Nurse Louise has looked after me twice on the Short Stay Unit. The first time she looked after me was last March when she was heavily pregnant. Despite this, she worked endlessly to make sure I was comfortable during my stay in the unit. I was only 16, and it was very scary for me getting so sick and staying in an adult ward for the first time.

Nurse Louise made sure my mum had a bed so she could stay with me, which made me much more comfortable and at ease. She also sat with me when my mum went to the cafe and the shops to get things we needed, and brought me hot chocolates to cheer me up. She was kind, compassionate, and gentle. She looked after me with genuine care and treated me like a person. She also asked me about school and my interests, which helped bring some normality into my stay on the unit, and I
believe this aided my recovery. 

Earlier this week, when I was once again admitted to the Short Stay Unit, she was my nurse on one of the nights. Immediately, she remembered who I was from my name and asked me how I had been doing. It was nice to have a familiar face there. My mum was staying with me as I am only 17 and had not had a bed for the previous two nights we were in hospital, and Nurse Louise called around all of the wards until after midnight to get her a bed. She not only made sure that I was comfortable, but that my mum was comfortable too. She offered her food and hot drinks and supported her. She not only remembered me, but I remembered her. She made such a positive impact on my stay in the hospital that I knew who she was straight away, and I felt relieved that she was there. 

Despite being on an adult ward, she made sure she treated me with age-appropriate care when not all nurses did, and this really helped me feel safe and cared for. I have decided that I want to be a children’s nurse, because twice now I have been a scared child going into hospital very unwell, and I now know the difference that a kind, caring, supportive nurse can make.