Department visited by former student
Posted on 27 June 2018
Charlotte qualified as a children's nurse in 2015 and her first job was as a staff nurse within Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust where she was working on two day units and an inpatient ward, with a six month rotation to a neonatal unit. In October 2017, Charlotte applied for promotion as a band 6 Infection Prevention and Control nurse and was successful with her application.
Charlotte said: “I was unsure whether to apply for the promotion since they were looking for someone with a little more experience than me, but the job really interested me. Just after I had put my application in, I went to see Flashdance on stage with my Mum. There is a line in the play which is “it’s better to leap and fall, than to never leap at all”. I remember thinking how true this was and I was very glad I applied and what will be will be. I was really excited when I found out I had got the job.”
The role involves educating and supporting all staff, including porters, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists and doctors, as well as patients and the public to play an important role in keeping patients safe. Since starting I have organised an event to mark global hand hygiene day and given staff mandatory training on hand hygiene.
Charlotte went on to say: “studying nursing at York prepared me to fulfil my role as a children’s nurse and gave me the confidence to branch out into other areas that interested me. Moving away from home to York was a big step but I soon settled into University life and got to know my way around the campus and the city. The support from the University, the Department and my peers gave me the confidence to grow and develop as a person while I was studying. “
Child branch lead, Claire Metcalfe said: “Charlotte’s promotion so early on in her career shows that we are providing students with the skills and qualities needed to become successful practitioners in today’s demanding healthcare environment.”