“I am the lead nurse for the critical care outreach team. I have a role which combines leading the teams across site and also teaching ward staff about managing care for patients whose health is rapidly deteriorating. The critical care outreach team are a group of specialist nurses who support ward staff to care for patients who become critically unwell.

“I have worked in the NHS for 16 years since qualifying as a nurse at Sheffield and have worked at York Hospital for six years, coming here to teach staff about how to recognise and care for deteriorating patients.

“After working in five different trusts, I’ve gained a broad range of skills and experience which I have been able to share. 

“My skills have come in handy in other environments too as I was a nursing officer in the Army Reserves for 14 years.  I did two operational tours of Afghanistan in 2007 and 2010, the second tour in charge of the intensive care unit. Had I not worked on a liver transplant ICU earlier in my career, I would not have had the experience to deal with the instability of patients over there. That experience also gives me a different perspective to apply to my NHS job.  I know what busy really means.

“I always wanted to be nurse. It runs in the family, my grandmother, great aunt and cousin were nurses. One of my younger cousins has subsequently followed in my footsteps.

“Teaching is the part of my job I like best – this is a way for me to share my skills. You really see the results when you work with nurses and doctors that you’ve taught, seeing their confidence and skills improve which of course improves the patients experience and quality of care. It’s all about getting it right for the patient.

“Recording observations electronically has revolutionised how we can review and manage deteriorating patients as it means we can remotely see what’s going on and act on changes. This has had a huge impact improving the care of patients who become critically ill.

“The NHS is a fantastic institution with many opportunities for those who choose to work in it.  I’ve been lucky to move around and gather all sorts of experience and within nursing it possible to reinvent your career if you fancy a change.”