Tag: International Nurses Day

Nurse to cycle from London to Amsterdam with patient families

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY – 12 MAY 2024

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is celebrating International Nurses Day, highlighting inspirational team members who have made a significant impact on the service.

Janice Heggie, Lead Nurse for the Neonatal Service at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, is one nurse who definitely falls into this category.

This month, Janice won Leader of the Year at the service’s Women and Children Awards and, next year, will mark 35 years of service with NHSGGC.

Before she hits that milestone – and her 60th birthday – Janice is taking on her biggest challenge yet.

In June, she will cycle almost 400 miles from London to Amsterdam across four days to raise funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

“I wanted to set myself a challenge for my 60th birthday and when the charity announced a call for people to make this cycle, I signed up right away.

“For years, I’ve watched the charity giving to the hospital, and I have seen the impact that their work has on people’s lives. This is my chance to do something for them.

“I started training in October last year and I average about 100 miles per week. Cycling has become a huge part of my life now. I even cycle indoors. I have more than one bike – let’s just say that,” Janice said.

Janice will cycle with another colleague and 16 patient family members who also want to give back to the hospital and charity. The team will meet with five other children’s hospitals from across the UK too.

Angela Wallace, Executive Director of Nursing explained that she isn’t surprised that Janice has taken on such a challenge. “All of our nurses are inspirational in one way or another, but we find great strength in leaders like Janice.

“We’re so proud of the work that she gives and the care that she delivers to patients. For the past 35 years, she has dedicated her time to caring for children, often in very complicated cases.

“Janice sets a goal and works hard towards it so it isn’t a surprise that she has signed up for this journey and I can guarantee that she will be an amazing motivator to those cycling with her. A huge thanks to Janice and to all our nurses that are inspiring others,” she said.

International Nurses Day is today – Sunday, 12th of May 2024.

You can donate to Janice’s cycle here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/janice-heggie-1714069981263

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is delighted to support staff marking International Nurses Day 2024

May 12 is Florence Nightingale’s birthday and begins a week-long celebration of the profession of nursing.

Each year the International Council of Nurses (ICN) have a theme, with this’s theme being “Our Nurses, Our Future, The Economic Power of care.”

Nurses are often the first members of staff that patients meet and are the constant in their care. Nurses give care with empathy and compassion throughout a patient’s life which can be challenging and rewarding daily.

Professor Angela Wallace, NHSGGC Executive Director of Nursing, said: “When I speak to our nursing colleagues across the organisation, I see a dedication and passion to ensure the patient receives the best care possible and how the patient is always central to how our nurses deliver care.

“These conversations are so important to me, as I get the chance to speak and listen to fellow nursing colleagues.

“Nurses play a vital role in the care of our patients and loved ones which can be sometimes in difficult circumstances. I want to take this opportunity on International Nurses Day to thank you today and every day for the invaluable care you give with dedication and professionalism.

“I hope you enjoy celebrating International Nurses Day.”

Helping Hands: Ruth writes poem in recognition of colleagues for International Nurses Day

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde critical care worker has written a poem to recognise the hard work and dedication of colleagues as part of International Nurses Day 2021.
 
Senior Charge Nurse, Ruth Wilson, tells the tale of a nurse’s role through ‘Helping Hands’ which outlines the huge remit and responsibility of nurses in providing day-to-day care. Ruth, 55 from Ayrshire who has worked as a nurse for more than 36 years, sees first-hand how colleagues look after patients on a day-to-day basis. 

Read ‘Helping Hands’ below:
 

Helping Hands

At the start of the day, hands are washed before countless nursing tasks
Protecting ourselves with hand hygiene and professionally fitted masks
 
These hands will wash patients, write careplans, and administer medication
They will clean surfaces and equipment with total dedication
 
These hands will give out meals, make beds, and answer numerous telephone calls
They will guide and support mobilising patients in order to prevent falls
 
These hands will pour cups of tea, tie up linen, and empty patient bedpans
They will secure pumps and equipment to gleaming drip stands
 
These hands will feed and clothe, perform oral hygiene and comb hair
They will fill out fluid balance charts and give regular catheter care
 
These hands will take notes on ward rounds, and order things on “Trak”
They will dispense analgesia, offer a massage or give a soothing ice pack
 
These hands will organise flowers, open cards and tidy the place
They will dress wounds, cut nails, moisturise patient’s bodies and their face
 
These hands will soothe fevered brows through the comfort of touch
They will wipe away tears when it all gets too much
 
These hands will perform CPR and airway skills and really without much thought
Will automatically pilot to the resuscitation skills they were taught
 
They will support relatives with bad news, and patients will be allowed to cry
They will perform last offices when their patients die
 
They will sign discharge letters when people are getting home
They will clean all the surfaces shinier than chrome
 
These hands are priceless hands, helping hands, the hands you hope are there
If you ever get sick yourself, you want hands that care.

RUTH WILSON

NHS Lothian welcomes 910 new nurses on International Nurses Day

NHS Lothian has welcomed 910 new nurses and midwives to support the Health Board to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new recruits are made up of nursing staff and midwives and will be working in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Western General Hospital and St John’s Hospital, Livingstone as well as across the community.

All 910 of the new staff were recruited  through a national effort to boost the workforce during the pandemic and beyond, during the national recovery phase.

One of the new Staff Nurses, Alex Simpson, said: “I’m really enjoying doing my bit to help and the team have been so welcoming and supportive of me.”

Jacqueline Reid, Senior Charge Nurse, said: “What a privilege it is to have all these students volunteer to come and work with us and our patients during the current pandemic of Covid-19. An inspiration to us all.”

Craig Stenhouse, Deputy Chief Nurse for Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Associated Services, said:  “Having the student nurses join our team has allowed us to continue to provide the high level of care we strive for.

“Each of the students I have met so far have been motivated, enthusiastic and excited to start working in their new teams. It is difficult to believe how quickly these new members of staff have become part of our team.”

This year on International Nurses Day NHS Lothian joined health organisations around the world to celebrate the exceptional work preformed every day by nurses and midwives.

Yesterday was the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the pioneer of modern nursing. Whilst the profession had developed considerably since, it continues to evolve in scope and importance and in the range of roles open to the modern nurse.

Gillian McAuley, Nurse Director for Acute Services in NHS Lothian, said:  “One of the biggest challenges  for us right now is making sure we really connect with our patients and their families. It’s an important part of in making sure really outstanding ,compassionate care is  delivered.

“The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can create barriers between us and our patients. A lot of nurses have said can be hard when patients can’t see our expressions, like  seeing us smile and of course it’s not possible for a nurse to  give a bereaved family member a simple hug.

“We’ve had to do a lot of work learning how to show our expressions and emotions through our eyes and using other forms of expression. We’ve done things like creating cards called ‘a hug in a card’ to try and keep that connection with our patients and their families.”

Alex McMahon, NHS Lothian Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals said: “We’ve had to cancel a lot of events we’d been planning to mark International Year of the Nurse but, despite that, we know there has never been a better time to celebrate nursing.

“We welcome our new recruits who know there  has never been a more exciting time to be a nurse. There are  a whole range of specialisms to choose from and nursing remains a profoundly rewarding and fulfilling  profession.”

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The recruitment of 910 nurses and midwives is very welcome during these exceptionally difficult times.  

“NHS Lothian will face significant challenges after Covid-19 in improving waiting times and getting patients treated and these new recruits will go a long way to overcoming these challenges.”

Covid nurse pens poignant poem

A Glasgow nurse has put pen to paper to capture the moment she helped a Covid-19 patient speak to their loved ones from their deathbed.

Sarah Pirie (30) from the south side of Glasgow has been a nurse for three years and is working on the frontline, treating Covid-19 patients at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Sarah said: “It’s the first time I have been so intimately part of a patient’s last words. It was beautiful and heart-warming but also overwhelming. I wrote the poem at the end of this difficult shift during which there had been many tears.

“In our teams we’re getting great support from each other in this very difficult time, but as well as being nurses, we are human beings and we have good days and bad. The poem was just my way of dealing with one of those difficult days.”

Sarah shared her poem with her mum and sister who then urged her to share it more widely.

Sarah then shared in to her Facebook and has been overwhelmed with the result.

She said: “I have been contacted by people as far away as the States and Singapore. I think it’s just struck a chord with people and maybe helped too.

“I hope families take comfort knowing that even if they can’t be there, we are trying to do everything possible to help them stay connected to their families.”

The poem comes at a poignant time, as Tuesday is the International Day of the Nurse, which marks the important role that nurses are playing to support patients at this particularly challenging time.

Tonight I held you,
As I fought back the tears.
And grieved for your family,
That have loved you for years.
 
You became unwell,
There was nothing to do,
We watched through the window,
And increased your O2.
 
I called your family,
To see if anyone could attend.
Your family needed to know,
That this was the end.
 
But this virus is terrifying,
And people are shielding,
How can they be there,
When Covid is so unyielding.
 
I held your hand,
I wiped your face,
My gloved hand on skin,
As your breathing slows pace.
 
You’d still smile behind your mask,
And I’d try smile back.
To comfort and reassure you,
Is now my one and only task.
 
Your family called,
To say their goodbyes,
We stood with the phone,
And listened to their cries.
 
With tears rolling down our faces,
Into the masks we all wear.
We really wanted to help them,
And show them we care.
 
We woke you up,
So you could hear their voice.
We described your actions.
We had no other choice.
 
Their words filled with sorrow,
Their hearts played bare.
They wanted the time,
To show you, they care.
 
You looked peaceful,
And smiled at their call,
I hope it brought you comfort,
Standing there took my all.
 
We deal with death,
But not like this,
No family allowed,
To give you one last kiss.
 
But the next family will need us,
We will need to do the same.
But I hope I gave you good care.
And I will always remember your name.