Ania Oliveira Afonso
August 2023
Ania
Oliveira Afonso
,
RN
Southwell Ward
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottingham
United Kingdom
This is where 'Ania' came into my life. Over a succession of four-night shifts, she provided the clarity, compassion, and, most importantly, understanding that I needed.
I am and will be forever grateful to Ania for everything she did for my father, the time she spent speaking to me on the phone, reassuring me that my concerns were being heard, and generally just being a phenomenal support during a terrifying time for me and my family. My dad especially wishes to nominate Ania, and here is his story. Pneumonia, lung congestion, pleural effusions, and empyema had arrived out of the blue following a very busy and active holiday.
"Confused" barely enters my understanding of this situation. I was in very great and unexplained pain, and I had very little idea of the way out. This is where 'Ania' came into my life. Over a succession of four-night shifts, she provided the clarity, compassion, and, most importantly, understanding that I needed. She reinforced very basic needs such as where I was and why, as well as undertaking her nursing duties to an exceptionally high standard.
She provided a very caring human face during what was a very bleak and confusing episode in my life. I would be welcomed with a smile and a clarification of what had been going on. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and her love of nursing shone through in all her actions. This is not to say that lots of other NHS staff don't fulfill their tasks outstandingly well, but in this case, I benefited from the care, compassion, and bubbly enthusiasm that Ania provided for what felt "like me personally," but was in fact the normal care and professionalism she provides for all her patients.
She provided what were probably quite straightforward duties in a way that made a very great difference to me. These involved personal privacy and dignity, personal hygiene, and an improved drain box to allow me to reach the toilet and avoid the "commode'. These may be small items in the fullness of nursing, but they are incredibly significant to me, a patient who spends many of his waking hours consumed with worry about them.
Thank you, Ania.
Once again, from one nurse to another, I cannot ever thank you enough for the kindness you showed my father and Knowing you were there to care for him on those nights when I was also at work, knowing you would talk me through what had happened each day when I was unable to be there has meant so very, very much. Words alone cannot express. You are a credit to the nursing profession, and I am truly grateful.
"Confused" barely enters my understanding of this situation. I was in very great and unexplained pain, and I had very little idea of the way out. This is where 'Ania' came into my life. Over a succession of four-night shifts, she provided the clarity, compassion, and, most importantly, understanding that I needed. She reinforced very basic needs such as where I was and why, as well as undertaking her nursing duties to an exceptionally high standard.
She provided a very caring human face during what was a very bleak and confusing episode in my life. I would be welcomed with a smile and a clarification of what had been going on. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and her love of nursing shone through in all her actions. This is not to say that lots of other NHS staff don't fulfill their tasks outstandingly well, but in this case, I benefited from the care, compassion, and bubbly enthusiasm that Ania provided for what felt "like me personally," but was in fact the normal care and professionalism she provides for all her patients.
She provided what were probably quite straightforward duties in a way that made a very great difference to me. These involved personal privacy and dignity, personal hygiene, and an improved drain box to allow me to reach the toilet and avoid the "commode'. These may be small items in the fullness of nursing, but they are incredibly significant to me, a patient who spends many of his waking hours consumed with worry about them.
Thank you, Ania.
Once again, from one nurse to another, I cannot ever thank you enough for the kindness you showed my father and Knowing you were there to care for him on those nights when I was also at work, knowing you would talk me through what had happened each day when I was unable to be there has meant so very, very much. Words alone cannot express. You are a credit to the nursing profession, and I am truly grateful.