UHBW nurse celebrates 40 years as a ward sister

A Bristol nurse has celebrated 40 years in the same role as a ward sister at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), part of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW).

Chris Oram first qualified as a nurse in 1979, and worked at the Bristol General Hospital, before working her way up to the role of sister.

Chris, 67, was then transferred to the BRI, working in the Old Building, then King Edward VII building, before moving to the Queens building where she ran the stroke unit for 22 years.

The speciality of the ward changed to general medicine two years ago and is now based on ward A528. Chris has remained a ward sister since 1985 as the hospital, and the ward, has changed around her.

Chris said: “The role has changed hugely since I started. It used to be purely clinical and now we are more closely involved in the management side. But I still get to be on the ward, staying clinical is very important to me.”

Despite the changes over the past four decades from elderly care to stroke care and now to general medicine, Chris’s presence and support for patients and colleagues has remained steadfast.

She said: “Staff welfare is a big part of the job. Supporting people has always been an important part of the role, and that’s never changed.”

Colleagues held a surprise celebration for Chris, to celebrate her 40th anniversary with the Trust, after telling her she had a meeting to attend.

The staff café in the BRI was decorated with pictures from Chris’s 40 years on the wards as part of the celebration.

Chris said: “It was a complete surprise. I thought I was going to a meeting in one of the rooms next to the café, so I wasn’t suspicious at all.”

Another 40th anniversary party was also arranged for Chris, by a colleague, at Toto’s By The River, even getting in touch with her sister who made the trip over from Surrey to attend.

Angela Bezer, Director of Nursing for Medicine for UHBW, said: “For Chris to have completed 40 years as a ward sister and still be going with no hint of retirement is both inspirational and remarkable. Chris is kind and compassionate to both her patients and her team, who have shown real loyalty to her, some working with her for nearly 20 plus years.

“Chris maintains very high standards of care and this year her ward and team were awarded gold accreditation, an internal independent review of care and standards within the Trust. We are very lucky to have Chris working in the division of medicine and part of UHBW.”

During her time with the Trust Chris can recall hundreds of patient success stories as well as plenty of celebrations with colleagues.

“There have been so many good days. What keeps you going is the people. A lot has changed in nursing over the past 40 years, but caring for people never changes. Nursing is still a vocation.”