Our project's lead nurses attended a special celebration service to commemorate the life of Florence Nightingale at St Paul's Cathedral, London on Tuesday 16 May.
The service is held annually to celebrate nursing and midwifery and to recognise the difference the healthcare profession makes every day to people's lives.
Joanna said: "The moving service gave a moment of reflection for our own personal journeys of nursing, those we trained with, those we have shared our nursing days with, and remembering why we chose to care for people."
Florence Nightingale was known as "The Lady with The Lamp" as she made her rounds at night caring for soldiers wounded in the Crimean War.
The burning lamp was carried through the cathedral followed by two rolls of honour.
The Covid-19 Pandemic Roll of Honour was introduced last year to remember the nurses, midwives, nursing associates and health care support workers who provided care during the global pandemic.
The Commonwealth Roll of Honour, introduced in 1965, commemorates nurses who lost their lives on active service in the Second World War and was compiled by the British Commonwealth Nurses’ War Memorial Fund.
Vicky said: "It was a great privilege to join the other nurses across the UK to stand together, especially in these times where nursing can feel challenging."
"We all felt incredible proud to be a nurse as we stood in the cathedral."
Vicky was selected to join the Florence Nightingale Foundation's Leadership Scholarship programme, (opens in a new tab) which she completed in 2021.
Emma, who's currently taking part in the programme said:
"Having access to a wide, national network of nurses is so valuable.
"It allows us to communicate, connect, share learning and ideas with other clinical teams and organisations across the UK.
"We're able to build relationships to deliver shared benefits and learning for Cambridge Children's Hospital that will help us to deliver the best care possible for children and young people in the East of England."
You can watch the service back or find out more about the Florence Nightingale Foundation here https://florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/ (opens in a new tab)