Annmarie joined the Irish Cancer Society four years ago answering the organisation’s recruitment drive for additional Night Nurses during Covid-19. “I found myself with more time during the pandemic and the Irish Cancer Society were actively seeking nurses for their Night Nursing team. They badly needed them and I decided to go for it.”

In her role as a Night Nurse, Annmarie is there to deliver end of life care for patients who want to spend their final days at home surrounded by loved ones. “We’re there to deliver end of life care, but also to support the patient and their family through a very difficult time. It is a very challenging job, but you get huge satisfaction from knowing that you are there to support and assist patients and their families at the most difficult time. Obviously, you are dealing with end of life and death and that is hard." 

Annmarie feels her and her colleagues make a huge difference in their roles. “Without a Night Nurse present, the outcome and how a patient spends their final days could be entirely different. For most families, they can only bring their loved one who is sick home with our support, so without us, they would have to say their final goodbye in a hospice or hospital setting.  The fact our service is completely free, and that our staff are qualified palliative care professionals is so important and offers great comfort to families.”

Asked what she will not stop doing for cancer patients and their families, Annmarie says “I won’t stop caring”.