Molly C.
About me
| Molly C. | |
| Health Sciences | |
| Mental Health Nursing | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Derwent | |
| 2019 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Mental Health Nurse | |
| TEWV | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Healthcare | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2019 |
More about Molly
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A day in the life of a Mental Health Nurse in the United Kingdom
Many aspects of the job can be challenging, such as the acuity of the ward, fast-paced nature of the job, or staffing shortages (as is consistent throughout the NHS), but the rewards from the job far outweigh these.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust provides mental healthcare and learning disability services to those living across County Durham and Darlington, Teesside and most of North Yorkshire. This includes inpatient, crisis, community, and specialist services.
What do you do?
I am a registered mental health nurse working on a female inpatient acute unit. We assess and treat those who require hospital admission, and work within a wide multidisciplinary team to do so. The ward is a fast paced environment and requires nursing staff to manage competing and conflicting priorities throughout each shift. Day-to-day, as a nurse on the ward, we administer medications and other treatments, carry out assessments, are involved in review processes, and deliver one-to-one interventions with our patients.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I had always been interested in working in mental health, and realised that mental health nursing would allow me to have the most patient contact. I have a previous degree in psychology with sociology which has allowed me to bring a different perspective to my job.
Throughout my training I tried to get involved in as much extracurricular activities as I could in order to enrich my experience and ensure that I was finding as many opportunities as I could to develop my skills as a nurse.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
This is exactly the job sector I expected to enter when I graduated.
Describe your most memorable day at work
My memorable days at work are whenever I've been told by a patient that I've made a difference to their care.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Many aspects of the job can be challenging, such as the acuity of the ward, fast-paced nature of the job, or staffing shortages (as is consistent throughout the NHS), but the rewards from the job far outweigh these.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
The environment I work in is incredibly robust and supportive, the team culture works more like a family and the staff embody the values of the trust.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
Throughout my time at university I worked on mental health wards in order to increase my experience. I got involved in as much as I could through Health Sciences as well, such as student interview days, involvement with curriculum development, and supporting other years in their education and training.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I am keen to continue developing and seize any training opportunities there are. I have an interest in mental and physical health comorbidities and would like to move further into bringing this into my job.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Be open-minded and patient; there are always various opportunities throughout your career but they may not always present themselves when you expect them to.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Happy to answer questions on any topics.
Next steps...
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