The last 12 months have been unprecedented for everyone. As a Ward Sister on the Inpatient Unit, I am part of a team that has responded to this challenge so we can care safely for our patients and families, as well as protecting staff. Palliative care can be a challenging area in which to nurse but I find it rewarding to know we are making a difference to patients’ lives when they most need it.
My aim as a Hospice Nurse is always to put the patients at the heart of everything we do. We deliver high quality care with compassion and attention to detail. When we needed to start wearing masks and visors this felt very uncomfortable. Patients might not be able to see us smile but we make sure they know we are here for them in the way we talk and care. As well as helping patients with symptom control and personal care we try to look at what is important to each person at this stage in their life. This includes a person’s emotional, social and spiritual needs. I remember this year having a small birthday party for a patient’s young son and how important this day was for the family. I have seen staff wearing PPE sitting playing dominoes with a man who needed some time to feel normal again, doing something he enjoyed. Making sure these things can happen is part of my role.
We have had to restrict visiting slightly to keep everyone safe. I found this one of the hardest things because having family and friends close is so important to many patients. We have used more telephone and zoom meetings for patients, and this has gone well. We make sure no one is left alone.
Hopefully we are now approaching an easing of restrictions and things can get back to normal when safe to do so. Reflecting back on the year, I feel proud to be a member of a team that has worked so hard to keep the Hospice running and supporting our patients. We have felt the support of the Community in Calderdale to keep us going with their donations and messages of encouragement. This was much appreciated at a time of uncertainty. Thank you.
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