I will celebrate 40 years in the nursing profession next January. I have seen the best and the worst of human nature. I have wiped away tears and shed many. I have seen huge changes in the profession, some good, some not so good, but through these years, I have made good friends and seen nurses always give their all to their patients and support their colleagues.
Recently I was on the other side of nursing, being a patient. I was cared for with professionalism, skill and care and kindness. I felt extremely anxious, as a little bit of knowledge can be a bad thing. To my colleagues who cared for me, I say thank you. To all the student nurses I have mentored, you amaze me with your incredible work load to study and look after families and do placements.
I am proud to be a nurse and I hope I have many more years doing what I love to do.