Celebrating International Nurses Day – Part 2

On International Nurses Day we celebrated the fantastic group of nurses working at NHS Supply Chain.

This week we will be hearing from Emma, Leanne, Denise, Sarah, Jane and Sara:

Emma Nuttall, Clinical Nurse Advisor – North East and Yorkshire

Previously Theatre Manager / Anaesthetic Nurse

Reflecting on my own nursing career. I am immensely proud of having participated in shaping some of the fantastic nurses we have within the nursing family. Where they are now working not only across the UK, but elsewhere in the world.

I have mentored more students than I can count, both within nursing and other healthcare professions. I am still in contact with many of them and having them thank me for my input to their learning when they progress to be Directors of Nursing, Specialist nursing leads (including one who is an International Repatriation Specialist), University lecturers, where they are now shaping nursing for the future, provides so much additional fulfilment to my own career and enables me to feel satisfied in my own contribution to this amazing profession.

Leanne Wareing, Lead Clinical Advisor
Tower 6: Cardio-vascular, Radiology, Endoscopy, Audiology and Pain Management

Previously Sister in Critical Care

Having spent the last 22 years within the nursing professional some of the most rewarding experiences were within critical care. Starting my career in such a fast pace, highly specialised area I gained a wealth of experience from the amazing team I worked alongside. The care delivered to these extremely sick patients was second to none and I will always be truly grateful to have learnt from some of the best healthcare professionals I have ever worked with. A truly amazing team that will always hold a special place in my heart.

Denise Almond, Clinical Nurse Advisor – North West

Previously Orthopaedic & Trauma Theatre Manager

During my theatre nursing career, we didn’t receive gifts and thanks as such, in the same way that ward staff do, we were pretty invisible. For me, the best memory I have is of a patient walking into the theatre reception many months after we, the team and I had spent 11 hours saving his leg.

He was a firefighter and was injured by an exploding propane cylinder. His leg had 27 fractures from the blast between mid-thigh to mid-calf. When he arrived in the hospital, we were ready to go off duty & celebrate a colleague’s 40^th birthday, but cancelled this and assisted the surgeons to put this gent’s leg back together and save his life. He was bleeding to death.

The joy of seeing this man back in uniform and walking into see us and thank us, is unbelievable and better than any chocolates or cards.

Sarah Todd, Clinical Engagement & Implementation Manager Tower: 4 Orthopaedics, Trauma, Spine and Opthalmology

Previously Orthopaedic Theatre Sister

I have been a nurse for 21 years and immediately found a passion for orthopaedics which I had practiced in the NHS for 17 years before joining NHS Supply Chain.  Although I am not now front facing within the NHS, the role that I do allows me to undertake a job that maintains my NMC nursing registration whilst allowing me to expand my clinical knowledge and develop my procurement understanding.  I have always had a passion for patient care and within this role, I feel that I am able to give more back to the NHS by utilising my experience to help clinicians in the NHS trusts across the North East, navigate the procurement process, improve operational efficiencies and make savings which can then be fed back to provide improved care for patients.

Jane Webster, Clinical Nurse Advisor South Central

Previously Regional Nurse Advisor

‘The Day I made a Lady Cry’: I was working with a local community trust as a clinical nurse advisor. I was working with a lymphoedema pilot service, and I saw a young woman who presented with large legs that she had had for years. She had seen numerous GPs and PNs who had fobbed her off and told her to lose weight, exercise and ‘live with them’

I was her last resort. She was a schoolteacher and on her feet all day. When I saw her legs, I instantly knew she had a condition called lipoedema and this wasn’t her fault. I explained the physiology and how it is a hereditary condition that will never go away but can be managed with suitable compression, diet and maintaining her health.

I explained what she could do and how she could manage a normal life with a few adjustments, and she cried because she felt that someone was listening to her, and she felt such a weight off her shoulders.

I’ve subsequently seen her a few times since and she is getting married, living her life to the full and still wearing her compression hosiery and is fighting against this condition which could become debilitating and lead to further issues.

This is why I love nursing as you can empower people to look after their health and change the outcome for the better. Nursing is also empowering current and future nurses to be patients advocate and strive for the best for the patients. With this service, the lives of many people with lipoedema changed for the better.

Sara Smith, Clinical Nurse Advisor – London

Previously Emergency Admissions / A&E

So lucky to have worked with some amazing teams and nurses that have become my dearest friends. Through working as such a tight team through times of unbelievable pressure and demand. It’s like we speak a language only we understand!