Precious story speaks for itself. She is a true nurse champion and an inspiration. She shared her experience and passion for nursing at our recent Celebration of Nursing Event. She shared her journey with the same passion as she demonstrates with her team and patients on a daily basis.
Precious My Story
My story is about my journey with Dorset HealthCare and how hard work and dedication can get you to the dream job. This is a story about my achievements, internal promotions and how I got there. I started my career as a Band 2 HCA and worked up to a Band 7 Ward sister at Alderney, what an achievement and what opportunities I was given to enable me to this!
I moved from Zimbabwe to the UK in 2002 to find work to support my 4 children in funding their schooling back home where education is not free. I arrived in the UK educated to an A-Level equivalent. I remember picturing the UK as chocolate box cottages, I moved to Boscombe in Bournemouth.
Initially, I worked nights and long days in a nursing home. Whilst on my breaks I would study for my UK Citizenship and driving tests.
I started work a full time job as a HCA on Jersey Ward at Alderney Hospital in 2004. During my days off I studied at Poole College on an Access to Nursing course. During this time I was working as many hours as feasible to financially support my family in Zimbabwe. I then applied to Bournemouth University to undertake a BSC Hons in nursing successfully qualifying with first class hons. I was supported by my amazing colleague Kat James, Senior Sister on Jersey during this process. Once qualified, in 2010, I moved to Guernsey Ward to work as a Sister. During this time I maintained a bank contract with Poole General Hospital to gain more skills and knowledge which would be useful in my role on Guernsey. I led the Ambulatory Clinic and worked shifts in A&E.
I then had “Coaching”, with my Locality Manager and identified skills that would make me a good manager. With the knowledge gained from this I was able to start presenting ideas to my line manager for improvement to the wards and partaking in other projects.
On 16/7/2018 I was interviewed for Band 7 Senior Sister Role, the most pivotal career moment of my life and got the job, I cried tears of joy, my team was delighted.
Some of my achievements include:
· Suggestion of making a hub involving the Therapy Teams for both wards allowing visibility for patients and relatives.
· Becoming involved in Trust bank interviews for community staff and supporting robust induction in an attempt to reduce agency spend.
· After a low period of losing some nurses who are origininally from Europeon countries after Brexit and staff leaving to work for other Trusts I approached my line manager with a proposal regarding non-EU nurses. I made a suggestion about bridging the staff banding gaps as I felt that this was a contributory factor in staff leaving – other Trusts offered higher banding/wages and more developmental opportunities. This has resulted in a pilot of a Development Programme for staff who hold a nursing Qualification outside of the EU, which is an achievement I am particularly proud of.
· I support teams and staff by empowering them.
My work was highlighted in “Good Stories” at the EOL conference where my speech went down a storm and was shared around the Trust via a video link. I am told this brought huge pride to my colleagues. I love my job because of the positive impact I can have on patients.
Link to video:
On a personal note I have supported my children through their schooling and some members of my family now live in the UK. There has also been an extension to my family with grandchildren arriving. I’m hoping they will work for the NHS !!
Comentarios