Tell us a bit about your background and nursing career?
My career is a bit of a novel, I am 44 years old, as a mature applicant, I Qualified as a Adult Nurse via UWS Hamilton in 2017 with much of my training specific to acute sector, I was first posted with NHS Lanarkshire, Monklands Hospital, Gastro-enterology. After under a year of this post I complete some Staff Bank work via NHS Lanarkshire Prison Healthcare – I found my niche, I loved the autonomy, the patient interaction and review. I worked with NHS Lanarkshire prison healthcare for under 2 years via band 5. Following this, I was successful in application for Band 6, Senior Nurse Practitioner – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) Prison Healthcare.
I enjoyed 2 years withing NHS GGC, this was much in the shadow of Covid Pandemic; following de-restrictions, like many I felt a need to explore my profession. I joined a Nursing Agency and was able to spend the next 2 years supporting various Acute and Prison Healthcare Teams including NHS Lothian, NHS Perthshire & lets not forget my NHS Forth Valley (FV).
Via NHS FV, I provided support via HMPYOI Polmont and HMP Glenochil – this is where I found my belonging, amazing team’s and management. The model of healthcare was the best I had experienced, including delivery expectations. I was made extremely welcome, my ideology also welcomed – including my passion for patient and staff health and wellbeing.
Following my experiences I applied, and was succesfull for post of Band 7, Primary Care Team Leader, NHS FV. I am now just over 2 years in post, and continue to love every day.
So lets rewind…I began my nurse training in 2014, a big gap between leaving school in 1999 – where was I, well; I was pursuing a different kind of career, I had general jobs leaving school whilst attending college and completing various certificates in IT. Approx 2002 I was recruited by a worldwide organisation National Cash Registers (NCR). NCR manufactured and provided support for ATM units all over the world, my eventual title being; Remote Resolution Specialist, UK – an enjoyable role via a great organisation and team. Despite enjoying my role, I knew my personality and drive needed something different, through different life experiences I had encountered nursing and knew this was what I wanted to do – so here I am.
What does a typical day look like?
As a Prison Healthcare Primary Care Team Leader; my shifts are general 0800-1600hrs, monday to friday. Like many area’s we being our day with a Safety brief, detailing any pertenant events/issues/concerns. Following this and a brief via Nurse Leads, I would check in with our Primary Care Team. Each day can then be very different and involve a culmination of meetings via differing MDT members and wider partners including Scottish Prison Service, Social work etc. Our teams meet again Midday for handover, all staff attend and discuss the days events and concerns or ongoing matters. During the day it will be likely I will directly support our team, this may be via clinical requirement, clinical supervision, absence management, training&progression and PCT meetings. I provide oversight to many of the day to day running’s of our health centre, this can include providing direction/support to Dental, Podiatry, Opticians, GP&ANP teams. Furthermore, we continually work on bettering the Health and Wellbeing of our patients and staff via events and general day to day activities, much of this agreed with our own staff, but also SPS partners.
What makes you smile?
Seeing others smile, my tag-line to staff; ‘for me to smile, I need you to smile’.
How would your colleagues describe you in three words?
Approachable, Supportive, Funny.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
‘You be you’.
Tell us one thing your colleagues might not know about you?
I’m an avid car enthusiast.
Describe a perfect weekend
Spending time with Family and close friends, an IPA beer (or 2), a nice walk, and nice food – I make a mean chicken bhoona.
What keeps you awake at night?
My wife insisting on leaving ‘Still game’ on repeat via netflix….although I’m getting used to it!
Dream holiday?
Honestly, pitching my 5 metre bell tent up next to any Scottish Loch, the feeling of off-grid, cooking fresh food with the odd float about in my kayak; with the family off-course.
Secret ambition?
Erm, I always wanted to own and run a cafe, in a ‘wee’ town, with the same locals coming in every day, chatting away about their life – it would never work, I would eat all the cakes!
