Last Christmas for nurse who has dedicated 50 years to helping patients
A woman who worked as a nurse for most of her life is hanging up her scrubs one final time after her last shift on Christmas Day at Southend Hospital.
Val Adams, 68, from Benfleet, has enjoyed her whole career as a nurse, whether it was training on the wards or working in specialist units in Post Op and in Critical Care. She recalls those initial steps into the new world of nurse training in 1972 just like they were yesterday.
Val said: “It was New Year’s Eve 1972, I was 18 and I’d gone to a party with my mum and dad and the next day we drove over to Rochford Hospital, which is where I lived for the first four years of my nurse training.
“I still remember it all very clearly and the excitement of meeting all the new people. My first day was in the School of Nursing on the Southend Hospital site.”
It has been a role that she has felt very blessed to have enjoyed throughout her career, so if she travelled back in time to give her younger self some advice, what would she say?
“I think it would be that although it is a lot of hard work you will also have lots of fun; we worked hard and played hard. There was a lot of togetherness, both where we lived and when we were all learning together, and there has never been a dull moment – my passion for the role and people has remained.
“Even if my day wasn’t very good, you didn’t bring it to the patient or relatives. You have to remember that it is a family illness and the whole unit is going through it, not just the patient in hospital.”
At 68, Val was already over retirement age, but just wasn’t quite ready to leave nursing. She had been reducing her hours so doesn’t think it will have such a big impact as if she had just suddenly stopped, although she does admit that it will still be a bit strange as she has never not worked.
Val said: “To have achieved 50 years in nursing and have had a real purpose, it is going to be a weird feeling to leave that all behind. There is a little bit of sadness but more satisfaction in all I have done and all the people – both patients and staff – I have helped during that time.
“I can’t explain how I feel. It has certainly been a bit emotional, and I know it will be even more so on my last shift on Christmas Day.”
And now, as Val prepares to bid a fond – if not emotional – farewell to 2022 and her beloved role, she said: “I’ll miss everything about being a nurse; it is such a sociable job, not just the people you work with but the people you care for and their families.
“I live very close to my family, and look forward to spending more time with them and our dogs. I’ll have plenty to enjoy and lots going on, but I’ve no big plans - I very much live in the day.”
Not that this will be the last Critical Care will see of Val. With a twinkle in her eye she said: “I’ve already told them that I’ll be popping in now and again to make them drinks.”