Theresa Rowlstone: A remarkable career caring for the people of east Kent
For more than three decades, Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) Theresa Rowlstone dedicated her nursing career to caring for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across east Kent.
Theresa, who has recently moved from Whitstable to Herne Bay, qualified as a nurse from the Canterbury and Thanet School of Nursing in January 1987. Having initially considered a career in children’s physiotherapy or teaching, it was her mum, who was also a nurse, who encouraged her to choose nursing, a decision that shaped an extraordinary career.
Theresa joined Pilgrims Hospices as a staff nurse at Canterbury in March 1988, before taking time away to undertake a specialist cancer course at the Royal Marsden. She later worked as a senior staff nurse at Margate hospital before returning to Pilgrims in 1992 as ward sister at the newly opened Thanet hospice.
Over the years, Theresa has worked across all three Pilgrims sites, progressing from staff nurse and ward sister to senior nurse manager, a role she held at Thanet for 17 years. She also developed a strong interest in education, achieving a Master’s degree in 2009 before joining the education team in a clinical practice development role.
“I really enjoyed being part of the education and training team,” Theresa says. “It was exciting to be involved in developing people and helping them progress in their careers.”
Although she loved teaching, Theresa missed the direct connection with patients and their families. She returned to clinical care and went on to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, a role she has held for many years.
A career of change, learning and compassion
Throughout her career, Theresa has witnessed enormous changes in nursing, palliative care and the services provided by Pilgrims. Yet one thing has remained constant: her belief that patients must always be at the heart of everything we do.
“For me, it’s about keeping the patient at the centre of everything we do at Pilgrims,” she says. “It’s a privilege to be alongside families and helping them plan for what’s ahead for them.”
Theresa has also seen huge changes in the opportunities available to nurses and healthcare assistants:
“We now have four ACP and four trainee ACPs, allowing us to provide training and supervision for our successors in this development.”
“You can really have a great career here. There are opportunities to learn new skills to enhance your career. I find it all very exciting.”
For Theresa, one of the greatest lessons of a career in palliative care has been learning what really matters:
“This job teaches you what’s important; making the most of life, finding the things you love and pursuing them. It’s always taught me to live for the day.”
Ready for the next chapter
After more than 35 years with Pilgrims, Theresa says she now feels ready for retirement:
“I feel I’m ready and at peace with retiring. I’ve had a brilliant career.”
Having experienced arthritis and undergone a knee replacement, Theresa decided it was time to “bite the bullet” and embrace the next chapter.
She and her husband have recently moved to Herne Bay and are looking forward to more time together, holidays, trips to the cinema and swimming pool, and discovering the cafes along the coast:
“I think time will fill up pretty quickly,” Theresa laughs. “I might actually be busier in retirement than when I was working – but nicely busy!”
She is also looking forward to spending more time with her granddaughter and time supporting her parents.
Time for creativity and theatre
Retirement will give Theresa more time to enjoy her creative interests, particularly her love of amateur dramatics.
“I’m still involved with amateur dramatics. I’ve got plays that I’m arranging costumes for – up until Christmas ” she says.
She is looking forward to getting back to “treading the boards” and having a little more time to learn her lines.
She also hopes retirement will give her more time for crafts, including a local craft group she attends once a month:
“I want to have some time to focus on the things I love, like crafts.”
Theresa is also considering volunteering in the future, perhaps in a charity shop, although she is happy to take her time deciding what comes next:
“I’m definitely taking a few months out to decide what’s next and possibly still keep some involvement with Pilgrims Hospices.”
Theresa’s advice for the next generation
Theresa believes nursing and hospice care offer more opportunities than ever for those starting their careers.
“Seize the opportunities,” she says. “What’s exciting about Pilgrims is that nurses come together across the charity; there’s a career pathway for nurses and HCAs.”
A lasting legacy
For Theresa, being a nurse has become a fundamental part of who she is.
“Being a nurse and a palliative care nurse is part of my identity; I think initially retirement will feel a bit like a holiday.”
After such a long and rewarding career, Theresa leaves behind a wealth of experience, knowledge and memories, as well as the many people whose lives she has touched along the way.
A few words from Theresa’s colleagues
“Theresa has been such a key part of Pilgrims for so many years that it is hard to imagine the place without her; she has quite simply become part of the furniture!
“She is a truly compassionate and empathetic nurse who has always gone above and beyond, putting patients at the very heart of everything she does. I cannot begin to imagine the number of patients and families she has supported and cared for over the years, as well as the countless members of staff whose lives she has touched along the way.
“Theresa is always so positive and is quite simply a ray of sunshine. She has a wonderful ability to make people feel supported and valued, and I don’t think I have ever heard her say a cross word about anyone!
“She has also been a great source of support for staff, whether through her wellbeing sessions, the occasional Easter quiz or her Christmas decorations, which helped bring a little extra sparkle to Pilgrims each year.
“Theresa will be greatly missed by all of us. Her kindness, compassion, positivity and unwavering dedication have made a lasting difference to so many people.
“We wish her all the very best for her retirement and hope the years ahead are filled with happiness, laughter, relaxation and plenty of wonderful adventures. She absolutely deserves it!
“Enjoy your retirement, Theresa – you will be very much missed!”
Kate White, Senior Nurse Manager
“We are grateful for Theresa that she not only brought her dedicated care and compassion to her work at the hospice, but also her creativity and love for teaching.
“She has helped to shape the career pathways that are now available at Pilgrims Hospices, especially for our nursing colleagues. However, it is not only nurses, but also doctors and other colleagues of the wider clinical teams who have benefited from her clinical experience and wisdom, and Theresa will be missed by her colleagues just as much as by the patients and their families.
“On behalf of the executive team, I thank her wholeheartedly and wish her well in her retirement and many adventures to come.”
Dr Pia Amsler, Medical Director and Consultant
“Theresa is always upbeat and looking for the positive. She is incredibly supportive of staff, and has a constant stream of activities to keep people happy.
“Alongside that, she brings such a wealth of experience from all the years she has worked in this area. There is very little Theresa hasn’t come across before, and she is always able to offer sage advice.
“She has been an extremely committed member of the team, giving her all to the organisation. She now deserves an enjoyable and restful retirement, although I don’t suppose she’ll be resting very much!”
Andrew Thorns, Lead Consultant in Palliative Care
As Theresa begins her retirement, everyone at Pilgrims will be wishing her a very happy next chapter, with plenty of time for the people and things she loves, new adventures, crafts, theatre and, hopefully, plenty of opportunities to take a well-earned bow.
