Alice Sunderland
April 2020
Alice
Sunderland
,
RN
D33 - Paediatric Medical Ward
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottingham
United Kingdom
I was a patient on D33 for 42 days this year. This was a very stressful experience for me, especially as I have never had to go into the hospital before. I was admitted to the ward because of deterioration in my physical health, due to a newly diagnosed eating disorder. I am still trying to get well and I know it is going to be a long journey for me, however, Alice really made the difference to my care.
All of the nurses on the ward were so lovely, caring, kind, and compassionate, however, Alice was one of the registered nurses who really went the extra mile for me.
I found being in the hospital very difficult, and although I knew I needed to be there, every day, and every mealtime was really difficult and upsetting. I also turned 17 during my stay and this was really hard because of all the things I felt I should be doing, rather than being in the hospital, which included learning to drive. I had also had acrylic nails over Christmas, and during my stay, these really began to grow out and get very long. The one thing that Alice did was contacted someone to come into the hospital and re-paint my nails for me. This might not seem a really big thing to anyone else, but it made me feel so much better.
In addition, Alice had a way of talking with me that just made me feel normal, she had a good sense of humour but was also really good at helping me talk things through, and really good in helping me when starting or finishing a meal was so difficult. She had the right balance of being kind, but firm with it.
I know my mum also really appreciated her care too, as she was with me most of the time, every day throughout my stay my mum was also able to talk to Alice, especially when we were all feeling very upset, and Alice gave her lots of reassurance due to her experience of caring for other young people in my situation.
I really feel that Alice is so deserving of this award, because she did not have to do what she did (arranging my nails), and I don't think she realised how much it meant to me, even though I thanked her at the time.
All of the nurses on the ward were so lovely, caring, kind, and compassionate, however, Alice was one of the registered nurses who really went the extra mile for me.
I found being in the hospital very difficult, and although I knew I needed to be there, every day, and every mealtime was really difficult and upsetting. I also turned 17 during my stay and this was really hard because of all the things I felt I should be doing, rather than being in the hospital, which included learning to drive. I had also had acrylic nails over Christmas, and during my stay, these really began to grow out and get very long. The one thing that Alice did was contacted someone to come into the hospital and re-paint my nails for me. This might not seem a really big thing to anyone else, but it made me feel so much better.
In addition, Alice had a way of talking with me that just made me feel normal, she had a good sense of humour but was also really good at helping me talk things through, and really good in helping me when starting or finishing a meal was so difficult. She had the right balance of being kind, but firm with it.
I know my mum also really appreciated her care too, as she was with me most of the time, every day throughout my stay my mum was also able to talk to Alice, especially when we were all feeling very upset, and Alice gave her lots of reassurance due to her experience of caring for other young people in my situation.
I really feel that Alice is so deserving of this award, because she did not have to do what she did (arranging my nails), and I don't think she realised how much it meant to me, even though I thanked her at the time.