Four nurses from the Royal United Hospital in Bath recently attended the prestigious Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service held at Westminster Abbey.
Gemma Waldron, Judith Harris, Claire Davis and Liana Pedrotti travelled with Helen Blanchard, Director of Nursing and Midwifery to the service.
They were nominated to attend the service because of their exemplary care to patients at the RUH.
The Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service celebrates the life and legacy of Florence Nightingale.
During the service, a lantern was symbolically passed from one nurse to the next, to represent the passing on of knowledge between nurses, until the Dean places it on the altar.
Talking about how the four nurses were selected, Helen Blanchard, Director of Nursing and Midwifery said: “I asked all Matrons, Charge Nurses and Sisters to nominate nursing staff who provide exemplary care to our patients and who go above and beyond their normal duties.
“I was delighted to read their nominations – we’re very fortunate to have such high calibre nursing and midwifery staff at the RUH and it was a real privilege to attend the ceremony with them.”
Judith Harris, Junior Sister, Assessment & Comprehensive Evaluation Older Persons’ Unit said: “I was overwhelmed when I discovered that my Matron had nominated me to attend the service.
“I am very proud to be a part of the RUH and it is a lovely feeling that our hard work is recognised.”
Talking about being selected to attend the service, Liana Pedrotti, Junior Sister, Acute Stroke Unit said: “It was wonderful to have our contribution to patient care recognised in this way.
“I feel that celebrating Nightingale’s achievements, helps nurses and midwives to reaffirm the qualities that are the cornerstone of our respective professions – above all unending compassion and commitment to maintaining high standards of patient care and improving service quality.”
As part of celebrating their nurses and midwives, this year the RUH invited its staff and patients to post their thank you messages using the #thankanurse on twitter to recognise their commitment to patient care.
