Horsham Care honours staff and residents on International Nurses Day

Westlake House has five residents who are former nurses, the heroes of the profession. They each gave the team some very sound advice and reflected on their memorable experiences. The advice which stood out was that Nurses never retire, it’s a calling and once a Nurse, always a Nurse.

Evaline Evans, retired nurse and resident at Westlake House, said: “I used to be a nurse I qualified in 1953 and I was a nurse until I retired. I always wanted to be a nurse even as a child. It is a tough job but I loved to care for people. The staff here spend so much time and energy looking after us, it’s been lovely to show just how much we appreciate them. They do a wonderful job.”

In 2024, the theme for International Nurses’ Day is Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care. The International Council of Nurses is aiming to reshape perceptions of nursing, demonstrating how strategic investment in nursing can bring considerable economic and societal benefits.

International Nurses’ Day is a day to give thanks for the dedication of care givers everywhere, who go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver extraordinary care and support.

Audrey Chiduku, General Manager at the home, said: “At Westlake House, our nurses and staff are hard-working, dedicated, and passionate about caring for others, and that compassion and commitment has shone through even more over the past year.

"They continue to work tirelessly, and I’m proud of the professionalism and duty of care they uphold. All their efforts are focused on delivering the best possible care for our residents, so it’s nice to take this time to show our appreciation in return.

"It is also lovely to celebrate our residents who were nurses themselves and thank them for all the hard work they did during their careers.”