NIHR Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility based Research Nurse Jacqui Tahari recently had a short story, ‘The Missing Leech’ published in a new book: ‘Dear Nurse: True Stories of Strength, Kindness and Skill a love letter to nurses and midwives everywhere’ (with a foreword from Jo Whiley)!
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS and the nursing and midwifery professions as part of a new project between the RCN Foundation and the academic publisher Scholastic, the illustrated book (aimed at 8-year-olds and above) presents real-life stories and anecdotes from many voluntary contributors who have worked in a variety of roles and is aimed at inspiring children to take up a future in nursing.
Jacqui worked as a nurse at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in 1984, and started working in research when the NIHR Medicines for Children Network was established in 2007 for 3 years. Jacqui spent 3 years in Aberdeen as a pain nurse specialist, and then as a research nurse in Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge. Jacqui returned to Alder Hey in 2017 to continue her research nurse career.
Jacqui was keen to contribute her story to the publishers as she wanted to, “write something that would inspire children to consider a career in nursing”, and she feels, “proud to have left a legacy that family and friends and children can access in the future”.
Jacqui has received high praise from members of the Trust Board and says her “ambition now is to write more again in the future”.
The book was released in January 2023 and each book sale will result in a donation of 50p to the RCN Foundation, which exists to support nurses and midwives in their work through grants and bursaries. The book is available on Amazon.
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