Kelly is the Nurse Unit Manager of ward 9 South – a ward at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse that supports patients receiving treatment for breast and gynaecological cancers. With around 20 years’ experience as a cancer nurse, Kelly has been a member of our nursing team since 2016.
“I love cancer nursing because of the relationships I get to build with patients and their families,” says Kelly. “Sometimes you get to know a patient over years. During such a challenging time in their life, you can really help lessen a person’s load.”
As a Nurse Unit Manager, Kelly is responsible for managing the patients’ entire experience, ensuring they receive specialist support and care from admission to discharge and beyond. This includes making sure patients have the right support in place – such as a social worker, psychologist or a specialist nurse – before their treatment starts. It could also mean empowering them with the information they need before they return home, or alleviating anxiety about diagnosis or treatment.
“Supporting someone through the unknown can be hard because you can’t just give them answers, as much as you want to try, and that’s OK,” explains Kelly. “But it’s just as important to give them the support they need in that moment, until they get the answers.”
On the ward, Kelly sees donor support in action every day, funding items such as commodes and bladder scanners that help support the ward.
“Donations are so important because they not only support the ward, they increase the comfort of our patients. Our donors are making such a big difference in helping our patients feel better, and this brings them hope.
To me, hope isn’t about fixing everything. Hope is about helping our patients to feel well enough to go to a birthday party, or a family member’s wedding.
You might feel a particular way now, but we can help you get better so you can get the most out of life while you’re going through cancer treatment.”
