Working life: Tania Spelman, director of nursing at Carechoice Nursing Home, Malahide
I make the lunches before leaving for work. I am fortunate to have my husband and mum to look after breakfast and school/crèche drop offs.
First on the agenda is a visit to nursing stations on each of the three floors to check in with overnight staff and ensure residents had a comfortable night. I also like to check in on the residents. We have 165 beds, so this normally takes up the first hour.
I meet the senior nursing team and we review any residents that are unwell to ensure we have everything in place for them. We have a multi-disciplinary team to provide comprehensive expert care.
I join other staff members for a quick cuppa before meeting our activities leaders to review plans for the day.
Our ethos is to create a home away from home so we strive to provide engaging activities such as tailored exercise mornings, arts and crafts and baking. We also offer dog therapy — three therapy dogs visit our residents.
The plan for today is a trip to the Botanic Gardens, so I check that preparations include warm clothes and snacks for everyone.
I meet a family who have made the decision to put a loved one in care.
I always advise them to visit a number of times in advance of their relative moving in, to familiarise themselves with the environment.
I also advise them to bring their relative in to get them used to the home. It can be a very stressful time for families, so it’s important to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Weather permitting, I like to lunch in the gardens.
Most of the afternoon is spent consulting senior nursing staff on care plans, which are tailored to residents’ requirements.
If a resident has dementia, special attention is paid to their social and emotional needs. I also take time to respond to emails and queries from families.
Part of my role is centred around effective clinical governance, so I carry regular clinical audits.
I head home to Kildare where I catch up over dinner with my husband and my boys Patrick (18) Max (8) and Harry (2).
- Tania Spelman, director of nursing at Carechoice Nursing Home, Malahide
