International Nurses Day Interview – Hannah Richards
12 May 2021International Nurses Day marks the birth of Florence Nightingale on 12th May 1820. To mark the day our nurses have given us their time to give some insights into their roles.
To get us started we sat down and spoke with Hannah Richards, Day Services Team Lead at Mary Ann.
Tell me a little bit about yourself
I have been a nurse since 2012. I have worked at Mary Ann Evans Hospice since January 2020 and I am the Day Services Team Lead.
What made you decide to become a palliative care nurse?
I became interested in palliative care since caring for my Nan at the end of her life.
How does your role cover both mental and physical health of patients?
We complete holistic assessments to enable us to best support our patients and their families.
Which parts of your job do you like the most and why?
I enjoy supporting patients to live well within their condition – enabling them to make informed decisions about their future care.
Which parts of your job do you find the hardest and why?
Dealing with emotional situations on a regular basis.
What is the one thing that stands out that your job has taught you?
I have learned that I can handle more than I thought I could. Particularly in regards to expanding and developing the services we offer our patients.
Do you have any advice for those wanting to become a palliative care nurse?
Palliative care can be an emotional job and it is important to have a good team and support network.
