Josh Guiney, Genevieve Bale, Pauline Mccaul: Warrnambool palliative care nurses celebrated

They care for patients at some of their toughest times — meet the hospital workers being celebrated in Warrnambool for Palliative Care Week.

Palliative care nurses Pauline Mccaul, Genevieve Bale and Josh Guiney for Palliative Care Week 2022 South West Healthcare

The dedication and kindness of palliative care nurses in southwest Victoria is being recognised during Palliative Care Week.

From May 22 – 28 events will be held across the country to acknowledge and celebrate the commitment and dedication of all those working and volunteering in the palliative care sector.

The Warrnambool News spoke to South West Healthcare clinical nurse consultants about their dedication and what inspires them to do what they do.

And here are some worth celebrating:

Palliative care nurse Pauline Mccaul

PAULINE MCCAUL

South West Health Care clinical nurse consultant Pauline Mccaul has been a nurse for more than 23 years, spending 17 years working in palliative care.

Ms Mccaul decided to give nursing a go after graduating high school, and hasn't looked back since.

“In Year 12 I knew I needed to pick something, and it was either hairdressing or nursing, and basically I said I would give nursing a go, Ms Mccaul said.

“I knew there was lots of avenues and opportunities, it seemed like a good career, something you could take anywhere.”

Trying to make a difference in someone's life who is affected by illness – something that can be horrible and an uncomfortable situation for people is what pushes Ms Mccaul to work in palliative care.

“You can bring some attention and focus to a situation where lots of people feel uncomfortable and rightly so, and you can try and make a difference in people's lives who can be going through a one of their most horrible times, Ms Mccaul said.

“The life stories and the experiences that you learn and the strength that you get from your patients and your families and things like that, that’s something quite special.

“So as much as it is hard, you get things back as well — lots of life lessons.”

Palliative care nurse Josh Guiney

JOSH GUINEY

South West Health Care clinical nurse Josh Guiney travelled and worked in different jobs before leaping into a career in health in his late 20s.

Starting off in a graduate role in nursing on the hospital ward for 12 months, Josh has now worked in palliative care for almost six years.

“I was in my late 20s before I started studying, I‘d done different things and previous jobs, but travelled and always had health in the back of my mind, I think health was the only subject I enjoyed in year 12, Mr Guiney said.

“It was always in the back of my mind, and my older sister is a nurse too.”

Having awareness of important good community care programs that work closely with patients and families from home is what Mr Guiney believes palliative care week is all about.

“I enjoy meeting people and caring for these patients and their families and being involved,” Mr Guiney said.

“You’re more focused on how the patient is actually travelling and how you can make that their day that little bit better.

“Palliative Care Week brings awareness, and just the importance of having good value care programs in these communities.

“It gives the families and these patients options to be cared for at home in their own environment where they feel more comfortable, and especially with Covid in the last two years — it gives them an option where there is no visiting restrictions if somebody is going through end of life care, the community palliative care allows that to happen.”

Palliative care nurse Genevieve Bale.

GENEVIEVE BALE

South West Health Care clinical nurse consultant Genevieve Bale has been a nurse for more than 30 years, while having her own children along the way.

Inspired by her grandma who was a nurse, Ms Bale always knew nursing was a career she wanted to pursue.

“I just always wanted to do it, I don't know what it is but I knew that it was always nursing, Ms Bale said.

“(In palliative care) you’re using a lot of nursing skills, and it’s a very holistic approach.

“Working on a ward, you’re directed by the ward and the system, but with palliative care in the home, you can be really patient centred and let the families and the patients lead the care and take direction.”

From end of life care at home to call outs to patients struggling with a chronic disease, Ms Bale says everyday is different working in palliative care.

“Every day is pretty different, you have people that are actively having their end of life care at home, or you can have someone who’s struggling with symptoms of chronic disease and curable disease,” Ms Bale said.

“Then you can get called up by families that are having an issue or having a pain crisis or something like that — so every day is a bit different.”