Name: Marie Marsden
Job Title: Healthcare Assistant, In Patient Unit.
Background: My time at St. Rocco’s began with a student placement in 2005. Following three years of training at the University of Chester to complete my nursing diploma in Health and Social Care, I became a qualified and registered nurse in 2007. Following this, I joined the hospice as a Staff Nurse on the In Patient Unit, and I worked in this role for 12 years until I was promoted to Junior Sister alongside another nurse.
In 2021, I made the decision to retire and take a break, but I always had the intention of returning to support the clinical team and the hospice in some capacity within a different role. After 12 months of retirement, I worked as a Community Nurse within the Warrington area for 15 months, before returning to St. Rocco’s in 2024 as a Healthcare Assistant on IPU.
I was a mature student and began my nursing career later than most, as I chose to focus my time on raising my family and supporting them as they started their own careers. Once my children had grown up, I felt it was the right time to focus on my own career. I had always worked and had a strong passion for working in care, which motivated me to pursue a career in nursing.
What does your role involve? I run two outpatient clinics in our Vitaliy centre, along with my time on IPU. I love the team that I work with and how everyone brings a different experience and area of support to another. There is a real team camaraderie and ethic, and everyone really pulls together to help, support, and look after one another, especially while working in such a sensitive environment. I enjoy the social aspect of working within the clinical team, and I have made some lifelong friends, as well as lasting friendships from loved ones of patients cared for, who keep in touch after their loved ones have passed away. As a Healthcare assistant, I bring my skills and knowledge from my time as a nurse to the role, which allows me to offer support and guidance to more junior members of the clinical team.
How has St. Rocco’s supported you as your role developed? My whole nursing career has been at St. Rocco’s, and during my time here, I have seen how significant and impactful the developments in processes, procedures, and care have been, and how important these are. The nursing team I work with is highly experienced and able to carry out procedures efficiently and with confidence due to being highly trained, skilled, and experienced. This has helped empower the team and strengthen the support we can give to other members of the clinical team, including junior staff.
We have a strong mix of skills within the team, and we are now more clinically skilled due to advancements in training and the care we deliver. I have seen how working alongside skilled and experienced colleagues, together with the development of the services we offer as a hospice, has helped us better support the changing needs of the community.
What made you want to return to work at St. Rocco’s? I enjoy building relationships with patients and loved ones during their time at the hospice, and to offer that support and care to those who need it because this is when they need it most. We can give patients and loved ones lovely memories that they can cherish together. During my time at the hospice, I have seen how the team always pulls together to make these special memories for patients and loved ones and I remember we had a celebration during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee on IPU with a buffet and T.V for patients to enjoy watching the celebration. I have seen patients getting married at the hospice, and it is amazing to see how we all pull together to make this happen in such a short space of time to support a patient's last wish.
I have no plans to retire anytime soon, and I want to continue working at St. Rocco’s because it helps keep my mind active and keeps me on my feet.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself: I celebrated my 70th birthday in January with my colleagues and loved ones! I have three children and seven grandchildren who I love spending my time with and watching them grow up. I also have an extended family, and I am going on a Caribbean cruise this year with my auntie, who is 85. In my spare time, I also enjoy reading, gardening, walking and DIY.
Share Article