LIVES OF ‘Incredible’ frontline medics offer a unique

THIS was supposed to be a day of celebration for nurses across the world.

But on this International Nurses Day, many are working long, arduous shifts on the coronavirus front line.

So people have been asked to shine a light from their windows at 8.30pm tonight to salute the “lady with the lamp”, Florence Nightingale – who was born 200 years ago today – and to show our appreciation of today’s heroes.

As Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May offered her thanks to her “incredible staff ”, we speak to nurses around the country who tell of battling the virus... working as a carer and seeing the huge difference his nursing colleagues made. He is now the national officer for nursing at the union UNISON.

Stuart says: “I have to pay tribute to my intensive care colleagues who not only have been treating patients at their sickest but also overseeing the work of nurses like myself who have just stepped into their departments.

“It is incredibly challenging, skilful work. I’ve had to learn new skills, in an intense environment and you can be wearing PPE all night, which is hard.

“I have looked after some patients who are awake and on oxygen, and we are trying to keep them off the ventilators.

“It is scary for them as they are struggling to breathe, and it’s emotionally draining for the nurses having to care for them and keep in touch with their families. I did a shift on another ward last week where people recovering from the virus were being treated.

“It was so rewarding to see how our work has helped them to get better.”

Zoe is one of the thousands of nurses who have joined the profession on the front line of the NHS, weeks before properly qualifying.

But in the A&E department of her local North West London hospital, 43-year-old

Zoe is a full team member.

She says: “My life changed so rapidly but nursing is what I want to do and I’m not one to panic, so just threw myself into the job.

For students like myself, this is what we came into it for.” The

IN CHARGE Sister Katie Kearns

INSPIRED Stuart