A Welsh Hymn

Today

This Inspired Me

Starting Out

@JoGwilym - 2nd Year Student Nurse - Swansea University

Tomorrow's Nurses

 Well Educated - Skilled - Reflective  - Compassionate 

And Good Singers 

Jo is caring for a dying man she has just met, sitting with him at his end.....

"What could I do? I remembered reading that that the last sense to leave the dying person is hearing. So I decided to talk to him. 

But there was a problem. Never usually short of words I suddenly found myself in a black hole for vocabulary. After reassuring Robert that he was not alone, that I was here for him and would not leave him, I dried up. 

What do you say to a person you do not know. I though about reading him a passage from the book on his bedside table, but there was no bookmark. I did not know whether he had started it, was halfway through, or had nearly finished. My concern was that Robert could become frustrated if I read him  something he had already covered, and the last thing I wanted to do was upset him in any way.

I then thought I could talk to him about my family, but I did not want Robert to end up being an agony uncle as I poured out my personal woes. Again I was at a loss.
My main aim was to keep Robert as comfortable and unafraid as possible. So I decided to sing a Welsh Hymn to him quietly. Within minutes Robert had passed away.

It is an experience that will always stay with me. It is`a privilege to be able to offer comfort to dying patients, and I am glad I was able to hold Roberts hand as he took his last breaths, reassuring him he was not alone."

The Evening Office Cleaner

THE ONGOING TALE OF THE EVENING OFFICER CLEANER

A TALE OF COURAGE, AMBITION AND SUCCESS 

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16-4-2014 

A Funny Thing Happened At The Office Today.....

Now those of you who know me know that I keep a well stocked large jar of boiled sweets in my office, Humbugs, Pear Drops etc etc. These I dish out liberally to students and staff. Its my little eccentricity. Over the years I have often left a note on the jar telling the evening cleaners (who I have never met) to "have a sweetie". Occasionally I have had notes back saying "thank you".

Today I was sitting in my office (door open as always). Outside was a small group of brand new shiney student nurses all laughing and happy - they were waiting to see their personal tutor. I went out with my jar and offered them a sweetie. One young woman looked at me and said "I have had your sweeties before - I love your office".

Lisa Jones had been my evening office cleaner - who left me little thank you notes. She would browse around my Nursing books - and was inspired to become a nurse. Well done Lisa - we are proud to have you with us.

Students are - THE FUTURE

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29-7-2014 - UPDATE ON Student Nurse LISA

Today I met Lisa as she bounced down the Corridor - resplendent in her Purple Uniform. Beaming she handed me a letter - written by a patient she had cared for. The letter glowed with praise for the care she had given to the author, a man who had suffered a Stroke. Lisa he described as a wonderful caring Student Nurse.

Well done Lisa - We knew you would do us credit...

Remember - we didn't tell you it would be easy - we told you it would be worth it!

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UPDATE 27-1-2017

THE EVENING OFFICE CLEANER IS NOW A REGISTERED NURSE

AND ITS ALSO HER BIRTHDAY!

CONGRATULATIONS LISA

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UPDATE 3-3-2017 

GRADUATION BALL

'STAFF NURSE' LISA JONES

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UPDATE 17-4-2017 

STAFF NURSE JONES

Remember - we didn't tell you it would be easy - we told you it would be worth it!

 UPDATE 24-7-2017 

The Evening Office Cleaner Graduates

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

Lisa - Holds the Lamp High.... 

"Nursing - its a reflex - its what you do" If you're a nurse you will understand this ... #Nursing When your poorly #Nurses Matter

The Brave Office Cleaner - now changing peoples world.....

STILL TEACHING THEN DAVE!

STILL TEACHING THEN DAVE!

I have been a Nurse Teacher in Swansea for the last 24 years. During that time I have had literally thousands of student nurses pass through my hands in one way or another. I have been a personal tutor, I have given lessons on just about everything you can think of, I have marked countless thousands  of essays and assignments, visited hundreds of wards, issued warnings, given encouragement, and mopped up an awful lot of tears. I have applauded success and watched these students go on to have their careers as nurses in a bewildering array of settings. Some have come back for further studies; some have gone to great things and lofty roles.  Some have actually cared for me in recent years as I have got older and developed my various ailments.

With all that in mind let me tell you about something that happens to me quite a lot. I am frequently accosted by old students of mine, in Tesco’s, in restaurants, walking the dog, wandering through hospital corridors. And their opening line is always the same “Hi Dave – still teaching?”. This will be made more colourful if you can imagine this in a rich Welsh accent.

Still Teaching? I am sure everyone who ever reads this will identify with that moment when you realise that very few people actually understand the intricacies of what you do, of what your job actually entails. “Still Teaching?”, “Still Nursing?”, “Still Doctoring?” what do these comments mean? Or alternatively – does it matter – as long as you know what you do!

When faced with a “Still Teaching?” question I usually respond simply by saying “Yes – still Teaching” – this often accompanied by a quite awkward inward reflection as to who the hell the questioner is? Now I know ALL nurses will identify with that: Patient “Hello Nurse – how are you”, Nurse “I’m fine thanks” (thinking who are you – where do you know me from!).     

ANYHOW – I digress.  It is totally understandable that we cannot all understand the intricacies of everyone elses occupational role, how could we. But I am intrigued by stereotypes, and how we view professions and their roles.  And hence my interest and focus on this very specific, and seemingly innocent quest “Still Teaching Then?”.  My point, or issue if you prefer, is that being a “Teacher” of nursing for me is so much more than just “Teaching”, and that the world of education is complex place. In fact “Teaching” for me is a way of life.

For example, over the years I have been met countless times with the view that teachers have it easy, working just nine moths of the year with all the summer off. Nothing could in fact be further from the truth.  In Universities the Summer months are some of our busiest, marking, preparing next years timetables, admissions, A Level results and endless other tasks. Teachers work at weekends, preparing lessons, marking. They work in the evenings. In fact - Teachers work hard!

Now don’t get me wrong, I will not bore you with my weekly timetable!  The irony here is that when I agree to the comment “Hi Dave, still Teaching?” I am in fact not really telling the truth. It has been some time since my role was that of a frontline teacher.  Today I am a senior academic and a strategic manager. I spend endless hours in meetings, juggling budgets and politics, networking across the NHS and with Government. Some of this is terribly exciting, and some of it quite mundane. Then there are the days when I still actually “Teach” – and these remain the best of my days.  My first passion is being a nurse, my second passion is teaching nursing.

So ultimately that simple reply to that simple question - “Still Teaching Dave?” - “Yes – still Teaching” is strangely profound.  Still Teaching after all these years and still loving it......

"@DonnaCardilloRN: Blessed are the nurse educators, for without them none of us would be nurses!" @JuneinHE @Bartontd