I started my nursing career as a student nurse in 1981 and qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1985. For a year after qualifying, I worked on night duty as a staff nurse on a surgical ward. I didn’t enjoy this initial role, as full-time night duty was very unsociable and I was pleased when a staff nurse position came up on the dermatology ward. They were struggling to fill this post as working on the 'skin ward' didn’t seem to be a very popular choice for most nurses. Nevertheless, I jumped at the chance as it was a job on day duty.
So, I ended up working within the field of dermatology purely by chance and not because it was a particular passion of mine. This being said, I soon grew to love it and I worked at Royal Stoke Hospital for seven years on the dermatology ward, followed by eight years within the dermatology outpatient department. In 2001, I was seconded into a project nurse role for two years, assisting in the development of a community dermatology service for Stoke and North Staffordshire. This was a joint venture between primary and secondary care, a successful project funded by the modernisation agency in London. I worked for Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Partnership Trust from 2001 to 2015, developing and delivering community dermatology services. "The management team are approachable, supportive and committed to the continued progression and development of their clinical team."
In 2015 HealthHarmonie took over the community dermatology service in Stoke and North Staffordshire and in being keen to remain within the field, I was transferred into their employment. I have a varied role as a clinical nurse specialist in dermatology and working for HealthHarmonie has allowed me to continue to provide quality dermatological care within the community. My role includes triage, audit and assisting in staff recruitment and staff training. I also help with clinical governance issues and carry out nurse-led clinics for minor skin surgery, phototherapy and cryotherapy. I provide leadership support and training to my nursing colleagues and in turn, I receive fantastic support from the management team at HealthHarmonie. The management team are approachable, supportive and committed to the continued progression and development of their clinical team. We are supported by a large team of patient care advisors, who work tirelessly in the office and out in clinic alongside the clinicians to help maintain high standards of care and ensure the greatest possible patient experience. Working for HealthHarmonie has presented me with lots of new challenges and I have met many new friends. I still thoroughly enjoy my role as a Dermatology Nurse Specialist and even after 32 years I hope to see out the rest of my career working with such a fabulous team. We're always on the lookout for like-minded people with a commitment to exceptional patient care to join our team. If you'd be interested in working with us, contact our recruitment team on 0121 454 7779 or visit our career page.