Newly qualified nurse Daizy dazzles as awards finalist
A newly qualified nurse, who started her career during the Covid pandemic on the critical care unit in Southend, has been nominated for an award for her hard work and determination.
Daizy Brenchley, from Southend, who qualified as a nurse last August, has been working on the unit at Southend Hospital, first as part of her degree placement and now as a full-time member of the team.
She has been chosen as a finalist in the Rising Star category in Mid and South Essex Hospital’s first ever Shine Awards - recognising the achievements of staff and teams from across Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals and their satellite sites.
As well as working on the unit during the pandemic, the former mature student, 29, has also successfully juggled her dissertation - about newly qualified nurses in critical care - and the final year of her nursing degree at the University of Essex, home-schooled two young children, and planned her wedding.
With a nursing degree, a job, a team that she loves and tying the knot earlier this month, the award nomination and evening is the icing on the cake after a packed 18 months.
It is the end of a decade long journey for Daizy, who decided that she wanted to become a nurse after the birth of her daughter ten years ago. And despite her seeing a lot of difficult things, she is still feeling just as inspired.
“It’s been a really challenging year and it’s so nice to know that someone’s thought of you and acknowledges that we are all working really hard. It’s just really nice to get that appreciation.”
Daizy found out about her nomination when she was on the way do her hen party, so it gave even more cause for celebration.
She thanked her amazing team in critical care for their continued support, adding: “Although it has been such a difficult time during Covid, the team really shone through and I’ve never seen a team like it; they were so amazing in taking me under their wing and never let anything get them down. I always felt 100 per cent safe and supported.
“I’m really proud to be part of the team and the bond you make with patients is great. You feel privileged to be part of someone’s life when they are at their most vulnerable.”
The mum-of-two has also managed to find the time to raise £600 for the unit she works on by doing a sponsored walk along Southend seafront with her children, even making goody bags for staff on her ward as a thank you for their hard work.
The virtual awards evening takes places on Tuesday 30 November.