‘I can’t wait for the day to hug a patient without fear of transmission’

Tonya had always dreamed of becoming a nurse and is now working in the Waterside Hospital looking after elderly patients who require rehabilitation before returning to their home.

The mum of three was initially very anxious about starting work at the height of a global pandemic, but now she says: “I’m not scared anymore. I can see the patients, how afraid and isolated they feel, and I try to eliminate that.”

Tonya thought that as she was married with children her time to become a nurse had passed.

“In 2010 my father received a cancer diagnosis, it was a very unsettling time for my family, and I wouldn’t let him go to any appointments without me.

“The day he went for his surgery, me and my mum waited patiently for him to come back in a room full of other families and patients. I vividly remember starting a conversation with them, chatting about their diagnosis, how it had impacted their lives.

“Although a very serious day for all involved, every opportunity to lighten the mood, I took it. We giggled and laughed and the time seemed to pass very quickly.”

She said that after her father returned from surgery, one gentleman stood up and ‘hugged me so tight’.

“He told me I had given him a very positive perspective on what should have been a very sobering day, he added that nursing would be a perfect vocation for me, and the other five people in the room agreed. I always dreamed I would become a nurse, but I quickly dismissed the comment and told him I was married with children and my time had passed.”

A few years later, Tonya began working with North West Care as a domiciliary care worker.

She said it didn’t feel like work, as she enjoyed patient contact and seeing them smile.

She was encouraged by a well respected nurse within the company to pursue her dream of nursing and eventually decided to do so in 2016.

Tonya said it was a risk to leave a job she loved to re-enter education, but was the best risk she has ever taken.

When she was told there was a possibly of being redeployed during her final year of nursing, Tonya’s entire family were apprehensive.

“My husband and I had a lengthy conversation, he was supportive of whatever decision I made; however, he was fearful. Fearful for my health, and the impact this would have on our family.”

She had many late-night conversations with the rest of her family, including her parents who are at high risk, but the outcome always remained the same. 

“I promised to stay safe, but I was joining the workforce to assist in any way I possibly could. They are extremely proud of me, but they know how determined I can be, so they had no choice but to come on this journey with me.”

Tonya said it was not an ideal start to her career but believes it ‘will help shape us into great nurses’.

“At the beginning I was extremely anxious, it was almost like I was disconnected from the hospital environment. I couldn’t see what was going on in there and had no idea what to expect. However, I’m in there now, and every day I approach those doors to work, I’m not scared anymore. I can see the patients, how afraid and isolated they feel, and I try to eliminate that.

“Apart from providing clinical care,  I’ve been playing Bingo and other activities with the patients and they are all really enjoying it. For that few hours they forget the reality surrounding them.”

She added: “There are no visitors, so the patients are missing their families and being cared for by staff wearing masks and trying to social distance. That’s the hard part, for three years we have had patient-centred care instilled in us, with therapeutic touch and empathy.

“We have already had to reshape how we approach these skills, it’s all still learning but I can’t wait for the day to sit and have a conversation, a hug, hold a patients hand without the gloves, masks and fear of transmission.”