International Nurses Day 2021 at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital

This year’s theme of International Nurses Day is: “A Voice to Lead – A vision for future healthcare. In 2021, we seek to show how nursing will look into the future as well how the profession will transform the next stage of healthcare.”

At St John & St Elizabeth and St John’s Hospice, we want to celebrate the future of our exceptional and caring nursing staff and appreciate those who have been with us for over twenty years.

We wanted to take this opportunity to hear their stories about what nursing at St John and St Elizabeth means to them

Sara Manca, Theatre Scrub Practitioner

“I joined St John and Elizabeth Hospital two months ago because it’s well known for providing the best care and experience to its patients. As a scrub practitioner, my experience here keeps being positive and the variety of specialities helps me to build up my expertise and confidence. Also, the hospital invests so much in updating and upgrading the technologies we use for our patients and that makes the environment challenging and stimulating.”

Geraldine Gilbride, Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialist

“I have been part of the community of the Hospital and Hospice for over twenty-five years. I have always seen my time here as “ a gift and a task”.

“Gift” to me was being part of a caring welcoming Community; and “task” the privilege of serving the sick, the terminally ill and their families.

The Hospital was originally under the care of the Sisters of Mercy who also worked in the local community, which is where I first came to know them. The charisma and ethos of the Sisters, their brio and their commitment to their patients drew me into their orbit, and I joined the staff to be part of their mission to help the sick and their families. The inspirational architecture of the chapel of St. John is a reminder of the Sisters and an oasis of peace and calm.

The community spirit of St John’s Hospice transcends both time and place: the relationships formed endure even when staff leave or relocate.

The ethos of the Sisters continues. Care is holistic. We do not just treat the illness or the symptoms, but the person; and not just the person, but we see and relate to the person in the context of their families, friends, and support networks. Caring for the terminally ill is not just a question of giving but of receiving too. I have grown and developed as a person from knowing so many wonderful people.

Thus, the ethos, strong and enduring relationships among all staff, our mission to care and holistically serve the terminally ill are the reasons why I have been so happy, fulfilled and committed to St John’s Hospice; St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, the parent body, from which the mission to treat the terminally ill and the Hospice sprang.

As I voiced earlier, I have always seen my work, my service at St John’s as “gift and task”: The gift, being part of a community with strong personal relationships; the task being the privilege of caring for the terminally ill.”

Theresa McGeown, OPD Co-ordinator – Outpatient Nursing, has achieved 26 years of service.

“My 26-year service to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital  has been a truly memorable and incredible journey. From working with a variety of different clinical specialities as well as staff and patients from different cultural backgrounds, I feel working here has developed me as a person and given me the knowledge and confidence to deal with all situations I may encounter.

St John & St Elizabeth Hospital will always have a special place in my life as my son Joseph was born here and I’m honoured to say he is currently working for the organisation.”

Linda Sainsbury, Healthcare Assistant, St Francis Ward

“I was looking for a job and when the opportunity came, I applied as a Health Care Assistant.

I enjoy and love my job. I can meet new friends, and some have been here for over twenty-six years too!

I always feel so useful and gain great satisfaction when the patient gets better and can go home to their family and recover. It means that we as a team have done a good job and have provided the best treatment for our patients everyone knows s their rules or caring.

I am proud to be a Health Care Assistant. Every day is different and being a Health Care Assistant is not just about looking after the patient’s illness but also being able to listen and care for the relatives. It makes me happy when I see patients smile again.

I feel incredibly privileged to look after so many people in this world, and that they choose to come to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital to get the best treatment.”

At St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, we take huge pride in the amazing work of our team and their dedication to our mantra: Putting People First.

We have more than 570 people working across 41 departments, and we consider each and every one integral to the smooth running of the hospital.