It is usually only when you have experienced or witnessed the CARE and SUPPORT from our dedicated Qualified Nursing Staff & trained Carers that you appreciate the selfless service they perform.
It was heartwarming to read Pamela’s appreciation of the amazing work her colleagues perform.
Written by Pamela Rala Administrative Receptionist:
Every day at work sitting behind the computer, answering the phone, I am mostly motivated by the fact that I am now part of a team that plays a HUGE role in the well being and palliative care of community members who seek these services.
So with this heart-warming sense of belonging, I go on with my daily duties of counting coins, typing out requisitions, writing up receipts… the works. The couple of months that I’ve been at St Bernard’s Hospice, I’ve come to know the routine…
Every Day one of the Nursing sisters will come into the reception with a pleasant “Good Morning / Good Afternoon Pam, How are you doing today my darling?” Most times I’ll chirpily respond “I’m great Sister, how are you?” At times I’ll take it as the perfect platform to vent about one of our suppliers, who I’ve been calling the whole week looking for a credit note, and I swear they are avoiding my calls! “And oh my goodness sister you cannot even guess how long I’ve been waiting for a quotation from them…our Financial Manager will not be happy at all!” In the middle of my grumbling, I’ll remember that I have not asked how her day had been. So I ask: “How are you doing Sister?” She responds that she is good as she hands me a yellow folder, yet another Admission. “Is she very sick?” I’ll ask, as I take the folder. In that split second before her response, her face becomes masked with emotions of sympathy, as she recalls the pain and suffering from her previous visit.
So she responds: “Hey Pam she’s not well, but we can only pray for the best, I’m going to see her again in the week.”
As she walks out of reception via the bathroom to fetch a packet of adult nappies, and most probably make a D-Tour by the room that keeps sheepskins, I hang my head in shame… How could I be frustrated by a mere quotation, when I have just been in the presence of such a tenacious woman, that has seen so much, been through so much, and shown unyielding strength for so many people other than herself. She is probably burdened with the inevitability that one day whether its tomorrow, next month or a couple of years, she will walk through reception with that same file, except the difference this time is it will have an RIP date on it. She has once again held the hand and comforted a family through a testing time, She has once again delivered a much needed service, she has once again brought to life the vision and the mission of the organisation that she serves. But mostly she has instilled hope in those that had lost it… even if it was for only a little while.
It is from the one or two walks – ins, when families return borrowed equipment that I have experienced firsthand the impact that our nursing sisters have had on these families. It is humbling that in most cases they know that Doctors have “done all they can”. But still their last ray of hope lies with St Bernard’s Hospice.
I look at our organisation and for the first time in my career I have boarded a ship steered by selfless women of fortitude… I commend every one of you, and look forward to soaking in the experience.
