Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020 – What’s Your Story?

June, 2020

When 2020 was designated the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife,“ no one could have predicted that this fateful year would give us so many reasons to honor nurses and other frontline heroes.

Regardless of the week, month, or year, I am always proud to be a nurse. I also am proud to work with more than 50 nurses at Vocera to support thousands of our peers in hospitals and health systems around the world. Our team of clinical experts works tirelessly to help make the lives of nurses, doctors, and other care team members easier and safer. Helping others is what inspires most nurses to join the profession, and this innate sense of purpose drives nurses to stay with the profession even when times are tough.

Every nurse has a story, and in honor of the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, several of our Vocera nurses shared personal stories from their professional journeys. These stories shine the spotlight on the importance of nurses and the healing, human connections they foster. You’ll find our collection on our web page celebrating nurses and midwives. I’ve captured highlights from a few of the stories below.

Nurses: Medical Detectives, Caregivers, Counsellors

Jamie Duffy, BSc, RSCN, Specialist Paediatric Practitioner (SPQ) Post-Grad
Clinical Informaticist at Vocera, Supporting Clients in the United Kingdom

Jamie worked as part of a Children’s Community Nursing team in the South West Wales region of the United Kingdom. He would regularly visit children and their families in their homes and provide care or deliver supplies. One of his patients was a boy whose adolescence was made profoundly difficult by undiagnosed diabetes. Jamie detected symptoms that led to the boy being tested and receiving treatment that changed his life. Read Jamie’s story.

My Grandmother, the Nurse Advocate

Jenilyn Turner, MHA, RN
Senior Clinical Informaticist at Vocera, Supporting Clients Throughout the United States and Canada

Jenilyn was inspired to be a nurse by her grandmother, who was a nurse advocate – a nurse dedicated to working on behalf of patients to maintain quality of care and protect patients’ rights. Her grandmother advocated for the rights of people with disabilities and their access to healthcare and drove meaningful legislative change. Jenilyn follows in her grandmother’s footsteps with her own commitment to patient advocacy. Read Jenilyn’s story.

Being There When Somebody Exits the World

Julia Mason, MBA, BSN, RN, CENP
Senior Clinical Executive at Vocera, Supporting Clients in the United States Great Lakes Region

When Julia was working in a medical ICU, a patient came in with newly diagnosed breast cancer that had metastasized throughout her body. She deteriorated gradually, eventually on full life support. One evening when Julia arrived for her shift, she learned that a decision had been made to prepare the patient to die comfortably that night. The woman’s husband and sons were there; the boys, who were about 14 and 16, were in shock. Julia helped them to say goodbye to their mother, viewing it as the greatest thing she could do for them. Read Julia’s story.

My Story

I am the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher, and my family’s entire philosophy and reason for being was to be of service to others. I started thinking of becoming a nurse early in my childhood because of my family and the community outreach we did through our church.

I encountered medical missionaries who talked about traveling to faraway places and providing healthcare to people in adverse circumstances. I thought to myself, that’s what I want to do – I want to be a nurse. And for more than 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of being able to call myself one. Being a nurse is not simply a job. It is a lifetime commitment and purpose that makes a powerful impact on patients, families, communities, and countries in every corner of the globe. Read my story on our Year of the Nurse and Midwife website.

Share Your Story

Every nurse has a story. Perhaps you made life better for a patient or family or helped save someone’s life. Maybe you had an experience where you learned an important lesson, or another nurse has inspired you. I welcome you to share a story or anecdote about experiences that have mattered to you as a nurse on our Year of the Nurse and Midwife website. I also welcome you to connect with me on LinkedIn or follow me on Twitter @rhondacno.