Caring for Grandad inspired my career change

Student nurse Jasmin Palmer, 25, is in the final year of her three-year degree course with London South Bank University. Here Jasmin shares how caring for her grandad inspired her to pursue a career in care and how a placement at Saint Francis Hospice changed her thoughts on end-of-life and palliative care.

I never actually wanted to be a nurse when I left school, which sounds very strange to me now!

I pursued a career in legal administration, but when my grandfather became ill and was diagnosed with dementia following heart surgery, I left my job as an administrator in 2019 to help care for him. I fell in love with caring and how it made me feel giving back to others. I got a job as a community care worker in my local community and two years later I took the jump into a career in nursing! I have loved every minute of my journey so far!

In my LSBU uniform

During July and August, I completed a 7-week placement at Saint Francis Hospice. I worked with the wonderful nurses on the ward who taught me the true meaning of person-centered holistic care. I felt fulfilled and privileged to be able to assist patients with their individual care needs and to watch the enjoyment that patients got from feeling valued.

I learned and witnessed how to address challenging conversations with patient's friends and family and took part in training days to extend my knowledge. On a typical day as a student at the hospice, I would assist my assessor, Josie, with medication rounds and personal care. I would also spend time talking with patients and their loved ones to get to know them on a more personal level and offering holistic care to both patients and their loved ones.  I also spent a day with Julie Bateman, a nurse with the Hospice at Home team, who showed me how hospice care is delivered to patients in the comfort of their own homes.

My experience at Saint Francis Hospice was truly humbling and it was my most rewarding placement yet. It also changed my opinion on end-of-life and palliative care. I now feel better equipped with the knowledge and skills I need when treating end-of-life and palliative patients throughout my career. The skills I learned at the hospice will always stay with me and I will aim to pass these on to others to ensure end-of-life and palliative patients are given better care and treated as individuals when receiving care in a hospital setting.