Celebrating our Nurses this International Nurses Day

Every year on 12 May, we take a moment to recognise and celebrate the wonderful work our caring and compassionate nurses on International Nurses Day.

Woodford Manor Aged Care’s Clinical Nurse, Crystal Kuhlewein, joined the Woodford Manor team in January 2022 and shares with us what inspired her to enter nursing and what she loves most about working at the home.

Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career?

I have always wanted to be a nurse and a mum. I have achieved both those goals. I am a mother of 7 and a clinical nurse. I love my nursing career as it’s challenging, interesting and makes a difference in people’s daily lives. In my profession, Ideal with many aspects of patient/resident care and I enjoy the variety in the routine.

Dealing with patients/resident care and their families and helping them through what is a difficult time with them is extremely satisfying for me. I take great pride inbeing a specialist palliative care nurse. It is an honour to be with residents through the end stages of their lives. I pride myself on providing a holistic healthcare approach to wellness. Addressing the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual components of health. Providing clear communication, advocacy for resident care and pain management.

What do you enjoy most about working as a nurse at the home?

Autonomy as a nurse to think critically and take actions related to my patients care. Team environment, work colleagues, family approach and most important my residents. I love that I can be me. Bright and colourful – bringing joy to my residents’ life.

What would you say is most challenging about being a nurse?

Not being able to fix things immediately. Sometimes, I find it hard to trust that someone else will complete the task to my expected level of care. This is where education and training of nurses is so important.

Do you have a special memory from your nursing career so far?

Building special bond relationships with residents and their families. We had a gorgeous resident who recently passed away. I had the honour of nursing him and advocating strongly for his palliation. I worked closely with the SPACE team to provide a comfortable, settled and pain free end of life. This resident was ahigh-ranking police officer and worked with the K9 unit. I own five German Shepards ranging in ages and I was able to bring in two of our dogs to have a lovely visit with residents. The smile on his face was amazing, even with his diagnosis of dementia – the familiarity of the dogs’ look, touch, and smells brought back great memories for him. I will never forget this movie star smile.