Vicki Siberry is one of the Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) on Rocket Ward, the paediatric oncology outpatient ward, at the Children's Hospital for Wales. Vicki has been a nurse for more than two and a half decades, with nearly all of them spent in paediatric oncology.
'I qualified as a nurse in September 1999' Vicki said, speaking about the start of her career. 'I started in general paediatrics, which was based at Llandough Hospital at that point in time. Then in June 2001, I moved to oncology for what was meant to be a three-month rotation. 25 years, I'm still here. I like to say that it's been a very long rotation. But it was the best choice I could've made'
'Back when I did my training, you had the choice between three types of nursing; adult, mental health, or children. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was seven years old, so being a children's nurse seemed like the natural choice. Then when I came to oncology, I felt like it was a place I could make a real difference; you really get to know the kids and the families, It's not as fast paced as some other areas, so you have the time to be able to get to know them, and know that the care your providing is making a difference. I guess that's why I got into to nursing in the first place, I wanted to care for people.'
'It seems a little backwards, but we've got more patients now, and when they come in they seem to be sicker than they did back when I first started. But the survival rates are so much better now. They've done so much research, and so many trials on treatments, the outcomes are so much better than twenty years ago.'
'I hope it keeps improving' Vicki said, speaking about the future of paediatric oncology care. 'That there will be more treatments and survival rates get even better. There's so many types of cancer and there's only so much research that's being done, so you want to see more research into them. But I'm sure there will be more and more developments as we go on, and the quality and quantity of life will improve.'
'I remember one time; a patient came up to the clinic with a little tent to go over her bed,' Vicki said speaking about some memories that have stuck with her from her career. 'It was a big circle, so if she let it go it would roll, and she and I started playing with it, rolling it around, and we were running up and down the ward chasing it, just laughing, it just feels like the most natural thing to do, play and laugh with the kids.'
'I'll often have kids come up and say "Come on Vicki, let's have a race!" So yeah, my favourite part of the job is just getting to get down with the kids and chatting and laughing with them. That's the real reason I became a children's nurse, I love to play.'
'Like any job, it can be tough, but you have so much support from your co-workers here, it's a really amazing place to work. You get to meet so many fantastic families and kids. I have a motto; if I've made somebody smile, it's a good day, I've achieved.'
To all of the incredible paediatric oncology nurses at the Children's Hospital for Wales and around the world; thank you for your love, care, and dedication, it has a profound impact on so many lives every single day.