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Michael Owens, District Nurse Team Lead, Carlisle Network ICC
Michael has worked for NCIC since November 2006 and first became interested in the medical profession when he was a child.
He said: “When I was a child I had a number of operations before the age of seven, related to ENT issues. I had my tonsils removed, grommets in my ears and a mastoidectomy. “Spending all that time in hospital I became aware of what the nurses were doing and used to watch them closely. I was fascinated, and ever since then I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I began my training as soon as I left school after my A-Levels.”
Most of Michael’s career has been in district nursing, where he has worked since 2004.
He said: “I started in Liverpool in 2004 and moved to Cumbria in 2006. In 2014 I started my Community Specialist Practitioner training and was successful in getting a team lead post immediately after that, and have remained in that role to this day."
To be a nurse Michael thinks you have to be caring and compassionate.
He said: “You need to have a drive to deliver high-quality/evidence based care. We are advocates for patients and come in to their lives when they are at their most vulnerable.
“As the role of the district nurse is changing, it is important to have good problem-solving skills and to be able to think outside the box. You need to keep updated with new skills, as the level of care being provided in the community is so much more complex and challenging these days. I also think other really important qualities are resilience, calmness, an ability to embrace the changes we are facing and to lead by example, being a role model to other staff.”
The last year has been difficult for everyone in the nursing profession.
Michael said: “The last 12 months has been very difficult in district nursing. We first had to get used to wearing more PPE when delivering patient care and trying to maintain social distance from colleagues. Very quickly issues were resolved with laptops so that we could work more remotely.
“Although this was already being planned, it was rolled out much sooner because of the pandemic. We had to get used to different end of life pathways for patients that were unfamiliar. As community nurses, end of life care is part of our daily role, but when those patients are dying with something new like Covid-19, we had no idea how quickly patients would die, what symptoms they would experience and how we would manage those symptoms. So that caused a lot of anxiety for us.
“We had to be responsive to new types of demands, such as being able to swab entire care homes for Covid-19. We had staffing challenges due to nurses becoming ill with Covid-19, or having to isolate due to a household member becoming infected, so there was the issue of managing that, and ensuring the caseload was managed effectively.
“Trying to provide reassurance and information to staff was also difficult as nobody had any experience of working through a pandemic. We also introduced new ways of delivering patient care, such as teaching care home staff to administer insulin or teaching family members to deliver wound care in order to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.
“Throughout all of this, we were also anxious about the risks to our own health and that of our families.”
Describe a typical day….”As a team leader there is no typical day, because what I am doing depends very much on what is going on in my team or ICC. Some days I am more clinical, seeing patients in their own homes. Other days I may be attending meetings, undertaking appraisals or leading on interviews and recruitments. Some days I have to spend time in the office There are no two days the same in my role, which is why I really enjoy it.”
Clare Martindale, Eden ICC Team Leader
Clare Martindale had a part time job in a care home when she was a teenager and knew then that a career in care was for her.
She applied for a nursing course and completed this at UCLAN.
She said: “The first day of my student nurse placement in the District - I knew that District Nursing was for me.”
Clare joined the Trust in 2010 as a bank nurse. She said: “I took the bank Nurse approach as I lived in Lancashire but was relocating to Cumbria and wanted to get a feel for the area and Trust as an employer. I soon got a permanent post and haven’t looked back since. I work 30 hours in Eden ICC as a District Nursing Team Leader.”
To get to this position, Clare started out as a bank health care assistant on the wards to support her nursing studies.
She said: “Once I got my NMC registration I worked as a D grade nurse for two years on community in a very urban setting. I successfully applied for the Specialist Practitioner in District Nursing Course again, with UCLAN, and on completing this I got a band 6 Sisters post in Lancaster and began utilising my prescribing qualification and leadership skills and management abilities.
“This area covered an equal mix of rural and urban community nursing, both with different challenges. During my time in Lancaster and Morecambe I completed a Practice Tutor course allowing me to mentor and support those RGN staff completing the Specialist Practitioner in District Nursing course. Undertaking the mentorship of others is rewarding and allows me to maintain a good evidence base for change management and clinical knowledge to ensure safe and effective care.
“Once I relocated to Cumbria I took an Assistant Team Leads role and currently work as a District Nursing Team Leader in Eden ICC - a role which requires lots of juggling and one which I love.”
Clare believes you have to be “caring, compassionate and courageous” to be a nurse.
She said: “There are fundamental qualities which we all associate with the nursing role such as being caring and compassionate. To be these you also need to be courageous – to stand up and be the patient's advocate. You need to be good at communication to ensure the patient understands the care and treatment, to work as part of the MDT representing nursing.
“Nursing is a lifelong process – you need to be committed to learning to ensure you can drive forward standards. As a nurse you need to be able to balance the emotional connection of a patient’s situation with the professional position which a nursing title brings displaying empathy during all times.
“Being a District Nurse Team Leader throughout the pandemic has been an opportunity to cultivate hope for the patients on the caseload and staff I manage, while fostering a supportive team approach to nursing care delivery. The pandemic was a catalyst for change in our nursing team. We moved office space, we suddenly found ourselves wearing extra PPE, getting FIT tested, working agile and looking Covid-19 in the eye each day. I could mention it’s been tiring, anxiety provoking and an intense 12 months however in positively embracing the qualities of the nursing profession and being able to work in a collaborative and ambitious approach to care, it’s also been an extraordinary time to lead on change and deliver care to those patients in Eden.”
Clare believes International Nurses Day is a great way to celebrate the diverse role of nurses.
She said: “Sharing my story of becoming a District Nurse is a privilege and one I’m very proud of. Celebrating the nursing profession on the 12 May is about reflecting on our roles, supporting each other, inspiring others to want to become Nurses and value each other’s contribution to patient care and safety.
“I have always been a champion for my team, working hard to ensure team spirit and team work is central to the care we deliver. I am so proud of the nurses I work alongside and what we have collectively achieved in the last 12 months. So on International Nurses Day I want to take this opportunity to say I’m humbled and grateful to work with an amazing and awesome team of nurses you all play a vital role, Thank you!”
Describe a typical day….”Oh gosh. . . there is no typical day and that’s why I Love District Nursing. I can start by receiving a call from the admin hub advising a patient needs a stat dose for symptom management or need to plan how to allocate a patient with a blocked catheter who is miles away from the available RGN or community staff member. I need to ensure the staff have all logged in and accessed their work allocation. We have a daily huddle where patients, identified as ready for discharge are discussed, patient’s who have been admitted to an acute setting are identified and a handover plan established. At this meeting we would look at short and long term options of support for those identified patients – so working alongside the home care practitioner co-ordinator and Social workers. Following this there may be clinical visits then as a team we all try and regroup at lunch time. The role of a DN is to undertake care as part of a team but to work autonomously on their own delivering nursing care in a patient's home environment. So catching up with each other for a handover / update / debrief or clinical supervision is paramount. The role is very diverse and there are lots of juggling of responsibilities and occasionally conflicting demands. The mixture of clinical, managerial and leadership work is a lovely mixture of elements and allows me to be a nurse while also leading a team and supporting and developing others."
Helen Westwood, Bereavement Liaison Specialist Nurse
Helen Westwood is a Bereavement Liaison Specialist Nurse at NCIC and has been in the role for four years.
She said: “I worked for CPFT for eight years as a Bank Immunisation Nurse, a Public Health Staff Nurse and then a Health Visitor.
“As a midwife I developed a special interest in perinatal bereavement care when working with a mentor who was a bereavement midwife. Many years later when I became a health visitor, I implemented changes in health visiting practice with the aim of improving bereavement support in the community. When a colleague sent me the job advertisement for this role, I felt that I had to rise to the challenge and apply.”
Helen says to do a job like hers you need to have “empathy, compassion and excellent communication skills.”
She said: “Resilience and the ability to respond calmly to heightened emotions are also important. The management side of my role calls for the ability to think critically, work autonomously, and prioritise the workload which can change rapidly. Being able to work collaboratively with a number of teams is vitally important.”
A typical day sees Helen working closely with several teams including chaplaincy, mortuary, the medical examiner’s team, palliative care, HM Coroner’s Office, the Registration Service, funeral directors, social services, and others.
She said: “Every day is different. A lot of my work is office based and involves administrative tasks like responding to emails and telephone queries and attending meetings.
“I may be called to a ward to advise staff and families on practical issues following a death, such as death certification, registration and funeral arrangements. I may facilitate a bereavement meeting between medical/nursing staff and bereaved families when they have concerns or questions after a death. I may deliver a teaching session on end of life and bereavement care to health care assistants, nurses or doctors. I may meet with bereaved relatives who are struggling and signpost to appropriate services after assessing their needs.”
The last year has been a difficult one for everyone involved in nursing and so International Nurses Day 2021 has a special significance for those on the frontline.
Helen said: “This day is an opportunity to celebrate nursing and to consider the essential work that nurses do throughout the world.
“The pandemic has highlighted nursing in an unprecedented way, and this year’s theme of changes to and innovations is apt. Nursing, like many professions, has to constantly adapt in light of new practice and evidence, but the pandemic brought new and unexpected challenges every day. “
Alison Knox, Associate Director of Nursing for Emergency Care and Medicine Care Group
Alison Knox has joined the Trust as the new Associate Director of Nursing for Emergency Care and Medicine Care Group.
She said: “I qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1994. I worked as an emergency ambulance technician for a few years before I had my son. On my return to nursing I worked in Renal Dialysis at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary before I specialised in Infection Control.
“About ten years ago I took my first senior post as Head of Infection Control for Kent Community Health NHS FT. I stayed in that Trust for six years moving into Clinical Governance and Patient Safety/Quality Improvement before I left.
“My last role was Deputy Director of Quality and Assurance for Guy’s and ST Thomas NHS FT in London.”
Alison started job last month (APRIL) and says she has been made to feel very welcome by everyone she has met at NCIC so far.
She said: “I can see that teams are committed to doing the right thing for their patients and are regularly going the extra mile.
“I’ve been very busy, lots of MS Teams meetings but I am committed to being in the clinical environment to support staff regularly.”
Alison says she is “very proud” to be a nurse.
Speaking about International Nurses Day she said: “I love that we are taking a day to celebrate the profession that truly does touch every aspect of health care, a profession which has moved with the times and adapted to all the changes that modern technology has brought without losing our purpose – patient care.
“This year is extraordinary because nurses have done an amazing job over the last year. Many have been redeployed to areas they never dreamt of working in and again have adapted to this and advocated for their patients in a way that no other can.”
Linda Turner, Quality and Safety Matron for Community Services
Having a brother with learning disabilities inspired Linda Turner to
become a nurse.
She has now worked for the NHS in Cumbria for 16 years, prior to this she worked in Lancaster and Blackpool.
She said: “I came into Learning Disability Nursing as I had a brother with learning disabilities. I witnessed the challenges he faced each day but was inspired by the health professionals who cared for him and our family in the most creative way. From a very young age I knew nursing was what I wanted to do.”
Linda has worked in the NHS and Local Authority for 25 years and through her career as worked as Day Centre Officer, Employment Team Lead, Senior Community Learning Disability Nurse and Health Pathway Lead. I came into my current position of Quality & Safety Matron through a secondment opportunity and am still here and loving it two and a half years later.”
To be a nurse Linda believes you have to be “a kind and considerate listener and proactive, inclusive leader.”
She describes what the last year has been like working through the pandemic. “The last year has been challenging as it has for everyone in differing ways, Community working across a wide geographical footprint can be tricky, remote working however has enabled an unprecedented ability to link with multiple teams and individuals effectively and safely in one day as we work to ensure the services we provide are safe and high quality,” she said.
“Throughout the pandemic the roles and tasks I was required to complete were varied and changed frequently, this could be daunting but I feel the shared challenges myself and our teams faced brought about an even greater sense of team spirit. I’m lucky that I love my job and have the opportunity to work with so many incredible people.”
International Nurses Day has a special place in Linda’s heart. She said: “I believe nursing fulfils such an important and pivotal role in healthcare and I’m proud to be a Learning Disability Nurse working in a Quality & Safety role for the NHS. In Cumbria alone we have Learning Disability colleagues in posts such as University Lecturing, Specialist Epilepsy Nursing, Acute Hospital Liaison etc. International Nursing Day is a great opportunity for us to further raise the profile of this wonderful profession and the many exciting career opportunities open to the nurses of the future.”
Describe a typical day… “I wake early, coffee then complete some of my Masters work or preparation for the day, each day is very different and includes supporting teams with Governance related tasks, provide teaching, help teams identify areas for further development, I report to various committees to provide assurance we are delivering quality safe services and link with many different teams and organisations to ensure we share learning and plan creatively and collaboratively.
Jill Thursby, Urology nurse
Jill Thursby, Urology nurse tells us her experience of being redeployed to the Bereavement team
Jill said “During the Pandemic we were asked to offer support to the Bereavement team as they were overwhelmed and had some of their staff own isolating or working from home. I worked with the team for four weeks.
“One of the tasks I helped with was ensuring patient belongings were dealt with appropriately. There were large volumes of patient belongings that needed collected or disposed of but we needed to get permission or instruction from their relatives or next of kin.
“Death certificates had to be collected from wards, belongings to collect from the wards and taken to a storage area within the Bereavement services department.
We had to ring the relatives to arrange a convenient date and time to meet them and hand over items.
“I also worked a couple shifts on the wards which was initially was scary. We didn’t know what we would be asked to do, would we be any use or how we could help but we were also pleased to offer support. We have busy roles ourselves so it still allowed us to combine this help with supporting our own patient’s.
“We were given instructions and clear guidance on what was required and I adapted well to the situation. This really makes you realise the value of teamwork and supporting each other
“We all work with cancer patients so are used to dealing with patients and their families when receiving bad news and throughout their cancer journey. We act as key worker, always showing compassion, good communication, counselling skills and allowing time.
“Dealing with bereaved families or the next of kin is always sensitive but we had to appreciate the circumstances in which they had lost their relative. Being able to support another team during the pandemic gave a great sense of achievement.”
Jill Foster, Interim Chief Nurse
Jill joined NCIC in April as Interim Chief Nurse.
She brings with her a lot of experience having been a Chief Nurse for eight years – seve years in an integrated care organisation like NCIC and one year in an acute trust in the West Midlands, London and North Yorkshire.
She said: “My clinical background is in Intensive Care, Coronary Care and Medical High Dependency and Acute Medicine. In addition to my nursing registration I have a Master’s Degree in Advanced Nursing Practice, a Bachelor of Science degree in professional nursing practice and the English National Board (ENB) Higher Award.”
Jill has enjoyed her first six weeks in the job and says she has found staff “welcoming, very kind and committed to improving care for the people of Cumbria.”
She added: “What I enjoy most about being a Chief Nurse is supporting all colleagues and especially nurses to provide the very best care.”
For Jill, being a nurse is a privilege. She said: “Being a professional nurse means people in your care are able to trust you, to have knowledge and capability, to treatment them with kindness and respect and to give the greatest of care.
“International Nurses Day to me celebrates and recognises the achievement and contribution of nursing to public health services. In this most difficult of years the NHS and nurses have shown the country the value of excellent health care and what nursing means and what nurses can do – I am very proud to be a nurse and be part of the nursing family.”
Describe a typical day…! “So far there has been no typical day so it’s a good job I like variety!”
Doonie Vinod John
Our Indian nurses have been settling in well since they arrived in the UK and started working at NCIC.
Doonia Vinod John tells us about how they celebrate International Nurses Day in India.
She said: “We do celebrate Nurse’s day in India. We put on badges like 'our day' or 'proud to be a nurse' etc. We used to get some small encouragement gifts like a chocolate or cards. It was nice.
“The biggest difference between NCIC and India is that the whole healthcare works in a very different way. It is very good here. In India, a doctor looks after everything for one patient, but here there are a lot of people who come to see a patient.”