Black History Month began on Saturday 1 October, and we’re delighted to kick-off the celebrations with two of our nurses, Evelyn Asiam, palliative care clinical nurse specialist, and geriatric nurse Rabi Sani Santos, named among the Rising Stars of 2022, London region. Rabi and Evelyn are pictured below (l-r) at the awards ceremony.

The Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) Rising Star awards recognise nurses and healthcare support workers from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who have made an outstanding contribution to patient care.

Rabi

Rabi first worked at our Trust as student midwife in 2009, before returning in 2015 and is now based in our Frail and Older Person’s Advice and Liaison Service.

She fled an abusive marriage in Nigeria to move to the UK in 2000 and despite this, founded her own charity, Rhabi Women Health Centre and Motherless Home, to support underprivileged women and children in Nigeria. She continues to return to Africa to run charity programmes, as well as working as a nurse at our Trust and being a single mother to her five children, including two she adopted to give them a better life.

She said: “It’s challenging but I find joy in being part of people’s lives and helping to give them a better future. I advise others to get involved in something that gives you joy, and it’s amazing how you make time to fit in it.

“I find comfort in nursing. People appreciate the time and effort you give to caring for them so it’s very fulfilling.”

Receiving this award has shown Rabi her hard work has not gone unnoticed, especially as she received several nominations.

She added: “It made me feel elated and very excited. At some points in my career as a black nurse I have felt in the minority and that it can be harder to get up the ladder. This award gives me recognition and shows that people are taking notice.

“With my charity work as well it can get overwhelming, so it’s nice to know my efforts have been recognised.”

Evelyn

Soon after she qualified as a nurse in 1993, Evelyn knew she wanted to work in palliative care, and be able to give more time to support dying patients and their families.

She joined our Trust in 2016, working with lung cancer patients, after almost 20 years working at St Francis Hospice. Her sister’s diagnosis with lung cancer inspired the move as she wanted to learn as much as possible to be able to support her.

Evelyn said: “I helped care for her from the day she was diagnosed until she died in 2018. Being a lung cancer nurse allowed me understand more so I could support her, and it made her feel reassured.

“It was a stressful time and it didn’t really hit me she was dying until the last two weeks when she came home from hospital. I did struggle with coming back to work afterwards and that’s why I decided to return to palliative care, rather than focusing solely on lung cancer.”

Evelyn, who as well as having a son of her own took on her sisters’ three children, joined our Palliative Care team in 2020, supporting lots of less experienced colleagues during the pandemic, something she believes contributed to her rising star nominations.

She added: “I was helping to reassure staff, especially those who were newly qualified. It was a scary time for everyone, including me.

“I was humbled and privileged to receive this award.

“My aim in life is to treat people with respect irrespective of their race, religion or any other factors. I’m proud of who I am and I don’t let it stop me from doing what I want to do.

“I don’t say; ‘I’m black so I can’t achieve this’, I say; ‘I want this so I will achieve it’. In our Trust, I don’t feel people look down on my or I don’t get opportunities because I’m black. I feel I’m respected as a person, rather than as a black person.”