Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme are proud to show their support and give heartfelt thanks to the Nurses and Nursing support staff throughout Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on International Nurses Day.
International Nurses Day is celebrated each year on 12 May to mark the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth and to celebrate the achievements of the nursing profession.
Over the past year, nurses and nursing support staff have met extraordinary circumstances and risked their lives to provide excellent care to patients and their families.
It’s time to shine a light on our Nurses and show them how much their care and compassion is appreciated. It’s time for everyone to say “Thank you Nurses!”
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme, working with Mental Health Matters and Forget Me Not Chorus have been working on a project asking Nurses at St David’s Hospital to reflect on a piece of music that is important to them and explain the reason why.
Noticeboards on the wards were filled with sticky notes and nominations forms, with their choice of song and the emotional reasons behind it.
Staff nominated songs that were special to them, and Forget Me Not Chorus will provide safe, socially-distanced outdoor renditions of those song in the courtyard in the coming weeks to mark International Nurses Day. The emotive songs will bring both joy and reminiscence to patients and staff.
Staff from Mental health Matters, who work at St David’s Hospital to enhance patient experience, asked patients to tell them: “What do you think of when you think of nurses?
Daisey from Lansdowne Ward said: “They’re wonderful! They do all they can to help you. I don’t know what we’d do without them!”
Brian, also from Lansdowne Ward said: “I LOVE them all. I appreciate all that they do for me.”
Nurses were also asked to share, “What made you become a Nurse?” and many staff came forward with wonderful comments and stories to be displayed on the walls.
Ann said: “My mother died and all my family believed I would be good at caring for people. I was working as a domestic part-time and would watch the Nurses. I decided to do an access course in one year! Then I applied for a Nursing course. I qualified after three years. I felt privileged to care for people. The elderly have so much to offer and they interest me so much with their life stories and experiences. However, now I am a healthcare worker I find I have more time for the patients, to listen and care for those with certain needs. It’s my vocation.”
Ruth Cann, Senior Nurse Integrated Medicine at St David’s Hospital said: “The past year has been such a challenge for our Nurses, they have faced some really difficult times. Seeing their patients miss normal family and friends visiting them, adapting to new ways of working and going above and beyond to ensure their patients are cared for. I’d like to thank them for all that they do.
“I’d also like to thank Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and, Cardiff and Vale Arts for Health and Wellbeing for supporting our staff and patients with interactive sessions and entertainment. Thank you also to the staff from Mental Health Matters and Forget me Not Chorus for the time and wonderful experiences you give to our patients – it really is appreciated.”
Nurses and Nursing staff within the Surgery Clinical Board will mark International Nurses Day with an afternoon of celebration and reflection on thanks to a contribution from the Staff Lottery Fund, requested by Clare Wade, Director of Nursing for the Surgery Clinical Board
Clare said: “Our Nursing workforce in Surgery Clinical Board have amazed me during the pandemic with their dedication, resilience and teamwork. I would like to thank them all for working tirelessly to improve COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care over the last year. It has been and will continue to be difficult, but I would like to use this day to celebrate all they have achieved so far.
“I have personally seen remarkable examples of staff giving compassionate care while under considerable pressure. They have supported colleagues and have been flexible putting themselves forward to work in environments that they would not normally work within. Many have undertaken refresher training and some have moved to work in completely different fields of Nursing from their usual roles.
“I am so proud of the response of the Nursing and Nursing support staff to this challenge. I’d like to thank Cardiff & Vale Health Charity for supporting this event for our staff.”
To find more about Cardiff & Vale Health Charity please visit: www.healthcharity.wales
To find out more about Cardiff and Vale Arts for Health and Wellbeing please visit: www.cardiffandvale.arts