In an interview with AfPP’s Susan Preston, Kim Stephens, the Theatre Matron at Singleton Hospital in Sketty, Wales, shared how age and experience can enhance leadership and impact across perioperative services.
Older practitioners play a vital role in healthcare, bringing experience, perspective, and resilience that enrich teams, mentor younger colleagues, and ensure high standards of patient care. Kim Stephens, 61, could have retired at 55, but chose to remain working, and says she hopes to be working until at least 67. She now works three days a week and loves her role.
Kim's journey began as a student nurse, drawn to theatre work from the start. She qualified in June 1986 and has remained in theatres ever since, always working for the Swansea Bay University Health Board, at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, and now at Singleton Hospital. She began as a scrub nurse and has progressed through the ranks. Next year, she will celebrate 40 years in nursing, a milestone reflecting both longevity and unwavering dedication to patient care. Throughout her career, Kim has embraced change and continuous learning.
Kim says: "Healthcare is constantly evolving. There is always something new to learn, and that's what keeps it exciting. Every day is different, and you're always facing new challenges."
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