To celebrate international nurses day we spoke to Manjumol, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Haemophilia at CUH, to hear their story at CUH.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey – your background, when did you join, what positions have you held here?
I qualified as a nurse in India in 2002 and came to the UK as an oncology research student, sponsored by my school of nursing in India. In 2003, I started my nursing carrier at the trust, working as a D Grade staff nurse in the oncology chemotherapy unit, and later promoted to junior sister and then senior sister.
During this period, I worked towards becoming a clinical nurse specialist because I have always enjoyed caring for patients and helping them. I wanted to become an ‘expert’ in a specific area and have a group of patients with whom I could help to manage their chronic conditions and get to know. Since 2014, I have been working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Medical Hematology at the Hemophilia Center. I enjoy working with a friendly and dynamic small team and caring for a group of patients, as well as their descendants, who need help with lifelong medical conditions.
During my time as a nurse, I learned how to treat others and how I would like to be treated. Small gestures that we may think are insignificant, can make an enormous difference to a patient when they are depending on you for their health and social needs. Compassion cannot be quantified.
During my time as a haemophilia clinical nurse specialist, I have assisted with clinical trials, initiated brand new treatments, and helped oversee a service move. (Moved from two very small consulting rooms to a brand new, purpose-designed regional centre). And see some of my patients transition from our paediatric service, to our adult service and then have children of their own registering with the service. I am passionate about making a difference in haemophilia patients' hospital experiences by having their care/treatment plan readily available at their fingertips digitally.
I am now working towards my master’s qualification. Having completed various modules on the master’s pathway over the last 18 months, I am now on my final module and then have my dissertation to complete.
My favourite part of being a nurse is when the patients are satisfied with the care that I have been able to provide. It brings me joy knowing that through my nursing care I have made a difference in a patient’s physical, emotional and mental health.
How does your role benefit patients?
My role as a Clinical nurse specialist in haemophilia is pivotal to providing comprehensive care to people with haemophilia and related bleeding disorders, and in coordinating care with other members of the multidisciplinary team across a range of settings, including hospitals, the community, and patients’ homes. This includes promoting evidence-based care, advocacy and self-management skills for patients. Knowing that I can positively impact someone's life, watching patients relieved from their ailments makes all the hard work worth it. However, some patients do not recover, but there is a sense of purpose and satisfaction in being there with them on their journey to their final moments.
How are you going to celebrate International Nurses Day?
During my time as a nurse, I learned how to treat others and how I would like to be treated. Small gestures that we may think are insignificant, can make an enormous difference to a patient when they are depending on you for their health and social needs. Compassion cannot be quantified.
I will take this lesson and apply it to all the amazing nurses that I work with daily. Without their support and knowledge, the Haemophilia service and the enjoyment that I get from my job would not be nearly as great. I will celebrate international nurses day by thanking my colleagues and making sure that I never take their support, hard work and dedication for granted.