25 Jun 2021 Care

In-Patient Unit Nurse Helen completes End of Life care course during the pandemic

Despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, In-Patient Unit Nurse, Helen Turner, has successfully completed her PgCert in End of Life Care to further develop her role with The Kirkwood.

Our In-Patient Unit team are here to support patients who need round the clock care, whether they are entering their last days of life or need help managing the symptoms of their condition.

Helen Turner joined the team back in 2014 on a student placement and was delighted to secure a role following her graduation.

 

Helen says: “I’ve been a qualified nurse for seven years, joining The Kirkwood team in 2014 as a student and I was then really lucky to secure a role here following my last placement.

“I took a year out to work at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with the Trust but I missed the patient contact on the In-Patient Unit so came back 18 months ago.”

Helen, along with her colleagues, are working tirelessly every day, ensuring patients coming into their care are protected from the virus and for the last 12 months, Helen has also re-entered education to further her knowledge in End of Life care. During her spare time, Helen has completed the PgCert in End of Life Care at the University of Huddersfield.

“My aim for completing the End of Life care course was to further develop my skills and knowledge in a field that I’m currently working in. Even though it’s been online, I’ve learnt a lot, a lot more than I thought I would and I can now share this knowledge with my colleagues. It will also hopefully lead to career progression too,” Helen continues.

“But it’s been tough, the whole year has been virtual and as a student that’s been quite hard. I’ve not been able to bounce ideas off people and see how they are getting on. And working throughout the pandemic has also had its challenges.

“It’s really sad that our patients haven’t had their families and been able to see them. Our roles have also changed massively, we’ve stepped even more to compensate for the family contact that’s been missed. We’re building more emotional bonds with our patients to help them through this difficult time.

"It’s a privilege to work here and be part of someone’s end of life."

“It’s been an ever-changing 18 months, and the updated guidance from the government, which in the early days was happening on a daily/weekly basis, meant we always had to be ready for change. But it’s still been a lovely place to work and I have lots to be grateful for.

“Although we were faced with challenges, we were able to turn them into positives. We’ve learnt new technology by connecting with our colleagues through Teams and Zoom, which we would never have done pre-COVID. In one way it’s sad that we’re not altogether but we’ve made sure that we continue providing the vest best care for patients.

“And now some restrictions have been eased, it’s been lovely to see families come back onto the Unit. There’s a lot more flexibility which is nice for them.

“Were a good supportive team too, it does get emotional at times but there’s always someone to help you. I love working with The Kirkwood team, it’s very rewarding and as difficult a job as it is, it’s a privilege to work here and be part of someone’s end of life.”