Working Life: Public health nurse Susan McGarvey

Susan McGarvey, public health nurse, Arranmore, Co Donegal.

9.30am

You will find me of a morning on the pier at Burtonport for the 9.30am ferry to Arranmore.

I have a car on the island which I use to drive to the health centre where I work with resident GP Dr Kevin Quinn and Dr Victoria Bradley, who covers shifts.

10am

I see patients for the first hour. The role of a public health nurse is to look after people from cradle to grave, but the reality is most of the patients on Arranmore are elderly; almost half the population, which numbers around 500, is over the age of 65.

Part of my role is to support older people to remain healthy and well and in a position to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

10.30am

A home help comes to the centre looking for advice. I am usually the first port of call when an old person is struggling.

Occasionally, they need to go into long-term care, but that requires leaving the island, which they don’t want to do, as it’s unlikely they’ll ever return.

Sometimes it may be the only option if no family members are left on the island to care for them.

11am

I start out on house calls. It’s generally a planned service so I know where my day will take me.

This year, we’ve had three newborns on the island and I visit them once a week for the first six weeks to make sure mother and baby are both doing well.

I subsequently monitor baby’s development to make sure normal milestones are reached.

1pm

I return to the health centre for lunch.

1.30pm

Myself and the occupational therapist visit the home of a woman who has suffered a stroke.

She has family caring for her but we need to organise aids and appliances such as a bed, a hoist and a wheelchair, all off which have to come in from the mainland.

3pm

I visit an elderly gentleman to make sure he’s receiving his meals on wheels.

He’s taking part in a pilot project involving telecommunications company Three Ireland which is trialling home mobility sensors.

Multiple sensors on doors, kettles, water tanks, etc, are used to build a profile of the person’s normal daily routines over time and any break with that routine triggers an alert to family or friends.

4.30pm

I update patient records before heading for the ferry at 5.30pm. In my downtime, I like reading, walking, and attending and supporting the Donegal GAA.