Get to know Pauline Pritchard, our Admiral Nurse

Each of our teams hold a vital piece of the puzzle in making up Hospice Isle of Man. Here, we get to know Pauline Pritchard from our Forget Me Not Admiral Nurses Team a bit better!

What’s your role?
As a Band 6 Admiral Nurse, I help support the families and carers of people with dementia. I also work directly with the person living with dementia, offering reassurance and sometimes chatting about their thoughts and feelings about their condition. I am now entering my second year as a student counsellor, working with clients both through Hospice and within my role as an Admiral Nurse

How long have you been at Hospice?
I’ve been working at Hospice for 3 and a half years. And for around 18 months as an Admiral Nurse. My role as an Admiral Nurse has allowed me to dive deeper into providing both emotional and practical support, helping people navigate the challenges that come with dementia.

What does a day look like in your role?
A typical day is attending the community meeting or MDT with other professionals from hospice where we discuss complex cases and possible admissions to the inpatient unit from either hospital or the community setting.  After this, I check my emails and deal with any requests that have come in from carers which I may need to speak to GP’s, or other professionals.  I then visit the carers and patients on my caseload that I have planned.  This involves providing support to cover physical, social, psychological, practical, emotional, and financial needs, giving family’s interventions they can use at home.  I attend several groups such as Your Time Your place an 8-week carer group/dementia well-being group, Your Network, DECAF and creative arts.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Hospice?
It’s been incredibly meaningful to meet and support patients and their families during such a challenging and often emotional time in their lives. Being there for them as they navigate the complexities of dementia, offering guidance, reassurance, and a listening ear, has allowed me to form connections that are both personal and rewarding. I truly value the opportunity to help ease some of their burdens and provide them with the support they need to cope with the emotional and practical challenges they face.

Share a highlight story or a favourite memory from your time at Hospice.
One of my favourite memories is bringing a robocat to a person living with dementia who loved cats. The cat brought him so much comfort and joy and his carer shared with me that he passed away peacefully, holding the cat.