Helping families in their time of need
Helping families in their time of need
THE end of life is the one certainty that we all have to face. So, it goes without saying that having a calm and confident person by your bedside is a comfort.
Night nurse Anne Rahill Freeman has been working with the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Hospice Foundation for the past three years.
Before a stint working in Saudi Arabia, she also worked in St Christopher’s Hospice for 17 years until 2019.
Countless patients and their loved ones have had the benefit of Anne’s experience as they navigated the most profound time of their lives.
Her role is to stay with a patient who is nearing the end of their life throughout the night from 11pm until 7am. By the time Anne is called to a patient’s home, their families are both emotionally and physically exhausted. The situation is intense and visceral – everyone in the room is looking for a mainstay.
“I love being able to give everything to everyone,” Anne told the Celt on her nomination for the Carer of the Year Award. “I also love how, in this role, you get to give your whole time to the patient, one-to-one.”
The qualified nurse who is originally from Mullagh but now lives in Bailieborough said a certain approach works for all her patients and families.
“Empathy and calm; simple, caring nursing is what is needed from me,” Anne says. “People don’t need medical jargon or flustering. Every family is different, but you go into their home with an open mind and just be respectful and caring, of course.
“Trust is also a big thing and is also something that has to work both ways. There may not be any special needs for a patient but, I just offer some simple nursing like holding the patient’s hand and for many families that gives them the reassurance they need to go home and catch up on their sleep.”
One of the families Anne attended also spoke highly of the care she gave their father.
"With the support of our night nurse, Anne, we all could sleep; we were at ease knowing that he was in really good hands. We didn’t realise how much guidance and care he needed and we needed,” Hayley Forde said.