As part of International Nurses Day, we want to look a bit closer at what exactly makes a nurse a nurse and we think we’ve found the perfect person to illustrate that.
We all have a very definite idea of what a Nurse looks like, whether it’s the uniform, the belt buckle, the old ‘Carry On Matron’ style hats but that’s all changing. We spoke with 111 Clinical Performance Manager Sarah Booker who qualified as a Nurse in March 2005. She wears a headset instead of a buckle but is, in every sense of the word, a Nurse.
“The irony is I wanted to become a Veterinary Nurse but didn’t get passed the interview stage for qualifying,” said Sarah. “My Aunt was a ward Sister, my Nana worked in Theatres at Queen’s Medical Centre and another Aunt worked at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield and they suggested I go into healthcare. It turns out I’m much better with people than I was with animals!
“I was a Healthcare Assistant for three years at Ward 31 in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and fell in love with the profession. When the opportunity came for me to train in 2002 I took it and went straight back to the same ward, a Trauma Orthopaedic ward, as a Nurse and I was so proud. I worked there for ten years before becoming a Sister on a ward caring for elderly patients before taking on the role of Matron at the Rehab and Older Person’s Unit.
“I then moved into leadership, successfully applying for a Clinical Leadership Fellow secondment and worked on my PG Cert as a Leadership Healthcare Professional. It was run by Health Education England and gave me an incredible insight into senior leadership skills that I was able to apply to my nursing.”
Sarah then joined the Organisational Development team at the Royal Derby Hospital before moving to DHU as a Clinical Advisor. After working in a clinical setting for so long, this was a major career decision and led to uncertainty about losing her nursing identity.
“I was concerned that by moving into a remote role where I didn’t deliver hands on care, I would lose my identity but I really didn’t. It taught me a lot about what nursing is and that it isn’t about uniforms, belt buckles or being on a ward. It’s about making a difference, providing compassionate care and giving your patient your undivided attention.
“Healthcare is changing and one thing that Covid has taught us is that clinical triage and being available to speak to a patient over the phone quickly, see them in their own home or refer them to the most appropriate service is critical to providing the right treatment. All of our Health Advisors, Nursing Advisors, Community Nurses and Practice Nurses do an equally hard job and we do it because we care, because we believe wholeheartedly in giving patients the best possible care and nursing them back to health.
 |
 |
 |
“During the pandemic I didn’t expect to feel how I felt but I learned that by giving my best and, as a leader, encouraging my team to do the same; that our passion will result in better care for the patient. That‘s no different to nursing in a hospital setting and by striving to improve my leadership skills, I’m able to share the belief and emotion I have about being a Nurse to my colleagues. That gives them the strength to do the same.
“For me that is what nursing is. I’ve been in healthcare my entire life and nursing is in me, a part of me that will never leave. I am still able to work clinically as a Bank Nurse when needed but I get the same level of fulfilment speaking to patients over the phone and leading my team to provide high quality care and advice than I do in a clinical environment. We’re all nurses and so incredibly proud.”
Sarah has very recently completed and attained the highly prestigious Mary Seacole Programme, receiving her certificate, and intends to undertake more leadership programmes to complement her skills. She has also written a story that will be included in a children’s book to encourage youngsters into nursing that will focus on the many different types of nursing out there. It is due to be published in 2023.
“It’s about recognising it in yourself,” adds Sarah, “and living by the values you learn when qualifying and working as a Nurse. Nursing may evolve but what makes you a Nurse stays the same and that is what spurs me on as a leader and a Nurse.”
Find out more about our nurses: