Retired nurse living at Uvedale Hall shares advice for new carers

A former Stow Lodge Hospital nurse, now a resident at Uvedale Hall in Needham Market, has shared her reflections on a lifelong career in nursing- and the advice she believes is most important for anyone entering the profession today.

Christine, now a resident at Uvedale Hall Residential Care Home, looks back on a long and varied career in nursing that began in Bishop’s Stortford and went on to span many years across general nursing and midwifery.

She trained locally before starting work as a registered nurse at the town’s main hospital, later moving on to Stow Lodge where she spent much of her career. Over time, her dedication and experience led her to the role of Sister, a position she still speaks about with pride and one that former colleagues continue to remember fondly.

“Be gentle” – advice that has never left her

Ask Christine what matters most in nursing and her answer is immediate.

“Be gentle,” she says.

Not in the sense of being soft, but in the way care is delivered, calmly, steadily, and with reassurance, particularly when patients are frightened, in pain, or unsure of what is happening around them.

“It’s awful for the poor patients if you aren’t,” she reflects.

Compassion, always

Alongside gentleness, Christine places real emphasis on compassion. For her, good nursing has always meant treating people the way you would want to be treated yourself.

“You never know,” she says, “because one day it could be you in that seat.”

Now receiving care herself, those words carry even greater meaning. She speaks simply about kindness, saying that it is often the smallest actions that make the biggest difference.

A team effort

Christine is also clear that nursing has never been a solo job. She remembers the importance of teamwork on busy wards and the way colleagues relied on one another to get through demanding shifts.

“Be aware of your role and remember that it’s a team effort,” she says.

When she reflects on her time as Sister, she does not talk about authority, but about support, helping others grow in confidence and setting the tone through example rather than instruction.

Hard work, but worth it

She does not shy away from the realities of the job. Nursing, she says, is demanding work both physically and emotionally, and it is not for everyone.

But for those who can manage it, she believes it offers something deeply rewarding.

“You go home at the end of the day and feel like you’ve done a good job,” she says.

Looking back without regret

If she had her time again, Christine says she would still choose nursing. Without hesitation.

Her hope is that those entering the profession today do so with the same values she held throughout her career, patience, professionalism, and above all, kindness.

For her, nursing has never been about status or titles. It has always been about people.

“Be gentle, be compassionate, be patient, and remember the privilege of caring for others.”

Life today at Uvedale Hall

Now living at Uvedale Hall Residential Care Home, Christine is part of a close-knit community where residents are supported with dignity, respect, and individual attention in a warm and familiar setting.

Healthcare Homes Group provides care services across the South and East of England with a focus on ensuring residents are treated with the same kindness and respect they would expect for their own families.