Sheffield hospice staff share passion for caring

Among them is Jo Lenton who is Director of Care and Lead for Health Care Partnerships and has an extensive background in nursing.

She said: “I qualified (as a nurse) in December 1992 and worked on a surgical ward for ten years before leaving to work as a community nurse out of hours and practice nurse.

“Community Palliative care nurse was my dream job so I applied to St Luke’s and was offered Community Palliative Care job in 2008.

“Palliative care is not for everyone but I find it extremely rewarding. The work can be unpredictable but that for me has always been part of the attraction - it really is satisfying knowing you are able to make a difference in someone’s care at end of life.”

Vivian Mwashita is originally from Zimbabwe and is a staff nurse at the In Patient Centre, she said: “I have a great passion for palliative care and supporting patients and relatives throughout their illness. Being part of the St Luke’s team provides the opportunity to spend time with patients whilst delivering holistic care which is safe and effective.”

Senior nurse David Jones love of nursing runs in the family as his mum, sister and brother-in-law are all nurses.

“I spent ten years working in Critical Care, mainly on a Cardiothoracic Unit but during my time I realised that not all patients recover and that when death occurs it is often very traumatic with families not having time to prepare.

“The role here is very dynamic so satisfies my “technical nursing” mind with complex symptom management as well as the softer side of looking after a patient’s “head and heart.”

Lynne Ghasemi is a Senior Sister in the community team. “I have now worked at St Luke’s for 30 years, having started as a staff nurse on the In Patient Centre,” she said. The biggest change I have seen in my 30 years has been the development of palliative treatments enabling people to live longer with their disease enabling them to spend more time with their loved ones. I consider myself very fortunate to have the career that I have and long may it continue.”

FROM THE EDITOR

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