Nurses work across many different areas. They provide healthcare services, monitor and support patient progress, educate patients, their families, carers and others regarding their health condition as well as providing day-to-day care.

It is important to also acknowledge that many nurses also work with people in good health. This includes promoting healthy lifestyle choices, independent living and providing individuals with actionable advice on how to live longer and healthier lives.

Today marks my 34^th year working in this wonderful profession – nursing.  A career path that I chose from being 5 years old. Honestly, I’ve never given a thought of doing anything else really.

Looking back over the years

Over the years, I have had wonderful opportunities in my career. These include working in different settings, looking after people, meeting many people and being welcomed into people’s lives, across hospitals, the community, as a district nursing sister and continence, as well as being a bladder and a bowel specialist nurse.

In more recent years, I moved to the third sector. I now have a combined role, working for a national service (Bladder & Bowel UK) within the wider charity, Disabled Living. I am also continuing my bladder and bowel NHS practice alongside this.

When I arrived as a young lass in Canterbury during the 80’s, I met with a group of like -minded people. All of us were eagerly anticipating the start of learning and becoming a nurse. We trained in small groups back then, with a maximum 10 -15 in a set. During this time, we completed our training under the watchful eye of our matrons and mentors.

We all remain firm, close friends to this day, sharing the joys and sometimes sadness, life brings us all over the years. All of us have taken different paths, which include palliative care, practice nursing, specialist nursing, midwifery, management and Hospital Chaplin. However, we all remain firm in our commitment to continue what we love doing – in whatever setting we are working. So, here’s a “Happy Birthday” to the Set of 86 and in the words of one of the most famous nurses:

No matter how difficult the days may get, never forget the reason you became a nurse. – Florence Nightingale

Written by Karen Irwin, Specialist Nurse / Service Manager at Bladder & Bowel UK. 

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The International Council of Nurses is operated by nurses and leads nurses internationally. The organisation works to ensure quality nursing care for all and sound health policies globally.

This year’s theme is: “Nurses – A Voice to Lead Health for All”

Posters can be downloaded from: https://www.icn.ch/what-we-do/campaigns/international-nurses-day

The Royal College of Nursing are also celebrating the day. Follow #InternationalNursesDay on social media and show your support via: https://twibbon.com/Support/nurses-day-2019

Nurses work across a wide range of specialities, in a variety of settings, from hospitals, private clinics, schools, community, care homes, nursing care facilities, hospices, prisons, the military, to industry and third sector organisations to name but a few.

This International Nurses Day, Sunday 12th May, we want to extend a hand of thanks and appreciation. We are celebrating all our wonderful nurses, who work hard every day, always putting their patients first.

On the left, our Service Manager/Specialist Nurse, Karen. To the right, one of our Children’s Specialist Nurses, Fiona.

It is not uncommon to hear a nurse say “we are just doing our job”

Nurses in many different areas, provide healthcare services, monitor and support patient progress, educate patients, their families, carers and others regarding their health condition as well as providing basic day-to-day care. It is important to also acknowledge that many nurses also work with people in good health, promoting healthy lifestyle choices promoting independent living and providing individuals with actionable advice on how to live longer and healthier lives. This is why International Nurses Day is an important date to be celebrate, as it highlights the remarkable work nurses do, everywhere, every day across the world.

No matter how difficult the days may get, never forget the reason you became a nurse.

– Florence Nightingale

International Nurses Day is a day for nurses all over the world, to celebrate what a fabulous job they do

Disabled Living is the umbrella charity for the services Bladder & Bowel UK, Equipz, Kidz to Adultz Exhibitions, Training, and Redbank House. There are a number of nurses, working as part of a wider multidisciplinary and professional team. They provide services to many people throughout the country and further afield. Each of the nurses have their own individual characteristics, skills and expertise. They are proud of the work that they are able to do, and to work for a charity with a long-standing history of providing support and care.

The values and passion of nursing is evident across the organisation. All staff are consistently rising to the challenges of the changing health and social care environment. International Nurses Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate with our clinical and non clinical colleagues.

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