This International Nurses Day, we celebrate all the wonderful nurses who are there for us, kind to us and care for us. At Holmwood Aged Care, we are very lucky to have nurses who provide high quality care for our residents. Today we celebrate nurses both past and present and thank them for the work they do in our community.
Our lovely residents, Rosalie, Margaret, Anne, Joan and Janice have kindly shared their stories from when they worked as nurses and what nursing means to them.
Rosalie
Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career?
From a very young age, I always wanted to be a nurse, I liked helping people, looking after them. I was a nurse for about 50 years, with time off here and there to raise my children. I trained in Melbourne and then worked in Maroopna, Shepparton in country Victoria. I started studying general nursing and then specialised in geriatrics.
What did you enjoy most about working as a nurse?
I enjoyed caring for people in need and seeing them getting/get better.
What was most challenging about being a nurse?
Pleasing people was always hard. You try and help everyone but sometimes people get grumpy.
What is your most special nursing memory?
Helping people get well and seeing them go home would put a smile on my face. Making connections with people all over the country and listening to their stories was always special.
What wisdom/advice would you pass onto a nurse today?
Put your mind to caring for the patient. Everyone is different. Come in and do your work, have a chat, but do your job the best you can.
What would you like to say to nurses who care for you?
Thank you. Thank you for taking on the mantle, for being so kind and caring. It’s a hard job so always take your breaks when you. can
Any other comments?
I loved nursing. It was hard and had its moments both good and bad. Overall, I enjoyed my job and would recommend as a career if you are a caring person.
Margaret
Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career?
I was a nurse for 45 years. I always wanted to help people.
What did you enjoy most about working as a nurse?
I enjoyed working with the surgeons in surgeries particularly, but seeing people get better and go home again.
What was most challenging about being a nurse?
When my patients couldn’t or didn’t get better. That was always hard.
What is your most special nursing memory?
All of it. I just loved my job. Nothing stands out, it was a wonderful career.
What wisdom/advice would you pass onto a nurse today?
Be patient and kind. Take time for yourself.
What would you like to say to nurses who care for you?
Thank you, and enjoy every moment – it will go fast.
Anne
Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career?
I was a nurse most of my life I had breaks on and off to raise a family. I enjoyed the satisfaction I got from it, and I loved helping people get better.
What did you enjoy most about working as a nurse?
I loved helping deliver babies, making sure they thrive, seeing them go home with mum and dad was so heart warming.
What was most challenging about being a nurse?
Not seeing people get better. I worked in the emergency department and that was very busy, demanding anc challenging it was hard to see people not get better.
What is your most special nursing memory?
The pleasure of helping people in need, so many special memories.
What wisdom/advice would you pass onto a nurse today?
Remember to always do your job the best you can.
What would you like to say to nurses who care for you?
Thank you.
Joan
Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career?
In 1948, I started my nursing career – on and off for many years where I trained at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. I then worked at the Royal Women’s Hospital before I got married and had children. Once they were older, I worked in a nursing home. I upskilled myself and went back to working at the Royal Melbourne for another 10 years. I always had an interest in it. My father loved medicine, although he couldn’t do it in those days.
What did you enjoy most about working as a nurse?
I enjoyed the hard work and it was hard work. I enjoyed the surgeries and the hands on work. I loved my job for the most part.
What was most challenging about being a nurse?
Looking back, the most challenging thing for me was the lack of opportunities to help people and the lack of knowledge compared to these days. Thinking back to those we could have helped if we had the technology we have today.
What is your most special nursing memory?
Working with the children and helping them get better. Sometimes they got better, sometimes sadly they didn’t, but there were many good memories I could not list them all.
What wisdom/advice would you pass onto a nurse today?
Be kind. If you think something is wrong, speak up. Technology isn’t always right, observation is key.
What would you like to say to nurses who care for you?
Everyone is great. Very caring. Thank you. I am grateful to be here and cared for at Holmwood.
Janice
Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career?
I started nursing at age 18 and worked for 50 years. I wanted to move away from the country because if I stayed, I was expected to settle down and get married. I also worked as a nurse in aged care for 30 years.
What did you enjoy most about working as a nurse?
What appealed to me was the order and discipline of nursing. Caring for sick people.
What was most challenging about being a nurse?
On my very first day as a student nurse (it was a surgical day) I was asked to take the temperature of all the patients in the ward – three had passed away. That was a hard lesson.
What is your most special nursing memory?
You felt that you learned a lot. Every day was different. Good times and lifelong friends.
What wisdom/advice would you pass onto a nurse today?
Study hard, as todays nursing is a lot more technically minded than the practical nurse of my era.
What would you like to say to nurses who care for you?
Thank you. I think they are friendly and very respectful.
Any other comments?
How things have changed. Where my training was more practical and hands on, these days there are so many different machines that you have to know how to use correctly.