Name: Sphiwe Thobejane
Position: Cluster Team Lead
Where are you working: Nkangala, Mpumalanga
Numbers of years been a nurse: 12yrs
How long have u worked for BRHC: 1year /4months
What inspires you to make a difference every day in the lives of your clients?
I guess I am passionate about seeing people flourish regardless of their circumstances. Touching a life and making a difference here and there gives me fulfillment. Working with people living with HIV has been an experience on its own , people feel that they are alone and with a little kindness and compassion you are able to save a live in a split second eg (physical track and tracing of clients who defaulted treatment in the community and linking them back to care , delivering art treatment to the community some clients are unable to access the health facility due to sickness, lack of money for transport or work, educating communities and increasing access to quality healthcare, reducing preventable illnesses in communities). My inspiration is in the next person I can help, because I know they will be saved to save another.
What is the most rewarding part of being a nurse?
It is incredibly rewarding to nature a patient through what can be the most difficult journey of their life. To help someone transition from sickness to wellness is a blessing.
What would you tell your younger self now that you are a professional nurse?
I would tell myself that it is going to be okay- that you know what you are doing more than you think , that a gentle nurses touch can go a long way and active listening can make any client feel like a person not just a patient
That your instinct is sometimes more powerful than anything you may have learned in a book , lecture or conference and you will grow as a nurse , it will become more natural , you will be confident in your nursing abilities one day. Seeking answers and furthering your education that is the beauty of nursing ,it can open many doors for you , if you let it.
