Profile: Helen, Irish Cancer Society Night Nurse

Meet Helen, from Castlebar, Co Mayo. Helen is an Irish Cancer Society Night Nurse. A nurse for over forty years, Helen has been working for the Society for 4 years to provide care and support for cancer patients at the end of their lives in the comfort of their homes.

Like many of her Night Nurse peers, Helen considers it a privilege to be with the patient and their loved ones at such an emotion and private family time. Every family experience is different, but the feelings and emotions are always the same no matter what house she’s in.

“Dying becomes less fearful when surrounded by family and familiar things,” Helen said. And the patient often chats to the nurse about things they would not want to worry their loved ones about.

"I spent a few very special nights with a patient who had recently lost his wife. They had no family and he had limited extended family support. He was so happy to be able to die at home.”