‘A great honour’
QEH pediatrics nurse Sandra Hughes wins the annual Dr. J.H. O’Hanley Award for exceptional care of children
Dr. J.H. O’Hanley, the late iconic P.E.I. pediatrician, left an indelible mark on Sandra Hughes.
“Dr. O’Hanley was always there,’’ said Hughes, a nurse in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s pediatric’s department. “One night I picked up the phone and he was there in minutes. He was always there to support (us).
“If there was a sick child, he’d never leave and he just made things easy because you knew he was there and he was taking care of things.’’
On Tuesday, Hughes was named the latest recipient of the J.H. O’Hanley Award. It’s presented annually to an individual or organization that has made an exceptional contribution to the care of children in P.E.I. and demonstrated outstanding dedication and loyal service.
“It’s very prestigious,’’ said
an emotional Hughes who noted that she was clearly overwhelmed. “It’s a great honour, especially when I look at the people that got it before me because, as a new nurse, I looked at them thinking what great pediatric nurses they were. I worked with many, many of (the previous winners). They were my mentors, and I’ve always tried to aspire (to be like them).’’
Hughes, who graduated from nursing school in 1984, always believed kids came first. She also lived by the motto that if she didn’t know something, it was always better to ask and never to pretend to know the answer.
Parents were important, too, she said.
“I said I became a better pediatric nurse when I became a parent myself because I don’t think you understand the worry and the concern and the effect that it has on the family. I learned that it is a family that you take care of, not just a child.’’
The toughest part of the job was losing patients. But, Hughes said O’Hanley was always there with a soft hand on her shoulder for support.
“It was overwhelming but, like I said, you picked up the phone and he was there. I remember I had another little oncology patient that died and she was the exact same age as our oldest. I just went home and hugged (my child) for the evening.’’
Among the best parts of working in the pediatrics department is the fact that kids are simply downright resilient.
“For the most part, that’s why I work in pediatrics. Kids get better fast. No matter what you do to them . . . they’ll say ‘Thank you’ and they’ll give you a hug.’’