Working life: Cathy Shortt, clinical nurse

7.15am

The patient profile has changed dramatically in the 25 years since I started as a cystic fibrosis (CF) nurse at Cork University Hospital.

At the time, we had 76 CF patients, of whom just six were adults because life expectancy was poor. Now, we have 162, the oldest is 80, so there have been significant changes for the better.

8.30am

Together with my two colleagues, Claire and Mairead, we go through any problems that have arisen from the previous day and we plan our day ahead. We usually see all our in-patients between 8am-10am and assess their needs.

We operate a walk-in clinic so patients who are unwell contact us by phone and can come in for review on the day. One of us may spend the day doing home visits.

One of the good things about being in a university hospital is access to all the specialties, so if patients need to be referred, everything is on site.

9am

We run an adult out-patient clinic a couple of days a month and a lot of planning goes into organising it. We see patients from Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Kerry. We text them a day in advance giving them an allocated time so that they can avoid the risk of cross-infection.

11am

Part of our role is education and counselling. All our patients undergo annual assessment and we carry out about four such assessments each week. We advise them on the importance of compliance with therapy.

If someone has good lung function, we educate them on how to keep well for as long as possible. The physiotherapist assesses their chest clearance technique and the dietician assesses nutritional status.

1pm

Lunch.

2pm

Some partners of our CF adults request carrier testing. The risk to the general public of carrying a CF gene is one in 19. We give patients and partners information and advice about screening.

3pm

Counselling patients is a big part of my role, particularly pre-transplant, as this can be a very anxious time. We’ve had 19 transplants since I took up my position and the rate of transplant has been increasing.

4.30pm

I head home to take the dogs for a longer walk. I enjoy swimming and playing 45.

Cathy Shortt, the first CF nurse outside of Dublin, was recently given a long service award by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland for her outstanding contribution to CF care.

CFI’s 65 Roses Week runs until April 26. Visit www.cfireland.ie  for more information.