Karen Sumbillo, Charge Nurse (Leonora ward)
Q: Tell us about your background and role here.
A: I’m Karen and I’m a Charge Nurse on Leonora ward. I’ve spent my first three years here exploring the hallways of Jack Emerson Centre, mainly in the Ventilation Unit. Before that, I worked in the Philippines in a Medical-Surgical Unit and Covid Ward which gave me some foundational experience, though I was initially hesitant about ventilator management.
Q: Tell us what you love most about your role here.
The learning, absolutely because of the diversity of the patient group—their different cases, lived experiences, preferences and routines—the shifts are never dull. I learn something new every day. It could be medical management, new medications, turning and handling techniques from colleagues, or simply understanding a resident’s likes and dislikes to make future encounters easier. But if I’m being honest, what truly made me stay are the work relationships and camaraderie built with colleagues over the years.
“Whether it is a good, bad, demanding, fun or frustrating day, I do believe that the people you work with will always matter.”
Q: What makes the Ventilation Unit special?
A: The residents we support have complex; long-term ventilation needs but we don’t just manage their medical care, we help them experience life.
We’ve taken residents to the beach, to watch the views from the London Eye, to explore the history of Windsor Castle. That’s what truly amazing to me. It literally embodies the holistic approach that we as an institution aim to give.