International Nurses Day – supporting families when they need it the most

Our Newlife Nurses are the heartbeat of the charity – there for families in the moments they need support most. They make time to listen, offer reassurance, and point people towards the right support. And just like nurses working in hospitals and GP surgeries across the country, no two days are ever the same; what unites them is a deep desire to make a difference to the people who turn to them.

To mark International Nurses Day, we caught up with registered nurses Karen, Beth, and Annette to hear what their work at Newlife looks like – from meeting families face to face at community events and national shows, to offering guidance and reassurance over the phone when they’re office-based.

We all love going out to meet families at events. 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 – something we know our colleagues in healthcare settings don’t always have.”

beth

Whether they’re speaking to someone in person or at the other end of the phone, the Newlife nurses never know what they’ll be asked about. But they all agree on one thing: personal connection – and having the time to talk things through properly – can make all the difference.

Sometimes we might be talking to the parent of a very poorly child, or 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 what the family’s experience has been, 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, and we can then signpost them to the relevant professionals for the right assessment and support.”

Annette

A lot of the time, while families are talking their worries through with us, they come to their own conclusions and 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 gradually 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 just as importantly, they feel heard. They leave the conversation with signposting and reassurance that helps them feel more able to cope.

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.

KAren

On International Nurses Day – and every day – we’re proud to recognise the compassion, expertise, and time our Newlife nurses give to families across the UK. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to turn, or simply need someone to talk things through with, Newlife is here to listen and help you find the right next step.