The difference you make every day.
Our Nurses. Our Future.
‘The greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel’ Florence Nightingale
Recognised around the world every 12th May, International Nurses’ Day celebrates the invaluable contributions of nurses to the health of people globally. The date was chosen by the International Council of Nurses in 1974 as this is the anniversary of the birth of nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale. The ‘Lady with the Lamp’, was a British nurse and social reformer who had been active in ministering to the ill and the poor when she was very young, later realising that nursing was her calling. Her experiences as a nurse during the Crimean War were grim as she grappled with impossible unsanitary conditions and disease. She made it her mission to improve hygiene, and the diets and care of stricken soldiers. Gaining respect and recognition, she later created the Nightingale Training School for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, ensuring that nursing became an admired and honourable vocation.
The profession, while much has changed since Nightingale’s days, remains one that is admired, and this annual celebration serves to highlight the incredible work done by nurses the world over.
CIPHER Medical is proud of the work of its nursing team across a variety of services. In the last year, CIPHER Medical nurses have been deployed in a number of Accident & Emergency departments across the North East and Yorkshire. These services have a positive impact on ambulance turnaround times in the A&E departments in which they are deployed. The CIPHER Medical nursing team also works in event medical services nationally, including supporting Cancer Research UK Race for Life, Tough Mudder, Spartan events, mass participation running and professional sporting events, providing clinical support and care when needed. CIPHER Medical nurses also do important work assisting the most vulnerable in the night time economy in Middlesbrough, with the new SafeHaven partnership, and recently, were involved in the delivery of thousands of COVID vaccines, as well as working during times of high demand in pandemic era A&E departments.
Head of Clinical Services at CIPHER Medical, Mark Nevison, chose the profession accidentally. Initially intending to go into teaching, but quickly realising it wasn’t for him, it was while he was working as a carer that a student nurse pointed out that he’d make a good nurse, “She got me the application form and the rest is history!” he says. He went on to pick up an impressive string of qualifications throughout his career, including BSc (Hons) Nurse Practitioner, UGPGCE in Forensic & Legal Medicine, HMIMMS, MIMMS, Advanced Life Support to name just a few. Those he cares for are certainly in good hands! Explaining why International Nurses’ Day is important, he says, “Whilst nurses don’t do the job for the recognition, it is really nice to celebrate the positive impact we have on those we care for.”
Student nurse, Samantha Hellewell, decided to enter the profession after giving birth to her son, who has a condition that required a lot of medical care when he was first born. She was so impressed by the nursing staff that she was inspired to help others in the same way. Currently studying at Teesside University, Samantha has also completed her FREC3 qualification with CIPHER Medical. Samantha’s ten years as a rugby player certainly helps her with the stamina needed in her working life, keeping her both physically and mentally fit. No surprise, then, that she’s a great believer in teamwork and empowering and supporting others. Already a great addition to the profession, we wish her luck as she continues her studies.
Another valued member of the nursing team at CIPHER Medical is Emma Melvin. A nurse for over twenty years, Emma’s inspiration came from the sad passing of her grandma following palliative care. Emma says it was inevitable from then that she took the nursing path. Loving the fast pace of rapid decision-making, Emma has focused most of her career in emergency medicine. A valuable member of the CIPHER Medical team, she was busy with vaccinations through the COVID pandemic, has worked at the Commonwealth Games, and regularly works with the team at football games – particularly enjoying the games of her own beloved Sunderland AFC. Emma’s advice to those considering a nursing career? “You must like people! Be hard-working, enthusiastic, and positive.” Like all the team at CIPHER Medical, Emma loves her job, referring to it as “a privilege”.
Florence Nightingale believed that the key to good nursing was empathy and the building of trusting relationships between nurse and patient – a sentiment that is reflected in CIPHER Medical’s own values of Respect and Dignity. It’s a testament to the hard work, compassion and dedication of nurses past and present that so many continue to be inspired to join the profession, even in harder times. Aware of the many challenges, nursing professionals are committed to making a difference to the lives of individuals, communities, and society as a whole. We all, at some time in our lives, rely on the care and dedication to duty of our nurses, from the simplest attentions like a warm, reassuring word or a hand to hold, to the most complex medical interventions.
Today of all days, we say to nurses past, present and future: thank you!
