Global Learning: How a Gibraltar nurse is bringing St Luke’s learning to life

Meet Daniella

Here at St Luke’s, our services go beyond hands-on care. One important strand to our work is educating and empowering people in what good end of life care looks like.

Daniella Bright is our first overseas student studying our online module titled ‘Enhancing end of life care and palliative care practice’ in collaboration with the University of Plymouth. The aim of the module is to enable health and social care practitioners to develop a critical and reflective approach to caring for those living and dying with a life-limiting condition.

Daniella has been using her learning to assist her in her role as a Night Sister at St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar, where she has been working since qualifying as a Staff Nurse back in 2013. Prior to her role as Night Sister, she was the Charge Nurse of the hospital’s Rehabilitation Ward.

“In my current role, I oversee the hospital at night; facilitate admissions, transfers between departments and form part of the resuscitation team,” she said. “Although my responsibilities include caring for a wide range of patients (including both adults and children) my particular area of interest is palliative and end of life care.”

Daniella discovered the course online and was drawn to it not only by the content but also by the flexibility it offered her through Zoom sessions.

“This allowed me to engage with professionals from various roles and trusts across different regions, and I found it incredibly valuable to hear about their experiences and approaches to care,” she said.

“The course has enhanced my understanding of end of life care and given me the tools to reflect more deeply on my own practice. It has helped me feel more confident in supporting patients and their families through such a difficult time, especially at night when there are no specialists around.

“I have already found opportunities to apply what I have learned within my role. For example, I have become more confident in initiating difficult discussions with families and by applying a more holistic and compassionate approach, as emphasised in the course, it has helped me make these moments more meaningful for both patients and their families.”