International Nurses Day

If you are in the UK and didn’t know who Florence Nightingale was, you probably do now.

Her warm kindness and humanity continues to inspire the country, with the temporary NHS Hospitals aimed at beating coronavirus quite aptly being built in her name.

She was a woman whose birthday is wonderfully celebrated globally as ‘International Nurses Day’. Florence Nightingale was an absolutley phenomenal woman who spent time teaching other nurses that caring, not just doing, helped recovery rates and strived to improve the standards of nursing. Standards I’ve seen with my own eyes!

A few facts about this legendary woman:

*She was named after her city of her birth (to English parents)

*Her father inherited a fortune from his mother’s uncle, which led to the surname “Nightingale”

*She had a pet owl

*She was a fantastic mathematical and statistical thinker, along with having a true love for her patients

*She wrote a novel, Cassandra

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She revolutionised nursing, and today I would like to “high five” the nurses that have had an affect on me the last few years, at Maidstone Hospital.

First there is lovely Hayley, Macmillan and colorectal nurse. We were in comms as my lynch syndrome surveillance moved hospitals, so we’d “met” doing admin before the dreaded news appointment. I liked her and thought she was really kind. Following an unsuccessful “natural surgery” to remove the high grade dysplasia, she was at my next appointment with the consultant. I was so pleased to see this lovely lady. Until it dawned on me exactly why a Macmillan nurse would be in my appointment… She took us to a nice little room after being told the cancer was back and spent such a long time with us, answering all sorts of questions. I cried, she listened, and has since always been there to chat or listen should I need her. Or to talk about holidays even!

Then I first met Kirsty, the stoma nurse. About two weeks before my op. She was so kind and gentle and knew exactly how to handle the pair of us on this new journey. The night before my op I was admitted and the Dr’s on the ward didn’t have a clue whether I was to have moviprep, enema, nothing… It all got a bit stressy, then in she glided like an angel of calm and sorted everything out (enema BTW). Since she’s become such a hero of mine. Along with her partner in crime Judy, they offer us ostomates so much love and care. I mean remember, I saw them every day in hospital then every week for a very long time, then every other week and now we catch up periodically, email, call or fun quiz day! I hadn’t realised how lucky I was until I posted something on Instagram and received some comments about other people not having a regular point of contact, seeing different stoma nurses etc. I’m so very lucky to have them in my life.

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Kerry in ICU, wow she blew my socks off. She was a fantastic, funny (except it hurt to laugh) and wonderfully caring nurse. She kept me calm and helped me help myself, whilst also putting me first over the Dr’s wants. Four days in her care, when I left the ICU the next day being wheeled to the ward I cried so much as I was scared to leave her!

But then there was Gina and Mel. Foster Clark’s double act. As tough as those ten days were, when they were on shift there was a little light. They would sing to us in the mornings and get us to join in, would be wonderfully kind and gentle, but firm too (Mel knew I had anxiety about my epidural and managed this amazingly) massage my feet, and… This may be a bit TMI but… I had a butt wound I couldn’t see… Oh the laughs we had getting me in a position so they could take a picture for me with my phone! 😂

There were many other nurses over the years who have really had an impact on me, but all of the above really did need name checks.

They to me will forever be my Ladies with their own Lamps

♥