Health worker who goes home happy every day
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“I go home happy every day knowing that I’ve made somebody’s life a little bit better,” says Paula Curran, a healthcare assistant (HCA), working in the Day Centre for Older Persons in Clonskeagh Hospital, Dublin.
Paula has been in her role for a number of years and clearly enjoys her work: “On average, on a weekly basis here, we would see between 75 to 80 clients — different people every day. Working as a healthcare assistant I love making people feel happy. I love being able to do things for them. We work very well as a team here in Clonskeagh.”
Explaining how the healthcare assistant is a key member of the team, Dr Nichola Boyle, consultant geriatrician at Clonskeagh Hospital, notes that the work of the healthcare assistant is important in the multidisciplinary care provided to older people attending the Day Centre.
“They complement the work that the nursing staff do in terms of the social and emotional support provided to the clients. They provide a link between the community and the centre for the clients. They also complement the rest of the services that are provided by other healthcare professionals.”
Outlining Paula’s daily routine, Eileen Kilkenny, clinical nurse manager, explains that Paula begins the day by going out to meet the clients. “She will link back in to us if there are any issues — she will tell us if there are any problems with their cognition, or if there’s an issue with a temperature reading. That means we can review the situation from there.”
Eileen stresses however, that for the clients’ families, the role of the HCA is very important. “It’s the same person calling to their loved one’s home every week and that is so reassuring for everyone.”
For Maureen Mullen, a client at the Day Centre, Paula’s role is a vital part of her daily routine: “I love it here — it’s somewhere to go and they are all very nice. Paula’s so good for doing our hair and our nails and she keeps us all going all day.”
Reflecting on her role, Paula points to the rewarding experience working as a healthcare assistant in Clonskeagh for 21 years.
“I had the privilege to work in Cairde Phadraig daycare in the last three years. I find my role as a healthcare assistant rewarding, especially to know that I make a difference in lives of our clients even from small things such as doing their hair and nails, organising activities e.g. birthdays, Christmas, Easter and St Patrick's Day etc. And most importantly, listening to their stories. It makes me feel good to hear from the clients how much fun they’ve had while in daycare.
"A lot of clients are living alone and daycare is a huge part of their lives. Knowing that they look forward for me to collect them every week makes me feel valued and appreciated. Working with a fantastic team makes my role as healthcare assistant so much easier. I always look forward to coming to work and feeling content going home knowing I made someone’s day.”
Paula encourages anyone to simply “go for it” who might be thinking of becoming a healthcare assistant. “I would really strongly advise them to pursue it. It’s just so good to interact with older people here. Older people need us and it’s such a rewarding job. I go home happy every day knowing that I’ve made somebody’s life a little bit better. So I would never change what I do and want to keep going for as long as I can.”
Acknowledging the great work done by Paula and the many other healthcare assistants across the country, Anne Marie Hoey, HSE chief people officer noted that “Healthcare assistants constitute 14% of Health Service workforce and work across many sectors.”
See careerhub.hse.ie for the latest jobs and opportunities at the HSE.
Applications for the Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Programme 2025/2026 are open now (closing 16 Jan 2025). The HSE is seeking nurses to consider a career in public health nursing. The programme will equip nurses with the necessary skills to progress their career in public health and make a difference in their local community.
Public health nurses provide many of the health or social care services found in the community, outside of hospitals. They provide care in the home, the clinic, local schools, as well as virtual tele-health channels.
Clodagh Brackett, a UCC student public health nurse based in Blackrock in Cork city, joined the Student Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Postgraduate Programme in September 2024. Clodagh gained experience of working in both the hospital environment and in the community while completing a Graduate Nurse Rotation Programme.
Clodagh said: “When I complete the public health nurse course I’m hoping to work in South Lee, close to where I grew up. There’s a great variety of work in the community and you get lots of support from colleagues who are always willing to help. I enjoy the autonomy in the job. You have your own caseload and there is continuity of care for the patients.”