Nursing and Healthcare at Lenmed, Howick Hospital ****

I am a 69 year old RN and still practicing age 69 and loving a new challenge. Nursing has been my passion and I've studied Nursing Leadership and Management UKZN & Imperial College London and read all research pertaining to this and nursing in general and issues globally. I was admitted to Howick Hospital really ill with the Human meta pneumo virus and requiring oxygen. The admitting staff were kind quick and no fuss seeing I was wheeled to ward quickly. The admitting RN was outstanding and had me feeling at ease. Im in my 51st year of nursing and still passionate but Im a hopeless patient as I just want to be out the bed and not in it ! I felt so safe and told her was the best nurse in the world and I meant it for me at that moment she was. Quick cannulation and meds up oxygen on and started feeling relief. During my 4 day stay every shift were the same and I don't think I waited more that a minute for a bell to be answered and it was consistent. The noise levels which Im so conscious of were under control. Handovers are always noisy happy to see each other. Day times are generally more noisy and not always nurses fault. Nights were amazing and the consistency of attending to bells as in day. Not once was I woken from noisy staff. The food is the best I've ever encountered as a nurse and patient. Catering staff, cleaning team, maintenance ,porters also so friendly and helpful. In one leadership study it incorporated a big emphasis on coaching and mentoring. How I would love to interact with teams and individuals to bring out their best. I have benefit from a global leadership coach assisting me and well into my 60's in high care, I felt the benefits immensely and know I upped my game. I heard the Unit Manager had left and these 4 shifts were outstanding delivering excellent care. My purpose is to aspire to and inspire brilliance in healing and care. The experience really warmed my heart and helped me heal emotionally and psychologically. I had suffered severe burnout not that long ago when leaving the clinical environment , I was dark for the quadriplegic patients we weaned in ventilator unit and also suffered an ambiguous grief at leaving. However I fought hard not to be disillusioned in the corporate effect on nursing. I have studied back to 1854 and Florence Nightingale's 5 core values and felt we weren't achieving any of them and on a global scale through other research , forums and listening to TED talks. Yet there was always great work being done and wonderful recovery stories. Thank you Lenmed for the healing experience. The only issue is to be discussed with management is antibiotic stewardship and IV management. These didn't impact on me badly but were present and those are coaching issues to be carried out frequently. They are also global issues. A huge congratulations to Lenmed Howick for giving this old nurse great care and for giving me such encouragement in what I've always believed that our rich cultural heritage builds excellent nursing teams. I've bene joyful since before discharge !!! I also have to Mention Merrivale Pharmacy at Spar. They were open after 7pm on the Sunday a day after discharge and my Saturations dropped and they were able to assist immediately and I was much improved within an hour. It was scary and yes, I should have gone to ER and would have if I had no option. I would have been readmitted and am now fully healed so it wasn't a bad decision and their assistance was valuable.