Highly skilled, kind and present even when situations are heartbreaking or difficult, our nurses are a special breed. We appreciate them every day, and this International Nurses Day (12 May), we want to say an extra-big thank you to them for everything they do in, and for, our community.
We spoke to St Luke’s Community Nurse Specialist Sonja Hambly about her role and what motivates her to work in an environment many would shy away from, perhaps perceiving it as too tough on their emotions.
“It is both humbling and inspiring looking after people at the end of their lives, and their courage always touches me.”
Listening to Sonja talking about her work with St Luke’s, it is clear that what she does is so much more than just a job – it’s a vocation. Providing compassionate care for patients, bringing comfort and calm to them and their families at the most vulnerable of times, is something she regards as a privilege, remembering the kindness and sensitivity she witnessed when St Luke’s cared for her mother in her final days.
Sonja said: “Having qualified as a nurse in 2009, I was working in Wales, but moved to Plymouth to be near mum after she was diagnosed with cancer. At the end, mum’s health declined very quickly, and St Luke’s was there when, as a family, we needed them most. Thanks to them, mum was able to come out of hospital so she could receive end-of-life care at home. It comforts me to know that when she died just four days later, she was where she wanted to be.”
“I have never forgotten the difference the hospice team made to my family at such a difficult time, and it’s what inspired me to become a St Luke’s nurse.”
From her own experience as the daughter of someone going through cancer, Sonja knows just how important it is to be direct when speaking to patients and their loved ones about what to expect. She said: “Even though the truth can be very hard to hear, it’s about honesty with compassion. Then, knowing the truth, they are better equipped to make choices about where and how they want to be looked after so they can make the very best of every day.”
Having the skill and sensitivity to handle tough conversations, and giving expert care that focuses on what matters most to each patient, is all in a day’s work for Sonja so that those she looks after are as at ease as possible, both physically and emotionally, to the end of their lives.
Sonja and her colleagues are only able to do what they do, as well as they do it, thanks to the unwavering generosity of the community our charity serves.
Sonja said: “In my experience, the absolute importance of a good death can’t be fully comprehended until it happens to you, or your loved one. Working for a hospice that treats every patient like their own family is everything.
“We can’t cure terminal illness, but we can help people to live the very best life possible, helping to manage their symptoms and fears. For them to know, ‘I’m here, you are not facing this alone’ is the reassurance they need when it matters most of all.
“However you choose to show your support for St Luke’s, I can’t thank you enough for helping to make this possible. Thanks to your generosity, our community is a kinder place for people with life-limiting illnesses and for their families, too.”
You may have heard that hospices across the UK are struggling with financial challenges. The rising costs of providing our care 24/7, 365 days a year are harder than ever to meet at a time when demand for end-of-life care is continuing to grow. By sponsoring a St Luke’s nurse, your regular monthly gift will help ensure that our vital support continues for those in your community who need it most.
To find out more, click here.
Thank you so much for your support.
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