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19th June 2025
Meet Rachel Maria Wright – Clinical Nurse Manager 2, Heart Centre Day Unit
Rachel Maria Wright is the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 in the Heart Centre Day Unit at Mater Private Network in Dublin, where she has worked since 2022. Rachel began her nursing career after completing a degree in Adult Nursing at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent in 2009. Upon qualifying, she joined Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, working on a cardiovascular ward. Over the course of nine years, she progressed into a senior nurse position and later became a deputy ward manager. After 14 years in the UK, Rachel returned to Ireland and took up her current role at Mater Private Network, bringing with her a wealth of clinical experience and leadership.
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Can you describe your role as a Clinical Nurse Manager 2? What does a typical day look like?
As Clinical Nurse Manager 2, I am responsible for leading and coordinating the nursing team within the Heart Centre Day Unit to ensure the highest standard of patient care is consistently delivered. My day begins by reviewing the procedural lists for the cath lab. Managing the throughput of patients is a critical component of my role. This often involves accommodating sudden changes to scheduling due to clinical priorities or unforeseen circumstances.
I continuously liaise with departments such as anaesthetics, theatre, diagnostic imaging, and phlebotomy to guarantee the smooth progression of the patient pathway. I oversee both pre- and post-procedural care, ensuring each patient receives a thorough assessment and that any clinical needs are met before discharge.
Leadership is central to my position. I provide guidance, support, and clinical expertise to colleagues across the unit, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment. I also ensure our practices align with hospital protocols, clinical guidelines, and our mission statement.
Through patient education on post-procedure care, medication use, lifestyle considerations, and available community resources, we enable them to become active participants in their health and recovery.
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What are the different ways people can take better care of their cardiovascular health?
Cardiovascular health can be influenced by both lifestyle and hereditary factors. While we cannot change our genetic predisposition, we can make choices that reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular disease. These include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats, while reducing intake of salt, sugar, and saturated fats
- Quitting smoking and avoiding exposure to second-hand smoke
- Limiting alcohol consumption and consuming alcohol within the recommended limits
- Managing stress
- Staying physically active, as the heart is a muscle that benefits greatly from regular exercise
Proactive management of lifestyle factors can significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, even in individuals with a family history of heart disease.
What do you enjoy the most about your role?
Within the Heart Centre Day Unit, each day brings something new. No two days are ever the same, and I meet a diverse group of patients undergoing a wide range of cardiac procedures. The opportunity to deliver tailored, individualised care alongside a committed and highly skilled team is immensely rewarding. There is a strong sense of collaboration between the Heart Centre Day Unit and the cath lab, and we work together to uphold the highest standard of care. Knowing that we are making a meaningful difference to patients’ lives each day is what I enjoy the most about my role.
