Celebrating Nurses Day 2024: From Emergency Rooms to Extreme Environments

Nurses Day is a global celebration of the remarkable contributions that nurses make every day. Whether in a hospital, community health centre, or disaster zone, nurses have an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of their patients, families, and communities. 

On this special day, we want to honour and thank all the nurses around the world who have continued to work tirelessly. We also want to highlight the exceptional work of five nurses who are part of the World Extreme Medicine faculty, Ben, Deb, Karen, Laura & Mike, who continue to go above and beyond in providing care and support in some of the most challenging and extreme environments. 

Join us in celebrating all nurses, colleagues, and students who make a vital difference in the lives of so many people.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into nursing?

I undertook a pre nursing course in the North East many years ago, at the same time as I was an aspirant with Northumberland National Park Search and Rescue team. I then applied to nursing school, Sheffield North Trent and was accepted. About 2 months into my training I was assisting a paramedic at a climbing accident on Stanage Edge when Edale Mountain Rescue team turned up, and thirty years later I’m still in the team. I qualified as I nurse and started my career in the local Accident and Emergency department.

What is the one thing you love about your career as a nurse practitioner?

Hands on patient care.

Being an Emergency nurse practitioner is a practical hands on job, everything from wound management, closure of wounds, to sprains, fracture and dislocations, applying plaster casts.

The fun stuff it’s hands on care.

What do you enjoy most about teaching on World Extreme Medicine courses?

I’ve been a member of the World Extreme Medicine teaching faculty since 2008, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. I love being able to share my knowledge and experience with others, and to help them develop the skills they need to provide medical care in extreme environments. One of my favourite courses to teach is the Polar Medicine course in Arctic Norway. It’s a challenging course, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see students develop the skills they need to provide medical care in some of the most remote and challenging environments in the world.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career in nursing and adventure?

I would say ‘go for it’, utilise your nursing skill and travel the world. I’ve worked in Iceland, Greenland on location with TV/Films. Antarctica with Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions. Norway and Slovenia with World Extreme Medicine.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into nursing?

I work in emergency and pre-hospital emergency medicine. I became a nurse by accident – I didn’t know what else to do when I left school.

What led you to pursue a career in nursing?

It’s dynamic and interesting.

What is the one thing you love about being an Advanced Clinical Practitioner?

It has taken me to interesting and exciting places.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career in nursing or humanitarian work?

Being a nurse gives you more opportunities than you realise. Nurses can change career paths throughout our working lives.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into nursing?

I qualified in 2003. I have always wanted to do humanitarian nursing.

My first experience was working in a post-conflict region of North Uganda in a resource limited hospital in 2009. Since have responded to various humanitarian crises globally and worked in developmental settings including Sierra Leone, India, Philippine, Malawi and off the coast of Libya.

What led you to pursue a career in humanitarian work?

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to help people living abroad in circumstances less fortunate than myself & nursing gave me a passport to the world to have the knowledge, skills and flexibility to offer help.

What is the one thing you love about being an Advanced Clinical Practitioner?

It’s a real privilege to help people at a time of need either in the UK or further afield.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career in nursing or humanitarian work?

The opportunities are endless!

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into nursing?

I always had an interest in medicine and helping people. When I was 16 I was lucky enough to do some work experience in a hospital in Czech Republic where I worked alongside some incredible nurses, this sparked my career path. From there I went to University and got my honours degree.

What led you to pursue a career in nursing?

I loved working directly with people. Interacting with patients and families to hopefully make a positive impact.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I love all the possibilities available. Nursing is such a broad career path and I love having the ability to try something new.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career in nursing?

Just do it.

It is possible.

Don’t let anyone say to you, you are ‘just’ a nurse.

Believe in yourself.

There are so many more opportunities arising for nursing staff. Try to get as much experience as possible to enhance your knowledge and confidence. Pick a topic you really enjoy and be the best you can be in that area.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into nursing?

I joined Edale Mountain Rescue Team in 1991 having worked part time for the Peak National Park previously.

This opened my eyes to the opportunity to combine a love for the outdoors with a career that involved helping others.

Nursing seemed an ideal fit with varied career pathways so I retrained in 2000. Working in the NHS and volunteering with EMRT gave me that opportunity to do both and has opened doors to so many opportunities including working with WEM.

What led you to pursue a career in emergency nursing?

I specialised in Emergency Nursing from the outset as I enjoy the pace, unpredictability and the opportunity to make an immediate difference to people at what is often a difficult moment in their lives when they are injured or unwell.

It also combined well with my interest in pre-hospital care. I started life as an ED Staff nurse progressing through the ranks to my current role as a Senior Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Emergency Medicine.

What is the one thing you love about your job in emergency nursing?

One of the most rewarding things working with WEM is being able to pass on skills and knowledge, seeing people grow in confidence and get out there to have their own adventures.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career in nursing?

Absolutely go for it! There’s a wide variety of career pathways and opportunities to pursue your own areas of special interest. Many of these dovetail well with a zest for adventure and new experiences, as evidenced by the breadth of nursing backgrounds of those of us on the WEM faculty.

Thank you to Ben, Deb, Karen, Laura and Mike and all the nurses around the world for your work – we salute you!