International Nurses Day – supporting families when they need it most

Our Newlife nurses are at the heart of the charity. The nurses support families with disabled children when they need it most. They listen, give reassurance, and help people find the right support. Like nurses everywhere, no two days are the same. What they all share is a strong wish to help others.

To mark International Nurses Day on 12 May, we spoke to nurses Karen, Beth, and Annette about their work. They meet families at events and shows. They also help people over the phone when they are in the office.

“We all love going out to meet families at events,” said Beth. “It’s so lovely to chat face to face. We can spend quality time exploring how best we can support each family, and we get feedback from them too. It also helps us build bonds of trust. We go to events as often as we can, but we’re also very lucky to have the time to spend with families when they call. It’s something we know our colleagues in healthcare settings don’t always have.”

When families get in touch, the nurses never know what the question will be. But one thing is clear: taking time to talk helps.

Annette said: “Sometimes we talk to a parent of a very poorly child. Or it could be a professional looking for suitable equipment for a child who is very ill. Or it’s a call from a family whose child has a brand-new diagnosis, and they don’t know what the future holds. Whatever the reason, we respond to each call based on its unique needs.

“We need to be on our toes, trying to understand the family’s experience, as well as their needs and the challenges they are facing. Our aim is to support and empower them with tips and strategies on a wide range of issues, and to help them navigate different services.

“It can be overwhelming when you’re trying to make sense of a diagnosis and what the future might look like. Parents and carers can offload to us. We can then signpost them to the relevant professionals for the right assessment and support.”

The nurses also see how talking can help families find their own answers.

Karen added: “As they are talking their worries through with us, families often come to their own conclusions. They answer their own questions. Every family is on their own journey, and we have lots of resources available to support them.

“Often people start off talking about something practical – like a buggy. But as we chat, they make their way round to the real reason they called, which is often emotional support. By the end, the equipment application might be submitted, but, they also feel heard. They leave the conversation with signposting and reassurance that helps them feel more able to cope.”

For Karen, nursing is more than a job.

Karen continued: “Nursing should be a vocation – you have to have that desire to help and support. The beauty of this job is that, even if we’re not always physically present, we can easily spend an hour with a parent or carer talking things through. With the pressures on NHS services, that’s not always something other professionals are able to offer.

“It doesn’t matter how you feel when you come in to start your day here – you know it’s going to be rewarding. Helping someone feel less alone and more able to cope, just by being there, really does make a difference.”