Bucks staff recognised as part of Mental Health Nurses Day
Its a day to celebrate the wonderful work they do to care for and support people
Oxford Health provide mental health services across Buckinghamshire.
National Mental Health Nurse Day is held each year on 21 February as a way to thank all those who support people suffering from mental health problems.
This year the day will be celebrated on social media and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust will be joining in.
Julie Fulea, Senior Matron for Older Adult Mental Health and Interventional Psychiatry, will be keenly following the event on Twitter and sharing her thoughts about the job.
She explained:
“It will be really good to highlight the ward work and valuable contribution our mental health nurses make to people’s lives. And by telling our stories hopefully we can inspire more people to think about joining the profession.
“I originally wanted to be a teacher but a friend made me think about being a nurse and couldn’t resist the challenge. I think I made the right choice! I looked at general nursing and mental health nursing and quickly decided that mental health nursing was for me
“I can’t think of any job that gives the variety every day that we have and to be part of people’s recovery from ill health is quite a privilege. I am always struck by the small acts of care that can have such a massive impact on the people’s recovery and support to their family.”
As well as using the day to recognise the hard work of Mental Health Nurses, it can be a way to check in on their mental health.
Julie says her and her team not only supporting patients but each other, especially following coronavirus and the impact to demand.
Britta Klinck, Oxford Health’s deputy director of nursing for mental health, said:
“The work done by our mental health nurses has never been more crucial than it is right now and we want to tell people what a fantastic team they are.
“The pandemic has brought great challenges for the NHS and also for ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances which can have a real impact on their mental health.
“Mental health doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can find themselves in need of care, support or treatment at some point in their life and that’s why our nurses are so important.
“One of the main messages of the day is that being a mental health nurse can be incredibly rewarding and, for people looking for a new career, it could be an excellent choice.”