‘I love connecting with people and wanted to do something that would make a difference, to contribute to the world. I also love getting to know lots of people from various backgrounds and hearing their stories.’

CHS team member Danniele Hunter recently received a Highly Commended at the ACT Public Service Awards of Excellence for Integrity. She’s a clinical nurse consultant (CNC) at Canberra Hospital and has looked after many patients at the end of their life and does so with compassion, connection and most of all, caring. This is abundantly evident in the lengths she went to to ensure a patient could ‘live his best death’.

‘‘We organised for a patient who was nearing the end of his life to return to his property for death. It sounds particularly grim but it is one of the most fulfilling and special moments in my career. Looking after many patients at the end of their life, it’s clear that as humans we look for connection and that sense of belonging when “the time" comes. Most of the time this means with loved ones, friends and family or organised religion but it can be found in many other ways, such as connection to land.

‘This patient would have had to go through end of life in the hospital setting in a strange town due to some complex care needs. He longed to be back on his farm with his dogs and although it seemed like a logistically tricky thing to organise, given the medical care/equipment he required at the time, it was so important to him and I would do almost anything to make sure people can live their best death.’

Despite the complicated logistics, which required coordination with other health providers and transport both in Canberra and the regional area where the patient was from, Danniele was able to get him back on the land he loved.

'I had the support of the CHS Palliative care team and we were lucky enough to find others just as passionate in NSW Health who jumped on board and supported him when he got home.’

‘He got there. We thought it may only be hours however he actually spent a few beautiful weeks on the land he loves, surrounded by his friends and his beloved dogs before he died.’

It’s not the first time Danniele has gone above and beyond to make sure patients have that human connection that’s so incredibly important.

‘One of the proudest moments for me in my career was when my colleague and I broke a patient out of hospital and took him to the Australian War Memorial for the Anzac Day Dawn Service (with permission of course).

‘The patient was a veteran of the Australian Army who had served in East Timor and always loved the Dawn Service. He had a terminal diagnosis with a very short prognosis and was unfortunately unable to go home in his final weeks of life due to some complex care needs. After clearing the plan with our Director of Nursing (DON) we contacted the War Memorial, who rolled out the red carpet for us. We had his family bring in his glad rags and we picked him up at 4am on ANZAC day morning for his last Dawn Service. I will never forget that day.’

If that wasn’t enough, Danniele, also nursed overseas in a volunteer capacity in parts of West Africa and Nepal.

'Each time those experiences refreshed my focus on human connection in nursing and highlighted how you can use creativity and think outside the box to deliver good healthcare.’

So, what’s this veteran of compassion’s advice for patients who’ve just been admitted?

‘Our staff are proverbial little ducks, they will be paddling along on the surface calmly having a chat and a laugh with you, going about their day completing their tasks. but you should know that under the water they are paddling furiously ensuring that you get what you need in a timely manner, that you are comfortable and that you are safe. Don’t let that calm little duck fool you.’

If you have a story you would like to share, get in touch.