At a very young age my father was diagnosed with a long-term condition which would deteriorate over time, over the years the illness would make his life more difficult by becoming severely disabled and a wheelchair user. However, also made life for myself more difficult as I took on the role of a carer for him. Throughout his illness he spent months at a time in hospitals for treatment and I almost felt like the hospital was my second home. This resonates with me as growing up I never liked going to school and would rather have stayed home to look after him through the acute stages of the illness progressing. This reflected on my academic work in my last year of school due to only being predicted one GCSE. Fast forward – I did finish year 11 with all my GCSEs. However back to the point in question, throughout my father’s care and treatment by multidisciplinary teams, I just knew I wanted to aspire to a profession within the NHS. In 2010 at the age of 17 I joined the NHS as a domestic assistant, this was a role that I would go onto to enjoy and where I finally felt my purpose in making a difference to people.
Throughout my career I would go onto to experience various roles within the NHS which included clerical officer, healthcare support worker and admin officer. All of which embedded the foundations needed when working in a busy hospital environment. Within my healthcare support worker roles, I encountered negativity towards the nursing profession, and this discouraged me to apply for the nursing degree. In 2016 I was successful in gaining a secondment opportunity with the Leadership, Education and Development department, after 6 months the role was then made permanent. Within the role I was supported and funded by the Health Board to complete the CIPD level 5 human resource management course. The course sparked my further interest in leadership and made me realise the importance of effective leadership within any organisation and the processes which would need to be embedded to support authentic leadership. Within the course effective leadership was emphasised a lot, however to me it felt that this did not happen at ground floor level within the NHS (little did I know this thinking would change my mindset). However, while I was supported and valued within the team to develop for further career opportunities, there was a part of me which always felt something was missing and I did not feel complete in the role. The more time I spent in a non-patient facing role the more I realised I had forgotten my purpose in life which was to make a difference to people. I would sit at home and watch 24 hours in A&E and think “I wish I was doing that”, which sounds stupid, I know. Each year that passed was a year I regretted not applying to do a nursing degree. After completing the HR course, this pushed me to change my future career path and return to a healthcare support worker role, to then apply for the nursing degree as this is where I wished to make a difference in the profession and become a role model in providing holistic patient-centred care.
After gaining my place on the nursing degree there was an opportunity to apply for the Student Leadership Programme at Swansea University. I applied, filled with self-doubt, but I felt my life and work experiences would be a valuable part in succeeding in the programme. Through the first year of university, I lacked self-confidence and developed imposter syndrome on times. The programme is facilitated with leaders you would aspire to become and is an opportunity to develop skills and have a wider understanding of effective leadership within the NHS. The NHS is currently under immense pressures and challenges, and I think it is vital to have emotionally intelligent leaders to encourage and inspire colleagues. This enables the delivery of high-quality, safe care and creates positive working environments and relationships. The programme offers an opportunity to network with other aspiring students and enhanced my learning to develop my own leadership style which identified my own leadership strengths and limitations. The coaching scheme, which is part of the programme supported me in building on my own self-awareness and emotional intelligence, especially my self-confidence as I feel on times, I have undervalued my input and self, which is very easy to do. I was lucky to be coached by a person who I can wholeheartedly say puts life into the nursing profession. Also, had my path crossed with this person all those years ago, when I felt undecided there would be no doubt in my mind that I would have applied sooner.
Nursing is where I feel most passionate and, at every opportunity, I will promote the profession. One of the CNO (Chief Nursing Officer)’s priorities is to make nursing a career of choice for many more. I feel that throughout my training with colleagues and peers I lead and inspire others into the profession. I share my career experiences to encourage others and support in providing information about the different routes available to apply for the nursing degree. There is no wrong or right route into nursing, or time for that matter. My only advice would be not to listen to negativity and not to be discouraged. Most importantly follow your heart and not your head as I wished I had done years ago. I am currently in the last year of the 4-year part time course, and I have never felt so proud to have come this far. Trust me, it has been a journey and I am beyond excited for what the future may hold within the nursing profession for me.
Swansea University Student Leadership Academy 