A Critical Care nurse working at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will be working with her daughter this Mother’s Day, after inspiring her to join the NHS when the Covid-19 pandemic hit last year.
Jacqui Jocelyn, who has been working as a Critical Care Nurse at ELHT for 30 years, was amazed when her daughter, Ruby, decided she wanted to switch from starting her Business and Economics degree at the University of Liverpool, to study nursing and follow in her footsteps. Ruby, who is 19, made the decision to change her degree last summer, and has now been studying her nursing degree since September last year, alongside working bank shifts as a Healthcare Assistant on the Critical Care ward at ELHT.
Jacqui said:
“Ruby would see me coming home from work last year and I would tell her tales of what was happening on the unit and in the hospital and I think she was inspired by this. I was shocked when Ruby told me she wanted to be a nurse. It’s not an easy career, especially at the moment, but I hope she continues to enjoy what she does in the future. If she is going to follow in my footsteps she needs to work hard and maintain high standards, but most of all appreciate her colleagues!”
Since working with her mum, Ruby says her eyes have been opened to the hard-work and dedication it takes to be a nurse.
She said:
“I have seen my mum from a different perspective since I have worked on Critical Care as a Healthcare Assistant, I never really appreciated what she did until I saw it first-hand. It’s been nice to have my mum there to explain things and relate to when we’ve both had a tough day. Having her there to answer my never ending questions has been such a blessing. It has helped me cope with being in an unfamiliar environment where things happen on a day to day basis which other people may never see in their life.”
In December last year, Jacqui’s father was admitted to the unit with Covid-19, but sadly passed away three weeks later. Both Jacqui and Ruby were able to see first-hand the care that their colleagues provided for him, and were able to comfort each other when working on the same shift.
Ruby said:
“When my grandad was taken ill, I saw how well he was looked after and all the extra mile my mum’s colleagues were doing to help him. That made me realise that I was in the right profession and it made me want to help the other families that couldn’t see their family members.”
Both Jacqui and Ruby will be working a long shift together on the unit this Mother’s Day. When asked how she’ll celebrate the day with her mum, Ruby said:
“I might treat her by driving us to work or making her a brew and some toast on our break!”