The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as the 'Year of the Nurse and Midwife', in honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
Throughout the year, we will be offering an insight into nursing here at Royal Papworth Hospital and the different nursing careers available, celebrating the skill and diversity of our staff, by featuring one nurse each month.
For February, we spent time with Marian Vidal Bermudez. Marian is originally from Spain and now works in the operating theatres here at Royal Papworth Hospital.
Name: Marian Vidal Bermudez
Job title: Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner
How long have you worked at Royal Papworth Hospital?
Six years, since January 2014.
When and where did you train for your nursing degree?
I completed my nursing degree studies in 2007 at Murcia University (Spain).
Why did you want to become a nurse?
Before I got to university I knew only one thing - that I would like to study something that would let me help people in the future. I eventually decided that nursing was the right choice.
I believe that when you care about people, nursing is a good career.
What other hospitals have you worked at?
When living in Murcia, I worked mainly in two university hospitals: Morales Meseguer General University Hospital and Queen Sofia General Hospital.
My first experience as a nurse in the UK was in 2011 when I worked at St Thomas’ Hospital for six months. The experience was so positive that I decided to come back after two years with my partner to stay.
What other jobs have you had?
I have worked as a nurse in different environments such as accident and emergency and in an intensive care unit. Emergency medicine and taking care of deteriorating patients has always been my passion.
Having said that, I also had a marvellous chance to work in primary care and speciality inpatient wards such as cardiac medicine and elderly care.
What does your job involve? What are your main responsibilities?
My current job is trainee surgical practitioner. I am based in theatres, where I can harvest conduits for coronary bypass grafting and assist surgeons on a variety of cardiothoracic procedures.
My short-term objective currently is to gain experience on the pre-assessment clinic where I can get more involved with the patient pathway pre- and post-surgery.
I find it very motivating to be involved in all the stages of patient care, not only when staying as inpatients but also before admission and after discharge.
I work within a highly functional multidisciplinary team whose only objective is to be an advocate for the patient and improve their experience in healthcare.
Tell us one interesting fact about yourself…
An interesting fact about myself is that I believe in the healing power of laughter. If I die tomorrow I would be famous for always having a smile on my face and trying to make everyone laugh.
What do you love most about nursing?
What I probably like the most is helping people. It is very rewarding to make a difference in someone’s life.
Our job has a big impact on people’s lives, from the community sites where they have access to primary care to hospital environments when they need support through their admission.
When I think about nursing, this quote always comes to my mind:
“Nurses are there when the last breath is taken and nurses are there when first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death.”
What do you love most about your current role?
What I love the most and find very rewarding is to talk to my patients pre- and post-surgery. It is nice to listen and comfort them, answering doubts and reassuring them before surgery. Also, it is a pleasure to follow the recovery process up and see the improvement in their quality of life after discharge.
How has the profession changed over the years?
I think that our profession has been and will always be in constant change. Having said this, I believe the essence of nursing always remains, which is to care about people.
Over the years I have seen more and more opportunities for nurses to develop their potential within the specialities they like the most. One of the main changes that I have noticed in nursing recently is that the NHS now supports solid career progression plans by offering nurses post-graduate learning.
I have also noticed that the NHS cares for all managers by promoting leadership development in healthcare.
What (three, if possible) words would you use to describe nursing?
Passion, love and hard work.