Colleagues hail nursing sister Caroline as inspiration in this year of pandemic
A SENIOR sister at the Royal Derby Hospital has been recognised as an inspiration for guiding her nurses through this difficult year.
Caroline Swan, who only took on the key role in the intensive care unit (ICU) late last year, was tasked with leading a large team of nurses and health care assistants through the Covid-19 pandemic.
She did so with “great courage and strength”, and has been described by one of her nurses as the “backbone of the team” who is always on hand to provide guidance and support.
Nurse Stacey Mountney has nominated Caroline as a Covid Hero, and feels she deserves recognition for the way she has dealt with the pandemic.
Stacey, who lives in Chellaston, said: “Caroline’s role has been enormous in keeping patients in Derby safe and maintaining the high level of care the intensive care unit has offered to the critically-ill and their relatives throughout the pandemic.
“Not only was she adjusting to her new role and scared herself, she was leading a large, highly stressed team of nurses and health care assistants through a situation nobody knew how to deal with.
“We also had a large number of redeployed staff from a variety of different areas sent to help support our team which she was also responsible for managing.
“She did this with great courage and strength and was the backbone of the team. Due to her courageous efforts, staff and patients alike survived.”
Caroline’s nursing career spans nearly two decades, with the majority of her time spent in the ICU, working her way up through the ranks over 14 years.
Stacey, 33, revealed the big influence Caroline has had on her career over the past seven years, first as a fellow nurse and now as a manager.
She said: “I have had the pleasure of working with Caroline as she has worked her way up from being my colleague to my manager.
“She has supported me through tough times and always been approachable when I have needed guidance. She is extremely knowledgeable and always happy to guide her staff.
“As you can imagine, working in such a stressful and busy area in full PPE has been extremely challenging and draining for all staff concerned.
“Emotionally, it has taken a toll on many members of staff, who have been challenged with new ways of working, picking up extra shifts to keep the unit safely staffed and coping with the deaths which have come from Covid.
“She has been massively supportive with all of the physical and emotional issues staff have faced on top of all of her other responsibilities.
“She is an inspiration and a great team leader and for her we are thankful.” beyond to keep deliveries going through lockdown.
We don’t want to pick a winner – they’re all winners as far as we’re concerned – but we will contact as many of your heroes as possible to shine a spotlight on them in December.
Who do you think deserves recognition in your community?
Nominate them today with the Covid Heroes nomination form at derbytelegraph.co.uk to let the world know how valuable their contribution has been. As we head towards the end of 2020, we want to celebrate the very best of our local areas and the people across Derbyshire who stepped up when we needed them most.