Hands up who loves the NHS, stories to melt your heart.. PHOTOS_ Julia Kennedy
PHOTOS_ JULIA KENNEDY, WORDS_ THE NURSES HELPED BY ANNA MAGNOWSKA
‘One nice thing’
A portrait series representing nursing in the 21st century . We called on any nurses interested in taking part to come forward and volunteer for the series. Art direction by Laura Quick , make up by Annabel Callum.
Each nurse told a short story to go with the portraits. 'One Nice Thing' was the brief for their personal tales. We've kept the title for the series..
“During a night shift, a porter called out that there was a lady on the street outside giving birth. By the time I got there, her waters had broken and I could see the baby’s head crowning. I had to deliver the baby right there and then. The baby came out and his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice. He was limp and not breathing. I had to resuscitate him. The neonatal team arrived on the scene and we took mum and baby to the resuscitation area of A&E. Both mum and baby were ok.
This is why I love nursing. “
- Rona, A&E nurse.
“A mother with her newborn baby came into my clinic. She was very anxious and worried about her baby who was not feeding well. I was able to use my knowledge to equip this mother with the necessary skills to feed her baby effectively. The mother left my clinic feeling reassured and happy.
I felt proud that I was able to help like this, and proud of my profession.”
-Cheryl Saddington, Health Visitor
“I came onto shift and the department had been busy overnight. I could see that all the patient, particularly the elderly and frail had been given fundamental care of being put on a bed and offered refreshments by the night staff… It’s the simple things.”
-Clyve, A%E Nurse Matron
Alistair – A&E nurse
“Yesterday I looked after a man who had had a major head trauma in the past. By the time I met him he had already shouted at three other members of staff. I recognised that it was this trauma which had affected his personality, and was causing him to become aggressive. I quickly talked him through the next steps of his journey in A&E, including the wait to see the brain surgeon who was in theatre. He then waited patiently for three hours until the doctor was out of theatre. He was very grateful to me and thanked me many times.”
Liz – A&E nurse
“An elderly lady came in yesterday following a fall. Her daughter was very anxious about her mother, A&E and the whole experience. “I took the time to reassure her, help her mother into a comfortable bed, and dress her wounds. It was seeing that I had made a difference by offering support and reassuring her that made me pleased I do this job, and made me feel appreciated. I could give you many life saving stories, but the little things make a difference too.”
Laura – A&E nurse
“An 87 year old lady had come in as a stroke call. She had left sided weakness and significant facial droop. Her family was very upset as her face was expressionless due to the damage of the stroke. Once the team had completed the interventions the lady required, who had come in anxious (and this was the only way we had known her), smiled with the most beautiful glow in her eyes and said “thank you”. It sounds so small, but to me that made me remember why I love my job.”
Rachel – A&E nurse
“An intoxicated patient that I had been looking after woke up suddenly and became agitated and aggressive. She was shouting insults and making threatening gestures. I backed out of the cubicle and watched her stomp off out of the department. I felt embarrassed and upset.
Anyway, I shook myself off and tried to pull myself together. I stepped into the next cubicle to check on one of my other patients. As I approached her, she reached out and put her hand on my wrist.
We made eye contact and she said “are you okay?” The question should have come from me to her and I was unable to answer.
People are always surprising and often the kindness of strangers can remind me why I love my job.”
Anna, palliative care clinical nurse specialist; Paul, staff nurse, A&E
“One night we were working together in resus and I had a very sick lady in the side room. Suddenly she started to thrash around and pull her lines out. Her face was turning an awful blueish grey colour. I called for help and pulled the crash bell. “Paul came running in and managed to get the patient onto her back. Other people ran in and a full arrest call commenced. We all worked together as a team and eventually managed to resuscitate her. He asked me out after that shift and we’ve been together for two years.”
Kitty – oncology clinical nurse specialist in children and young person’s cancer services
“It’s emotional, demanding and wonderful all at the same time. I’m very glad I chose this career, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Every day I face a new challenge, learn something new, and find inspiration from a young person who overcomes unprecedented changes in their lives.”
ANDREW – A&E nurse
“I am an A&E nurse in South London. We see the public at their worst and best and we are there for people when they have no-one else.
I looked after a gentleman recently who was at the end of his life. A&E is not a good place to die and this patient did not want us to call anyone. I spent as much time as I could with him. He was deteriorating and I soon realised that he had hours to live, rather than days. I called his next of kin, who was an old friend of his. It was about 4 in the morning. His friend came straight in and was so grateful that he got to say goodbye. It was nice to make a difference to not only the patient, but also their friends and family”
Sacha – uro-oncology nurse specialist
“One of my patients who was diagnosed with bladder cancer required treatment into his bladder to reduce the chances of the cancer returning. He told me he was considering not having the treatment at all. We sat down and I explained why it was required. Two years later and his cancer has not returned. He occasionally reminds me that my patience and reassurance is the only reason he went ahead with the treatment. I feel proud that I have made a difference in his life.”
Bruce – consultant nurse, uro-oncology and urology
“After one of my prostate cancer patients whom I had cared for for many years died, his wife came to see me. She said: ‘Thank you for all you have done over the years for us. Tell your mother that you have a second one now, one from the Lebanon because you have treated us like a son would treat us.’”
Jolene - nurse
“It’s a real privilege that people put so much trust in you. You are part of some of their most intimate and vulnerable moments. No matter how many times you’ve done a procedure and how routine it is for you, it never is for them. In fact it’s a scary thing. I have recently been a patient myself, and the experience has made an impression on me. I don’t think I fully appreviated what an impact you actually do have on a patient and how dependent they are on you. Even if just for a very short time. That is, to me, the very special part of my job. And the privilege.”