It's International Nurses' Day (Monday 12 May) and we spoke with Steve Wall who first started in the NHS as a student nurse in 1988 at North Manchester General School of Nursing.
Steve, now a Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) neighbourhood lead in our community services first qualified as a registered general nurse in 1991. His first job was on a surgical admissions ward and over that time he has seen a lot of changes in the profession, including patients being allowed to go home at the weekend and return on the Monday.
During his service Steve has worked through a number of challenging moments from the Strangeways Prison riot and the Manchester Arena Attack, gaining experience even in the most difficult of situations.
As part of his current role Steve manages colleagues working in the community and works on implementing the integration of community services such as adult care, voluntary service and GP practices.
He said: "The thing I love most about nursing is the people. When you start a new job you are nervous and unsure, however the support we get from our colleagues and patients in the NHS is amazing. In most teams you become like a family and this helps you through your career and day to day working.
"I see nursing as an holistic and compassionate route to care to me, it's a little window into someone's life where I am able to connect with them authentically on a human level. As nurses, we enter a person's life in the midst of vulnerable circumstances and we are on the front lines to meet their needs daily, especially in the community where sometimes sadly the community staff are the only friendly face the patient may see that day.
"Overall I think I have been blessed to have been allowed to be a nurse in the NHS."
Thank you to our nursing colleagues
On International Nurses' Day, we recognise and celebrate the vital role of nurses across our organisation and beyond.
Across all settings, nurses lead innovation, drive improvements, and champion better care for patients, families and communities.
Thank you to all our nurses for your commitment to care, and for the support you provide to patients and their families every day.
