During International Nurses Week, there’s a common focus on recognising the role of nurses, the responsibility they carry, the decisions they make, and the impact they can have on people’s lives. Behind that are individual stories shaped over time by personal journeys, experiences, support, and the reasons someone chose to care in the first place. This is Registered Nurse Annapurna Thirmalreddy’s story at Hatherleigh Nursing Home.
From a young age, Annapurna was
told by her mother “Be brave, stand on your own feet, and learn all types of
work”. This advice stayed with her, and when the time came to choose a
career, nursing felt like the right path, offering both stability and a sense
of purpose.
Annapurna completed her General
Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) training in 2005 at St. Ann’s Nursing School in
India. With a hospital on site, she gained experience across different
departments, building the foundations of her practice early on. “They taught
me to be diligent and hardworking” she shared, and this is something she
has carried with her ever since.
This year for International
Nurses Week, the theme is “Empowered Nurses Save Lives”, we asked Annapurna
“What does feeling empowered in your role mean to you personally?”
She shared, “Feeling empowered
has given me the responsibility to care for, and sometimes even save the lives
of those in my care. It’s made me feel stronger and more confident in my
professional life.”
This sense of confidence has been
built over time, supported by the care community around her. Annapurna
describes Hatherleigh Nursing Home as somewhere she has been able to grow, both
personally and professionally. The Devon nursing home provides continuous
training for team members, offering opportunities to develop and progress in their
careers through their Evolve Care Academy.
“Hatherleigh Nursing Home
feels like my own home,” she said. “The whole leadership team, including
Tamsin, Ashley, Elena, and the QA team who are available day to day are
supportive and approachable. I am especially happy and proud to have Ashley as
our Home Manager. She is kind, compassionate, and understands everyone’s needs,
always offering support.”
However when Annapurna first
arrived in the UK, things felt uncertain. “I didn’t know anyone and was
struggling to find a place to live and a job for my husband,” she
explained. “There were days when I thought about going back to India, but
Ashley supported us through that time. She helped my husband find work as a care
assistant, and we were able to settle into a nice flat.”
Annapurna was supported to
complete her Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and gained her Nursing
and Midwifery Council registration (NMC pin), making her a registered nurse in
the UK.
Reflecting on that period, she
added, “Ashley has played a big part in helping me become the nurse I am
today.”
Her experience shows how
encouragement can shape not only a nurse’s confidence, but the care they give
to others. With the right support around her, Annapurna and her husband were
able to build a life in the UK, both now with their own careers and settled
into their own home.
Through her role at Hatherleigh
Nursing Home, she now supports family members (residents) each day through
clinical care, reassurance and advocacy, often acting as a calm and trusted
presence during difficult moments.
“Nurses are often the voices
for the people we support. We should treat them as though they were our own
family” she shared, “Kindness, compassion and empathy are at the heart
of nursing.”
We asked Annapurna what advice
she would give to somebody starting their nursing career today.
“Be ready to learn, learn from
your mistakes and just be happy”.
During this International Nurses
Week, Annapurna’s story is a reminder that when nurses feel supported and
empowered, that confidence reaches far beyond the individual themselves. It
shapes the care, reassurance and advocacy they provide to people and families
every single day.
If you would like to
learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, visit: https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/join-our-team/
