Carmela Arroyo is a band 5 nurse in the John Farman intensive care unit (JVF ICU). She joined CUH in November 2003 after moving to England from the Philippines. Here Carmela tells us more about her passion for nursing which has continued to grow over the 20 years she's worked at CUH.
My name is Carmela Arroyo and I am a band 5 senior nurse in the John Farman intensive care unit (JVF ICU) at Addenbrooke’s.
I’m originally from a small province in the Philippines where I did my nurse training. I qualified as a nurse at the University of St. La Salle in the Philippines before moving to England.
My cousin, who had already moved to the UK and worked at Addenbrooke's encouraged me to apply and move here. I finally took the huge step to brave life’s uncertainties and move to a new country and was hired by CUH in November 2003.
I started my CUH journey as a staff nurse in the gynae-oncology unit. I then transferred to the endoscopy unit in September 2008 and finally to the JVF ICU in April 2010 which is where I have been since.
Moving to the UK and joining CUH is the best decision I have ever made because of the fantastic team I am part of.
I love working at CUH because it is known to be one of the best teaching hospitals in the UK, even the world. It is well equipped with high-end technology and tools. I also love working for an organisation that promotes lifelong learning and encourages staff to grow their careers by providing courses and research. Staff are appreciated and recognised for their contributions to the hospital. They say it takes a village to raise a child and here in CUH it is no different.
It takes a community of ‘lovely people’ to strive hard to give our patients kind, safe and excellent care. We help each other grow professionally and personally.
A usual day for me can include assisting patients in their rehabilitation plan to wean them off a ventilator, working with other valuable members of the team (our excellent doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapist and speech and language therapists to name a few), involving patients’ families throughout the stay of their loved one and essentially making patients feel like themselves again even in the smallest way.
During my 'usual' day I also like making the best cup of 'california coffee‘ for my colleagues at work. My dad's family live in California and I always bring coffee to share at work. I definitely feel that coffee is a little cup of love that brings a day of happiness at work.
Amongst the million things I love and enjoy about work, it is seeing patients improve and recover from critical illness that makes my role as an ICU Nurse very fulfilling. Given the complexities of some of our patients it takes time for them to regain their strength. Interacting with families, especially keeping them informed, and seeing how grateful and happy they are with the care we provide has brought me so much happiness in the years I’ve worked for the Trust.
Addenbrooke’s is also a great place to work with a fantastic food court. My go to retailers are Costa and Marks and Spencer and I always bring coffee’s and treats to share with my colleagues, it’s become sort of my trademark in the ICU.
During my 20 years of nursing at CUH I am most proud of being a band 5 senior nurse especially in critical care and the fact that I am an advocate for excellent bedside nursing, setting an example for future generations of the nursing workforce. This profession brings humility and genuine compassion to our society.
I strive to treat all our patients like family, providing not only medical care but also emotional support and comfort throughout their journey.
From birth until death, nurses are there, serving as a constant advocate and voice - ensuring patients’ needs are met and their voices are heard in their health care decisions.
I’m also extremely proud to have been nominated for an award in excellence at the 2023 CUH Annual Awards.
My time as an ICU nurse during the COVID pandemic is something that will forever be with me, particularly because we all came together as a team. It was a difficult time for everybody, especially for overseas workers, like myself, whose families live a thousand miles away. The exhaustion and the anxiety it brought were another level. Nonetheless, despite the challenges COVID brought, the dedication and teamwork shown by the critical care team just proves that we can achieve anything if we work together. Nurses, physiotherapists and health care assistants from different wards, doctors from various fields, the military, the community – everyone came together to pull us through such a difficult time. I am proud and honoured to have been part of such an amazing team.
The most notable change during my 20 years at CUH has been the digitalisation of care. While initially it required significant adjustments and continues to be a learning process for everyone, I recognise that this is the future of health care.
I’m honoured to have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of this transformation, embracing technology to enhance how we care for our patients and improve outcomes.
Specifically in nursing, the most notable change I have seen has been the increase in autonomy nurses have gained in our roles. While nursing has always been a continuous learning process, the shift towards more collaborative care has been significant. We’ve moved away from traditional role of being ‘handmaidens’ to doctors to being valued members of the multi-disciplinary team, with our insights and expertise playing a crucial role in patients care decisions. This evolution empowers nurses to take on more responsibilities and contribute meaningfully to the health care system.