Clinical Nurse Joshua Simmons-Bliss
“To me, integrity is about honesty and authenticity. When you’re authentic and when you are honest, you are identified as someone having integrity, and I’ve personally found that can be quite empowering.”
As he closes in on 8 years at QEII Hospital and a decade of nursing, Clinical Nurse and A/NUM (Acting Nurse Unit Manager) Ward 4A, Joshua Simmons-Bliss has a lot to be proud of.
Adding a secondment to A/NUM and QEII’s 2024 International Nurses Day (IND) Integrity Award to his catalogue, Joshua is flourishing at his home Ward 4A where he found his bliss last November.
“I joined 4A when it opened on 27 November 2023, and I’ve stayed here since,” he said.
“It was a good challenge to build up a strong culture for a brand new ward. We also had the luxury of being a new team with a new NUM, so we were able to set our own standard from day one. Now we’re looking forward to our one-year anniversary. It’s been a big 12 months.”
Behind Joshua’s shiny 10-year badge is a wealth of nursing experience and added value at a number of QEII units including 2A, 2B, 3B, ICU, NPDU and the Acute Pain Service.
Eight years on, Joshua plays an integral role in his substantive as 4A Clinical Nurse, where he thrives on advocating for the daily needs of his patients and his team.
“As someone in a leadership position, having integrity is empowering. I can effectively advocate for the needs of my unit and be heard because I’ve earned the respect of my team.”
Joshua says the team’s strong culture of communication has been key to their overall success through the highs and lows.
“What gets us through every challenge is communication. We have very clear communication amongst each other and with other stakeholders within the facility, clearly communicating what we need to do to safely look after our patients and effectively manage our workload.”
As the 4A team close in on their first Ward-versary, Joshua reflects fondly on the enduring support of his colleagues and friends at the unit.
“The best part of my day is seeing all the familiar faces of my colleagues. I’ve been a nurse for over 10 years now, and as much as I come to work for the patients, I also come to work for my colleagues. Some of them are very dear friends to me, and we love having a joke or debriefing, whether that’s in the office or in the carpark.
“I cannot overstate what a positive ward culture we have. Our NUM, Nick Delaney has been a very supportive manager of not just myself but the other nurses on this ward as well, and it's made a world of difference to me and my colleagues.”
Celebrated for his valuable contribution to enhancing patient care and processes at the unit with honesty and integrity, Joshua’s claim to the IND Integrity Award has sealed a reputation written over a decade.
“I was shocked to hear I’d won because I’ve never won a nursing award before. It’s nice to be recognised and I’m very appreciative,” Joshua said.
Congratulations Joshua, and thanks for all the fantastic work you do every day to support the QEII community.