Happy International Nurses Day!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A: I grew up in a town in Porto, Portugal, surrounded by family and friends, and I’ve always been part of a really close-knit community. From quite a young age, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare and do something where I could help people.

Nursing just felt like the right fit for me—it combines practical skills with that human connection. What really drew me to it was seeing how much of a difference compassionate care can make, not just for patients but for their families as well. That’s what inspired me to pursue it as a career.

Q: Where did you train, and how long have you been at The London Clinic?

A: I completed my nursing training at Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Portugal, and straight after qualifying I moved to England to work in the NHS, where I spent about three years building my experience.

I joined The London Clinic in 2019, and since then I’ve had the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, especially within the Digestive Diseases Unit (DDU) Team. It’s been a really rewarding journey so far.

Q: What do you enjoy about the role, and what are some of the challenges?

A: Since being here, I’ve had some really nice opportunities to progress. I started as a Staff Nurse, then became a Sister, and now I’m working as a Colorectal and Stoma Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), which has been a great journey.

What I enjoy most about nursing is just being able to make a difference day to day. Sometimes it’s something big, like supporting someone through recovery, and sometimes it’s just taking the time to listen—but those moments really matter. I also really enjoy the teamwork, working with people who are all committed to delivering the best possible care.

At the same time, it can be challenging. The role requires resilience and adaptability, and there are definitely emotional and physical demands. Balancing a busy workload while making sure every patient gets the attention they need isn’t always easy, but that’s also what makes it such a dynamic and fulfilling job.

Q: Every year, on May 12th, nurses from across the world come together to celebrate the amazing contribution they make within healthcare and beyond. The day itself marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is known as the founder of modern nursing. This year’s theme is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.’ What does the day mean to you and why is it important?

A: For me, International Nurses Day is a chance to really reflect on what it means to be a nurse. Day to day, you’re so focused on your patients and your work, so it’s nice to have a moment to step back and recognise the impact we have.

In my own experience, I’ve seen how much even the smallest actions can make a difference to someone’s day, so it’s a day that really celebrates those moments, as well as the dedication and hard work behind the scenes.

I also think this year’s theme, ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,’ really highlights how important it is to keep supporting and developing nurses, because that has a direct impact on the quality of care we provide. At the same time, it motivates us to keep improving and to be the best we can for our patients.

For me, it’s about feeling proud of the profession, but also remembering why I chose nursing in the first place.

Q: You are a Florence Nightingale Fellow – can you tell us about that and what it means?

A: Being a Florence Nightingale Fellow is a real honour. The fellowship, inspired by Florence Nightingale, focuses on developing leadership skills and encouraging innovation in healthcare.

It’s essentially a structured fellowship programme alongside your clinical role. It focuses on leadership development, quality improvement, and innovation in practice, so it’s not just classroom-based learning—it’s very much applied to real clinical work and projects within your own area. The course lasts for about 1 year and you do receive formal recognition—both in terms of certification and being awarded the fellowship.

For me, it’s about committing to continuous learning and always looking for ways to improve—not just in my own practice, but in how I can contribute to wider changes that benefit patient care. It’s also been a great opportunity to connect with other nurses who are just as passionate about developing the profession, which is really inspiring.

Q: What are your future ambitions?

A: Looking ahead, I’m keen to keep building on my experience and developing my expertise further, especially in colorectal.

At the same time, I’d like to take on more leadership, teaching, and mentorship responsibilities. I really enjoy supporting staff and student nurses, and I’d like to be more involved in teaching and helping others develop in their practice.

For me, it’s also really important to stay up to date with the newest evidence and developments in nursing, so I can make sure I’m always providing the best and most current care possible. Continuous professional development is a big part of that for me—I’m always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.

Q: What advice would you have for anyone out there wondering what to do for a career? Why is nursing a great career choice in your opinion?

A: My advice would be to choose a career that really aligns with your values and gives you a sense of purpose. I think that’s really important, because it’s what keeps you motivated in the long run.

For me, nursing is a great career choice because it offers both stability and variety—you can work in so many different areas and develop in lots of different directions. It’s also a career that challenges you, but at the same time helps you grow both personally and professionally.

Most importantly, it allows you to make a genuine difference in people’s lives every single day. It’s not without its challenges, but the rewards—both for you and for the patients you care for—are really meaningful.