Ooops…Wrong Train Home!
Today is International Nurses Day 2014, so here is my tribute to all the dedicated nurses, past, present and future.
It had been an exhilarating and inspirational day. So at Paddington station I took stock of what I had experienced.
Then, with my train being called, I rushed with the crowd, got on the train, found a seat, closed my eyes and promptly fell asleep hoping to wake up in my destination: Worcester. I woke to the voice: “The next station will be Didcot.” Funny, I thought, but we did come through Oxford on the way down so it’s close enough!” After dozing again the voice from the intercom said “The next station is Swindon!”
I knew that this meant TROUBLE.
The woman at the refreshment bar gave me the clue with her Welsh accent and words (with a kind of shrug that confirmed I was an idiot) and told me I was heading across the border to Swansea.
Suffice to say all ended well and I got home with help, just catching the last train of the night from Bristol to Worcester Shrub Hill by the skin of my teeth.
But what inspiration event had caused this mishap?
Well I was coming home from London having been at the Student Nursing Times Awards as a guest of my friends at NHS Employers.
And it was INSPIRATIONAL
Nominee after nominee shone with enthusiasm, energy, creativity and passion.
In a former life many years ago, I myself had been a young student RMN; and I felt a surge of joy to see the pony-tailed male winner go and collect his award (remembering that I had long hair once!)
And then there were the Caremakers! People who had signed up as trailblazers for the 6C’s: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage and Commitment. Each one a winner in their own right.
Any my favourite of all, Emily Gartshore, winning Student Nurse of the Year, and posing for a ‘selfie’ on the stage with the great and the good.
I felt so proud to have once shared in the profession of nursing
I knew that the future of nursing was in good hands with these students at the vanguard
And I was inspired again at the compassion, care, courage, commitment, competence and communication which was modelled by these nurses.
Almost worth nearly spending a night in Swansea!
So Happy International Nurses Day 2014!
