Hazel’s story
“It will give you sleepless nights and some tears, but it will also give you a lifetime of memories, friendships and lots and lots of joy.”
As a Clinical Service Manager, I support the staff team to adhere to the highest clinical and regulatory standards and to deliver compassionate, person centred care that upholds dignity, respect, and choice. I encourage continuous staff development to ensure that every resident is supported to live a safe, meaningful, and fulfilling life and is cared for by staff who are knowledgeable.
I have been a nurse for over 40 years; my inspiration was my earlier life experience caring for my lovely nana. My family were supportive, and they helped to shape my person centred values that allowed me to grow, to be understanding and to be receptive to the changing faces of society and humanity. I recognise that this is influenced by many factors and I aim to ensure that diversity, connection and inclusion for all, are at the forefront of care.
A good day at work lifts my spirits and gives me a feeling of warmth and satisfaction. This can come from the smallest human connection; a conversation with a colleague, a smile from a resident, or laughing with their family. It is about understanding how a person feels and being able to give them what they need. This could be knowledge, comfort, kindness or honesty – it’s all so important. One of my proudest moments was when my youngest daughter chose to go into nursing because she could see the fulfilment it has given me.
The sense of purpose I get from my job keeps me motivated but nursing can be an emotionally demanding role. The people we care for – the residents within the care home setting – come to us with individual needs for care and support and everything we do matters and has an impact on the residents, their families and the staff I work with. My colleagues continue to drive me forward. We really care about the residents and feel that we can make a difference. We will all need care at some point, either directly or indirectly, so we need to ensure we are doing our best.
I would say to anyone considering nursing as a career – it is a hard job, physically and emotionally, but every day brings joy gifted through the human beings. It will give you sleepless nights and some tears, but it will also give you a lifetime of memories, friendships and lots and lots of joy.
Read all Humans of Scotland stories here.
In connection with Humans of Scotland, the ALLIANCE Person Centred Voices team launched a short film. In it, we hear from some of the incredible nurses and midwives we’ve had the honour of meeting over the years. This film is a celebration of person centred care, professional pride, and the human connections that sit at the heart of nursing and midwifery. You can watch the film here.
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