Most patients want to stay at home for as long as possible throughout their illness, so it’s our job to support them and make sure they get what they need.
May 11, 2026
International Nurses Day: Meet Rosie, one of our Community Clinical Nurse Specialists
This International Nurses Day, we’re celebrating the incredible nurses across St Gemma’s Hospice who bring together compassion, expertise and innovation to support patients and families every day.
Hospice nursing is highly skilled, specialist work. Our nurses provide complex symptom management, emotional support, advanced clinical care and guidance for people living with life-limiting illnesses, both in the hospice and out in the community.
One of those nurses is Rosie, who has been part of our community team for 14 years. Alongside caring for patients across Leeds, Rosie has continued to develop her specialist knowledge through advanced training and qualifications, helping ensure patients receive the best possible care at home.
Here, Rosie shares more about her journey into nursing and what working in hospice care means to her.
“I knew I wanted to care for people”
“I decided I wanted to become a nurse when I was 16. My best friend’s mum died from cancer and, around the same time, I was also helping care for my dad.
Rosie
Community Nurse Specialist
“Those experiences had a huge impact on me and I felt a really strong sense that I wanted to care for people during stressful and difficult times in their lives.”
Rosie joined St Gemma’s Hospice 14 years ago as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the community team and says the role has allowed her to combine compassionate care with specialist clinical practice.
“Most patients want to stay at home for as long as possible throughout their illness, so it’s our job to support them and make sure they get what they need.
“Our community nursing team usually cares for around 250 patients at any one time. We work closely with colleagues across the city and within St Gemma’s to make sure patients and families feel supported.”
Developing specialist skills
Alongside her clinical role, Rosie has continued studying while working at the Hospice.
“During my time at St Gemma’s, I completed a Master’s in Advanced Practice in Nursing (Cancer Care) and also trained as a non-medical prescriber through a postgraduate course at university.
“I’ve even had the opportunity to work as a guest lecturer teaching nurses about non-medical prescribing, which I really enjoyed because I love sharing knowledge and helping others develop.”
Rosie says the support for professional development is one of the things she values most about working at St Gemma’s.
“St Gemma’s is an amazing place to work with a fantastic ethos. We genuinely are a patient-focused team and there’s a real commitment to learning and developing skills.”
Improving care for patients at home
Most recently, Rosie led a major project to introduce a new electronic prescribing system for the community nursing team, making St Gemma’s one of the only hospices in the region using this approach.
“The new system means we can prescribe medication for patients at home and send prescriptions directly to their nominated pharmacy straight away.
“It makes things much quicker and easier for patients and families, especially when someone is unwell and needs medication promptly.”
The system is now used across the community nursing and medical teams and is helping improve the experience of care for patients across Leeds.
“It’s a privilege to make a difference”
For Rosie, hospice nursing is about far more than clinical care alone.
“Having a serious illness affects every part of someone’s life. At St Gemma’s, we have the skill and the time to really get to know our patients and understand what’s important to them.
“It’s a privilege to support people and help them navigate such a difficult time in their lives. Knowing you can truly make a difference for patients and families is incredibly rewarding.”
This International Nurses Day, we want to say thank you to Rosie and all the nurses across St Gemma’s Hospice for the expertise, compassion and dedication they bring to patients and families every single day.