Zoe is 23 years old, a paediatric nurse at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham and a member of the Lay Community of St Benedict. As a child, she witnessed her dad go through chemotherapy and watched her mum undertake all his basic nursing care. She saw what she wanted to be. She says, “All I remember is nurses doing good things. I remember being very little, praying, and promising to devote my life to nursing and to make an impact.” Whereas others may be stretched under the pressure of the role, Zoe is committed to finding time to listen and to see the real people in her care, so they feel valued. She takes on extra shifts, covering for colleagues with families at Christmas or other special occasions.
Zoe is committed to sharing her vocation, going into primary schools on careers days to talk about the importance of nursing.
Zoe Parker is from Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital