'She really made a difference!' | Meet October's Health Hero

Ciara Power, a Staff Nurse in the Emergency Unit at the University Hospital of Wales has been named October’s Health Hero in recognition of the attention and kindness she showed to a young patient during a difficult time.  

Ciara qualified as a nurse in January and has been working in the Emergency Unit since. Originally from Dublin, Ciara moved to Cardiff in 2022 to complete her nursing training, having worked as a Health Care Support Worker for five years in her hometown. 

Working in the Emergency Unit was a long-held ambition. “I'd always wanted to work there,” she said. “I enjoyed my management placement there, which really confirmed it for me. I just like the busy environment. It's different to being on wards. It can feel chaotic, but I enjoy it. The team are really nice as well, and that makes such a difference when you're working in that kind of environment.” 

Ciara was nominated by a patient who attended the Emergency Unit and spent time in the Clinical Decisions Unit, following a mental health crisis.  

The patient wrote, “Ciara was on shift that day. Despite being extremely busy as nurses are, Ciara continued to check in on me throughout her shift and even came and sat with me at one point when I started to get a bit anxious and upset. I’m a university student, who’s independent and lives hours away from home and was in the hospital by myself after having a mental health crisis.  

“Ciara made me feel like I wasn’t a burden and checked in when possible. she even checked up on me when she noticed I had started to dissociate and came and helped me and held my hand.  

“All of the nurses at UHW A & E are amazing but Ciara really stood out to me and really made a difference for me whilst having such a difficult time. I think all the time about how lovely she was even when I was begging her to let me leave due to not wanting to be there and her words of encouragement. She really made a difference!” 

Reflecting on the nomination, Ciara said: “I'm really delighted. I couldn’t believe it. It’s nice, especially in A&E where we have a high patient turnover, compared to when you're on a ward. It is encouraging to know that even in a small time you can make a difference to someone's outcomes. 

“She was a student away from home, which I could relate to because I have no family over here either. For a young adult, the Emergency Unit can be quite overwhelming. It really could be anyone in that situation. 

Health Hero is sponsored by Park Plaza Cardiff. As October's Health Hero, Ciara will receive a traditional afternoon tea for two.