Events

'The Nurse' - RTE, starting Jan 12th 2012 @ 10:15pm

Thursday, 12 January 2012 - Thursday, 23 February 2012

The ICHN are pleased with their association with the production of this six part documentary. Details can be found on the facebook link below.

'The Nurse' is a gripping and intimate documentary series that follows the daily lives of six nurses, their patients and their communities. From Inishbofin Island to Inner City Dublin, Castleknock to Coolock, Cavan to Clare, these community nurses work at the frontline of the Health Service. The commitment and humanity they show is matched by the courage, resilience and good humour of their patients - this series is all about life, from cradle to grave: an honest and touching portrayal of real people and real struggles all across Ireland.

'The Nurse' is produced for RTÉ by GMarshTV, a company with an outstanding track record in observational documentaries such as 'Vets on Call', 'Living the Wildlife' and 'Seahorse Man'.

'The Nurse' begins on RTÉ1 in January 2012

The Nurses:

Mary Walsh has been The Nurse on Inishbofin for the past 4 years. When on the island, she is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: “The islanders are my patients and I’m The Nurse, and that’s just it. This is completely different to mainland nursing or hospital nursing: if there is an emergency here there is no hospital just around the corner. I’m on my own, relying on the boat or the helicopter to get my patients of the Island. They are my backup”.

Kathleen Gilheaney did her training in Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles. As a result, no wound will ever faze her. Kathleen has been the community Nurse in the border community of Swanlinbar in Cavan for 10 years: “Knocking on a door isn’t enough. If you don’t get a reply you still have to find out why. You see people as they really are, when they are at their most vulnerable. But we must always be aware that we are the visitor in the home and sometimes the only visitor they might have that day, or even that week”.

John Carew is one of the country’s few male nurses, and has to deal with people’s reactions to his chosen profession as well as a very heavy caseload. John is based in the leafy suburb of Castleknock in Dublin: “A large proportion of our job is support, and being an advocate for the people we care for. We are the link between the various agencies, social workers, GPs, Physios, Carers… without us, patients might not know how to access these services”.

Helen Coyne has been community nursing in Coolock for the past 10 years, and it was the only job she ever wanted to do: “I can honestly say in all the years I've been a nurse, I've always wanted to go to work in the morning. I love making a difference, and being able to make a difference”.

Also in Coolock is Kirsten Preisler, who has been a Public Health Nurse there for five years. A new mother herself, she is more than aware of the pressures of childcare and raising a family: “It's good to be able to relate to new mothers and say 'don't worry, it's normal'... I've been there as well, I've been through the sleepless nights”.

Sheila Clancy has been the public health nurse in the Clare resort of Kilkee for ten years. She can make up to 15 house-calls a day, seeing every aliment and every age: “As a Public Health Nurse, you're visiting a home, a family and the network that goes with all of that. You get a unique insight into the supports that keep a community together”.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000847674533&ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/The-Nurse-RT%C3%89/261688520543984