International Nurses Day marked in Oxfordshire
Ellen works at Helen & Douglas House caring for children like Nathan from Banbury
We're hearing from an Oxfordshire nurse who's been telling us about her journey in the profession on International Nurses Day.
The day is observed worldwide to mark nurses' contribution to society.
Ellen started out in Paediatrics at the JR Hospital, but says her outlook changed when she started caring for children with life limiting conditions at the Helen and Douglas House Hospice in Oxford:
"I now have time to truly get to know each child as an individual. Unlike my previous role, which often focused on acute illnesses and quick fixes, here, I have the privilege of prioritising comfort and building meaningful connections with my patients.
"It’s a place where I can be myself, applying my core values of kindness and empathy without the pressures of highly stressful situations. Working at Helen & Douglas House opened my eyes to the love families have for their children, no matter what their condition or disability, and I feel this aspect truly changed the way I view the world and my life."
Ellen went on to tell us more about supporting Nathan Best from Banbury and his family:
"Nathan was born with Prader-Willi syndrome, which was diagnosed shortly after birth. It causes multiple medical conditions and complications which means he requires 24/7 care.
"Nathan was first referred to Helen & Douglas House by his community nurse who noticed that his Mum Jenny, who was his full-time carer, was struggling. As Nathan was getting older and more conditions were being diagnosed, it was becoming harder for her to cope without some respite. So in 2013 they came for their first visit. At first she was a little nervous about leaving him at the hospice, but they have now been coming regularly every year since and rely on the care we provide.
“After we heard Nathan was so unwell in Intensive Care, it really put into perspective for all of the care team just how vulnerable the children we care for are. Over the last 8 months, seeing Nathan gain his strength and abilities back has been a joy and it has been so lovely to see his kind and cheeky manner has not changed since being poorly. Caring for Nathan remains incredibly fun and days with him at Helen & Douglas House reinforce just how lucky you are to work in such a place. Supporting his parents through the toughest time of their lives has been the upmost privilege, and I’m so pleased how much they trust us with their beloved son.”