A former A&E nurse who left her native Romania to become a care worker in Wales is in the running for one of the industry’s highest accolades – The Wales Care Awards.
Registered nurse Andreea Schiopu joined our care team at Mill View Care Home in Ystrad, Rhondda Cynon Taff, in 2011, working her way up to her current role of deputy manager.
She admitted her experiences on the hospital frontline in Romania had set her on a life-time journey of wanting to save and help people and colleagues say the 30-year-old is always “the first to arrive and the last to leave”.
The mum-of-one, who regularly works beyond her shift when clients are poorly and in need of hospitalisation, has now been announced as a finalist for Nurse of the Year, sponsored by Ontex UK, in the Wales Care Awards 2016.
The prestigious national awards, run by Care Forum Wales, acknowledge the hard work and exceptional performances of those in the care sector.
As a finalist, Andreea will now attend a glittering awards ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, October 21.
“I can’t believe it, I keep thinking I’m going to wake up,” said the nurse, who grew up in Baia Mare, Romania, and now lives in Clydach Vale.
“Being nominated was something but being shortlisted is amazing. My family back home and my daughter are very excited about it.
“You do certain things because that’s just your nature and you don’t think that you’re in anyway special. But it’s such a massive achievement for me.”
Andreea, who has a 10-year-old daughter, Rhianna, qualified as a nurse from the Colegiul Sanitar nursing college in Baia Mare, Romania, in 2007 and was recruited in the A&E department of a local district hospital.
The work was intense and Andreea gained a lot of experience treating serious trauma injuries in a high-pressurised environment.
Her decision to seek work in the UK was driven by a desire to offer a better future for her daughter and to enhance her skills.
“Having an A&E background, you are always trying to save everybody but sometimes you can’t and in the last two years I’ve come to understand how important it is not only to have a good life but to be at peace and let go sometimes,” she said.
Her current role involves nursing up to 40 elderly residents, some of whom suffer with dementia. The nursing home is owned by the Welsh private care home group, Silvercrest Care and offers a range of specialist care including epilepsy, hearing impairment, cancer care, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s care.
“I love everything about this job. The achievement and fulfilment you feel after being able to do something to help people is amazing. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Andreea.
“I think I was born to do this. Ever since I was a little girl, I was quite fascinated about accidents and if something happened I had to be there to help.
“I love my job. I’m really privileged to be in this position and I feel very passionate about working as a nurse and what it means for people.”
Colleagues say Andreea’s sensitivity and intuitive approach towards end of life care has helped to comfort and reassure many families at what is a very traumatic time.
“It’s not just about dishing out tablets and signing off paper work, there’s so much more to it,” said Andreea.
“When you go home after a hard day, you sometimes shed a tear because you can’t just switch your brain off but equally there are a lot of times when you get home and have a big smile on your face. We can definitely make a difference.
“You need to have an open mind and an open heart for this job and be willing to help others but also to take a step back, take a deep breath and feel what they’re feeling to be able to really offer help.
“I like being there and offering reassurance and being able to make things better for a family. When something like this happens, it does hit people quite hard and it’s good for us to be there to absorb the effects of that and help prepare people.”
Dr Bikram Choudhary, our Chief Executive said: “We are all so proud that Andreea has been shortlisted for this prestigious title. Her achievement raises the profile of the care home sector as an area where nurses can achieve professionally fulfilling and rewarding careers. We wish Andreaa every success in the finals.”
Andreea is planning to attend the awards ceremony with her partner Gareth Griffiths who she lives with.
“I’m very, very nervous. To be honest, I don’t know any words to describe how I feel about being nominated. I’ve never won anything before,” she said.
“I’ve grown so much since 2011. My current manager Kathy Gover has helped and supported me and if she hadn’t allowed me to spread my wings I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“We have a very strong team. Obviously there are different personalities and we like to challenge each other and bounce off each other but we bring out the best in one another. They’ve been very supportive and are a very positive team.”
Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.
“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.”
