It's difficult to describe a typical day at work because I specialise in dementia and
I work on an assessment ward so every day is different. Every patient has different needs,
some patients are more dependent so they need help washing and dressing, they need help
with dietary intake. We cover assessments every day, we're carrying out assessments,
we help with OT activities, so every day is different.
My main call of duties would probably be going on to the in-patient unit and offen to do assessments
for the recovery centre. I'll come here and I'll facilitate groups on anxiety, depression,
and do fitness groups. I'll do assessments on clients in the community and I'll carry
a small case load and look at supporting them and their families.
My mum is a nurse and when I was younger I used to go into the nursing homes where she
worked. I used to sit with the old age patients and I used to sit and do their nails and do
their hair. I was always inspired by my mum, so I always wanted to become a nurse.
I think when I was 17 and a half and leaving school I had the choice to go into psychiatric
nursing training or go to college to do print administration, and here I am, I chose psychiatric
nursing.
My mum, because my mum's a nurse and I always wanted to be like my mum, so my mum's an inspiration
to me. So yeah I'd say my mum.
My mum was a health care assistant and she had thought about how it would be good to
work in the field of psychiatry and helping people with mental health problems.
I always wanted to be a nurse and look after old people.
I saw an advert in the paper and that was it, I just went for it, and I haven't looked
back I think- some things are meant to be and it's been the job for me.
Obviously I went to school, got my GCSEs and I went on to do A Levels and I did Health
and Social Care. Then I moved to Jersey after my A Levels and I became a HCA. I did my NVQ
2 and then I had the opportunity to enroll in the open university and I did four years
training and became a registered mental health nurse.
You required five O Levels, equivalent to GCSE, in English and Arithmetic and that gained
you entry into then nursing program, a three year program, at nursing college for Nursing
and Midwifery.
Good communication skills, empathy, and understanding.
Attitude wise I think you have to be non-judgmental and empathetic. I think patience because everyone
is different, recovery is a personal thing, and there are no two people the same. It can
be a long process. Thirdly, I think in terms of the job you have to be very adaptable.
You could be a clinician, an administrator, a manager, a leader, a mentor, a family mediator,
there's so much.
It's very rewarding, my job. I love finishing a days work, going home and feeling fulfilled
knowing that I've made a difference to someone's life.
I've never seen myself working behind a desk or a practical person, I've always been a
people person, so it's the job for me. Just seeing people rebuilding their lives from
pains of mental health and getting work structures, family structures, back in place is very satisfying.
Every day is full of surprises working in this environment, and that's why it's so interesting
to work here.
I think I would mention the stigma here. Not when I first came in, I could see there was
stigma, but now many years down I'm really surprised that we haven't come further in
terms of peoples attitudes and beliefs of mental health.
When I'm out and about you get chatting to people and they ask you 'what do you do for
a living?', and you say 'I'm a mental health nurse', and they seem to go back in time,
they seem surprised 'oh my gosh'. I feel there is a big stigma and I don't think people
understand mental health nursing, it's completely changed from years and years and years ago.
Just this summer passing my degree. It's a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Practice,
so supported with the educational department.
I've had lots of highlights in my career but I'd say the major one is qualifying as a mental
health nurse.
I don't know if it's so much a negative but frustrating that you would have to evidence
base everything that you're doing in terms of finances to get the support and it's very
time consuming. But I suppose it's like any organisation and it's good business sense.
Unsociable hours, working bank holidays, I've worked in nursing for 12 years now, and I'd
say I've worked 9 Christmas Days, so you really have to take that into consideration when
you become a nurse that you have to. Sometimes you're supposed to finish at 8 o'clock and you don't always
finish on time because you've got paperwork.
My biggest challenge was working in the eating disorder team. Working with individuals with
eating disorders and the distress that it causes the family members. That was definitely the
most challenging, and I think overcoming it is just working with a close team and working
together.
Dealing with death. You're not only dealing with the death but you're dealing with loved
ones as well and you have to support the loved ones. It's quite hard because patients come
into the ward and you feel like a big family, so you feel like you've not only lost a loved
one but you feel for their relatives as well and it's quite hard to deal with.
I've worked in various areas and I think along the way certain people have guided me into
the job which has given me great experience but probably
I suppose teaching the recovery model each day and looking at general mental health and
health and wellbeing has led me to lead that sort of life as well. So I would say that
probably makes me a good healthy, mentally and physical healthy, all-rounded individual
I hope.
All the skills that I've learnt over the years through nursing I can use outside of work,
and help support my family and friends.
It's not really a job for that. I think we can get to the odd conference and things like
that, but they're good. But probably as far as the UK is as far it goes.
I don't get to travel but I do meet a lot of interesting people. I've met loads of interesting
people who have come through the ward and it's just nice to hear their stories of 'back
in the day' and 'in the war years'- that's probably my favourite subject when they talk
about the war years.
Some of the things that my kids would either do or say are very funny but there are lots
of things that make me smile- karate, fishing, football, kayaking, anything sporty! I'm generally
a happy person.
My job, I love my job. I'm really lucky to be in this profession.