Working
across the city, both day and night, nursing assistants are essential to ensure
the trust continues to provide a high standard of community nursing
care.
Five
community nursing assistants took time out of their busy schedule to give us an
insight in to the role of a nursing assistant at LCH. Huge thanks to Julie,
Karen, Adele, Maggie and Janet for their time, here’s a few snippets from our
chat:
What made you want to
become a community nursing assistant?
Karen: “It was my friend that
is also a nursing assistant that encouraged me to consider becoming one. I
first started with a one month contract as an agency nursing assistant at
Meanwood Health Centre but I ended up working there for seven months, during
which I fell in love with the job. As soon as a permanent band 3 post came up,
I applied and was successful.”
What attracted you to join
LCH as a community nursing assistant?
Maggie: “As I don’t drive, this
was the first nursing assistant role I had seen where I could walk, rather than
being required to have a car to get around and see patients. I really enjoy
getting out and about in the community, I find it is much more relaxing than
being on a ward. Plus I feel empowered to make decisions yet know I have a
supportive team to contact should I need to.”
What do you enjoy about
being a community nursing assistant?
Karen: “I enjoy working with
some of our more challenging patients, especially when I can bring out their
sparkle and find a common interest to chat to them about and bring them out of
themselves.”
Adele: “I have been with the trust for four
years now and enjoy every aspect of my job. Daily, it offers me the chance to
meet new people, be challenged and take on responsibility.”
What would a typical day involved for
a community nursing assistant?
Janet: “I work on the day shift so the
first part of my day generally involves being in the community, providing
treatments such as doing leg dressings, taking pressure measurements, assisting
with bowel care, giving insulin and eye drops, etc. The nursing assistants and
myself then head back to base (there is 12 bases across the city) at lunchtime
to regroup, discuss patient care and get work schedules for the next day. After
this we will all head back out, either to a patients home, day centre or
residential home. No two patients are ever the same so my day is always
varied.”
What has been a highlight during your
time as a nursing assistant at LCH?
Adele: “In my previously role at a
residential home, I only did personal care but becoming a nursing assistant has
allowed me to learn more and offer the next level of healthcare to patients.
The training opportunities at LCH are really good.”
Janet: “One of my personal achievements is
getting my NVQ level 3, which I did through the trust.”
What would you say to someone thinking
of becoming a nursing assistant?
Julie: “Other members of my team and myself work
a lot with students, taking them out in the community with us, mentoring them.
For anyone thinking of a career in nursing, being a nursing assistant is a
great way to start and give people insight in to healthcare.”
Sarah Elwell, Communications Team
Well done ladies you are a credit to your organisation
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