Nurses have been celebrated across the borough today, Friday, with workers in Bolton sharing why they love looking after people as part of International Nurses Day.
A wide range of nurses from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust took the time to answer why they love being a nurse, why they chose to become a nurse and what it is about their specialist nursing area that inspires them.
Bolton nurse, Wendy, decided to become a nurse aged 35, following a conversation with a district nurse when working in a care home, and is now a specialist in deep vein thrombosis.
She said: “I love nursing because it has allowed me to do things I had no clue I was capable of doing.
“Going into nursing at the age of 35 I wondered can I do this, but now I’m working autonomously in a specialist clinic prescribing medication for people who develop blood clots.”
Student nurses, current nurses (some dressed like Florence Nightingale for the occasion) and two retired nurses from the Bolton League of Nursing (Image: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)
Wendy works closely with Dian, an advanced clinical practitioner, who is a third-generation nurse.
Dian also spoke about her experiences of being a nurse.
She said: “I wanted to be a nurse ever since I was little, my mum was a nurse at Liverpool Royal and my gran was a nurse in the first world war so I think they’ve both had a very great influence on my career.
“My role itself crosses boundaries, we’re not doctors but we do a lot of work that might have traditionally been done by doctors, so I’m a senior clinical nurse that can still stay at the bedside with the patients.”
Tunde works in the radiology team and is incredibly passionate about helping patients.
He said: “Every day I go around speaking to people, putting a smile on their face and get their pains away.
“Those are the fantastic moments I’ve always enjoyed in my nursing career.
“I love to care for people, it’s so rewarding.”
Nurses at Bolton have a range of specialities, including but not limited to:
- Acute pain management
- Dementia
- Bowel cancer screening
- Intravenous therapy
- Diabetes
- Nutrition
- Stroke
- Safeguarding
Foluke recently joined Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and works at Royal Bolton Hospital.
She said: “I chose to be a nurse to care for not only the sick, but their families too, and to give advice to people on how to live a healthy life.
“Being a nurse gives joy and makes me happy.
“Bolton’s recruitment team are very lovely; they have been so helpful and really made sure I was settled in.”
Tyrone Roberts, chief nurse at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “International Nurses Day gives us a brilliant opportunity to not only celebrate the incredible nurses who dedicate their lives to help the communities of Bolton, but also to thank them for all they do each day.
“Our nurses work with the utmost professionalism, care, and compassion for our patients in what can sometimes be challenging situations, but their patient is always at the forefront of their care.
“Thank you to all our nurses for the fantastic, expert and specialist work you do and the care you give.”
Celebration events took place throughout today at the Trust.
If you would like to start a career in nursing, go to: Join Bolton's nursing team via the jobs page on its website.
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