Name: Sara Carrington.
Job Title: Senior Nurse, night staff.
Background: After qualifying in 2011, I began my nursing career at Trafford General Hospital, followed by community and agency work to fit around family life. I applied for a role at St. Rocco’s as I had always wanted to work within end of life care. This was shaped by a personal family experience, my Nanna passed away in hospital during my time training to be a nurse and this motivated me to want to help ensure patients receive compassionate, personalised, and dignified care at the end of life.
What does your role involve? My role as a senior night nurse involves overseeing the ward overnight and leading the night team to ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care. I prioritise and delegate staff, manage sickness or absence to maintain safe staffing levels, and take charge of any situations that arise with patients or the ward.
Working nights often means making clinical decisions without doctors on site, so I assess symptoms, manage medications, and judge when additional medical support is needed, I also work with on call medical staff during the night who are available to come to the hospice for anything we may need. With six years’ experience at St. Rocco’s, I’m confident in supporting patients whose symptoms can worsen overnight and ensuring the ward runs smoothly and safely.
A key part of my role is providing calm, personalised care during quieter hours, working closely with an experienced and supportive team to meet patients’ needs.
How long have you worked at St. Rocco’s? I have worked at St. Rocco’s for six years. I started on day shifts in 2020 before moving to nights during COVID, which I found suited both my family life and my passion for night nursing. I have been a senior nurse for just over a year and previously worked as an IPU nurse, with a short placement in the Hub for broader experience.
How has your role at St. Rocco’s developed? I am currently studying for a Nursing degree, having originally qualified 14 years ago with a diploma, a colleague encouraged me to top up to a degree, and St. Rocco’s has been supportive in helping with funding. The course involves five modules, each around 10 weeks, which I can complete at my own pace. I’ve already finished modules in leadership and quality improvement, and I’m looking forward to upcoming modules like advanced concepts in palliative care.
Being able to choose topics that support with my development means I can focus on areas that will enhance my knowledge and practice. There’s always something new to learn in nursing, and I’m excited to deepen my expertise in palliative and end-of-life care. This study not only supports my personal growth but also helps me contribute more effectively to the team and continue building my career in this field.
What made you want to work at St. Rocco’s? When I was working within the community, there wasn’t enough time to spend with palliative patients and I wanted to do something closer than this. Everyone deserves a peaceful and dignified death, and hospices are extremely important to those at end of life and those important to them.
One of the most rewarding parts of working within palliative and end of life care is seeing the appreciation from relatives after a patient has passed. Being there to comfort them and support them through such a difficult time is such a privilege, knowing their loved ones were able to spend their final hours in care and peace.
I also love the team I work with, everyone genuinely cares about our patients and the care we provide. I value the time I get to spend with patients, getting to know them personally and supporting them in a meaningful way. It’s comforting to know that people leave having experienced a dignified and compassionate end-of-life journey for their loved one.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself: I have a young family, including a 9- and 3-year-old, which keeps life busy and fun. In my spare time, I love spending time with my husband and kids, walking our dog, reading, studying and learning.
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