A new day dedicated to recognising the work of children’s nurses was celebrated at Rainbows.
The Association of British Paediatric Nurses (ABPN) designated 30 June as National Children’s Nurses Day to annually celebrate the profession and the positive difference nurses make to children and their families.
Our hospice was one of 10 sites across the UK chosen to host a celebration event, where East Midlands nurses gathered to help build recognition for children’s nursing.
Advanced practitioners are playing increasingly senior roles in complex care. Rainbows has 64 nurses who provide specialist palliative and end-of-life care to babies, children and young people, and their families, across the East Midlands. That care is given at the hospice in Loughborough, in hospitals across the region or in the families’ own homes.
Anne-Marie Rosak, Head of Hospice and Community Services and Deputy Executive Nurse at Rainbows, said: “To be a children’s nurse working in a hospice is about blending expert knowledge and clinical excellence with compassion, empathy, and care. It means being there for families in their most vulnerable moments and ensuring every baby, child and young person is cared for with respect, comfort, and given the chance to experience meaningful moments, no matter how short their life may be.
“It is an absolute honour to be sharing the first National Children’s Nursing Day with the ABPN and to have been approached by them and asked to host one of the celebration events taking place across the UK.
“Our Children’s nurses here at Rainbows are an integral part of our multi-disciplinary team and today is about celebrating and recognising the impact those nurses have every day in all our families’ lives.”
Rachael Smith’s family is supported by Rainbows. Her 10-year-old son, James, has had meningitis twice and is high risk of SUDEP – Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. She said: “Thank you to the whole nursing team at Rainbows for your incredible support in caring not only for James, but the whole family. For being inclusive in allowing James to fully access all the fun things that Rainbows has to offer. For encouraging James to try new things and supporting him with this and for treating James’ medical needs in a way that no one else can, to give us the support we need. For the memories you help us create, for everything you do, for everything you give and provide, thank you.”