Nursing is in the finer details

by Kelsey Taylor

Tiny Tickers supporter and heart mum, Kelsey, is studying to be a paediatric nurse.

She shares her inspiring story and the reasons why she chose this career path:

“The reason I choose to study paediatric nursing is because not all children are born with the gift of health. I learned this through the eyes of a mother who has seen and felt their child go on a journey of ill health. Through Iva’s heart journey, I built my admiration for the nurses, who choose to devote their lives to care, even giving up parts of themselves in the nature of nursing. I believe if nursing is done correctly, as it should be, kindly, purposefully and compassionately, then there will always be so much more to gain than is given.

“I believe these incredible nurses I met encouraged my wishes to become a paediatric nurse by showing me that we can have all the advanced medical knowledge and technology to treat a vast array of childhood illnesses, but this isn’t enough. Nursing is so much more; nursing is in the finer details… It’s the morning coffee you bring a parent who hasn’t managed to close their eyes through fear, it’s knowing a child feels safe in a world of unknown circumstances and unknown faces. Simply treating an illness isn’t what nursing was built on, it was everything in-between. It’s knowing a child likes strawberry yoghurt and refuses to take their medication unless they’ve had it. This is the essence of children, and no matter the nature of an illness, children need to be children. It’s these finer details of nursing that will be remembered.

“Iva too wants to become a “nurse”, (alongside an escapologist) and care for the babies. I have no doubts she would be the fiercest advocate. Iva was a saving grace for me and I wouldn’t change any part of her heart journey, because it’s given me the insight into how it feels to be on the other side and will without a doubt make me a better nurse.”