken until now for me to admit that it was bullying and I’m starting to realise that it wasn’t my fault. I might be a bit (ok – more than a bit) irritating at times and I might not have that much experience yet, but Jo’s behaviour was never acceptable. Carla told me that she wouldn’t be coming back to the ward and I must admit feeling nothing but sheer unadulterated relief.

And to hear the support from my ‘virtual friends’ too (because that’s what I think of you all as) was what picked me up when I honestly considered chucking it all in.

So here I am, reflecting on the highs and lows of the last two years, and also planning for my future. I truly identify as a nurse now, and that makes me think about how I might feel if that identity was taken away from me.

One of my lovely readers is going through this at the moment, having to give up her nursing career through ill-health. She’s shared with me all that she has achieved, and even though she didn’t start nursing until she was 40, she has packed a lifetime of experiences into two decades. From medical ward to surgical ward, she then went on to become a practice educator for the hospital before teaching at the university.

I mean, how clever is this lady? She also has a Master’s degree in Education! Following that she took a Band 7 post in infection prevention and control before following her heart and going to a mission hospital in Tanzania as a nurse manager. Truly amazing!

But the most inspirational part of her story that she shared with me was that she then chose to come home and become a hospice nurse, to be by the bedside of people who need that extra special person to hold them close and share their final days.

She now finds herself on the other side of the nursing experience; needing care and compassion while she comes to terms with her own terminal condition, she also has to come to terms with losing what she describes as her ‘dominant identity’ – her title of nurse.

But it’s not just in a name – it’s not just a badge we wear. We are nurses in our hearts and until it stops beating we will live the values that make us choose this career. Putting other people first, being kind, compassionate, loving and empathetic can’t be folded up and packed away with the uniform.

Nursing isn’t what we do, it’s what we are.

So, thank you Nurse Ruth for allowing me to share your story with all of our fellow nurses. You are truly inspirational and a shining example of what we can achieve if we believe in ourselves and follow our dreams.

I’m sure so many people have been touched by your kindness and love over the years, and now it’s time for you to put yourself first.

And if any of my readers have the honour of nursing Ruth in the future, take good care of her. She’s one of us – and always will be.

Lots of love xxx