Perioperative Practice
Celebrating experience and lifelong learning
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.
A career built on passion and commitment 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.”
Her experience highlights why older
practitioners are invaluable. With age comes perspective: the ability to understand systems, navigate challenges patiently, and mentor colleagues effectively. “When you are older, you bring experience. It’s not so much about wanting to change
Will Windsor & Kim Stephens
the system but learning to work within it. You develop acceptance that meaningful change takes time, and you can help others navigate challenges with patience and insight.”
Leadership rooted in kindness and fairness Kim’s leadership philosophy is simple but profound: “Treat people the way you want to be
When you are older, you bring experience. It’s not so much about wanting to change the system but learning to work within it. You develop acceptance that meaningful change takes time, and you can help others navigate challenges with patience and insight
treated. Show kindness and fairness. Take the time to listen; it’s the most important thing.” She believes that fostering a positive team
culture is critical to both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes. This was evident when her team recently completed a staff retention and wellbeing survey, addressing concerns about work-life balance, cost-of-living pressures, and workplace stress. “It’s important to listen to people and help them balance work and life. A happy, supported team delivers better patient care, and that’s our ultimate goal.” Kim also emphasises mentoring across all
career stages. Age, she says, is never a barrier to development. She became a matron in her late 50s and encourages older practitioners to trust their abilities: “Don’t doubt yourself; you have a lot of experience to give.”
A career highlight: shaping new theatres One of Kim’s proudest career moments came during the multi-million-pound new-build of a three-orthopaedic-theatre complex at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, undertaken with Swansea Bay University Health Board. “This project was a real highlight for me.
The board genuinely listened to the nursing team throughout, and it was amazing to see our experience and ideas shape the new theatres. Being involved gave me a sense of real contribution and achievement.” For Kim, this experience not only showcased
the value of her expertise but also reinforced how older practitioners can make a lasting impact on healthcare facilities and patient care. Practitioners like Kim bring stability,
mentorship, and practical knowledge, helping maintain standards in complex healthcare environments. “Teams are becoming diluted in some areas. It’s important that standards are retained, and often it’s the small standards that matter most; attention to detail, consistency, and patient safety.”
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