Following My Nursing Dream And Finding My Calling In Social Care – By Lisa Newman
I started nursing later in life. I had always wanted to be a nurse but I never thought I would actually achieve it. I was 38 when I qualified in October 2018.
A Dream that Seemed Out of Reach
Being a nurse was a life dream for me, but I married and had kids and then my husband became unable to work, due to PTSD from a childhood trauma. I became the bread winner and did many, many jobs – at a supermarket, bakers, bank, call centre, bar. I became easily bored as my heart wasn’t in them, but then I landed a job at a GP’s surgery doing admin and reception. Everything changed for me when the surgery said they wanted a receptionist to train to do phlebotomy clinics and of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I loved the clinic days, getting to know patients, taking blood and learning how to take manual blood pressure readings. This fed my hunger to learn and to become a nurse, so I made the very difficult decision to apply for a place on the access to nursing course at the local college. Spaces were very limited and the interview process was intense. I couldn’t believe I got in!
A Chance to Succeed After Four Tough Years
I absolutely loved the course, which led to a conditional offer at university if you passed all the units as well as a Care Higher. I got an ‘A’ in my Care Higher and was so pleased that I could continue my studies, but the journey ahead wasn’t an easy one as my husband was still unable to work. To support my family and pay the rent, I got a job in the NHS as a Band 2 care assistant, working 12 hours each day at the weekend. The GPs at the surgery were also very supportive and gave me hours that I could fit in around university.
It was a tough 4 years, emotionally, physically and financially. There were definitely times that I wanted to quit but my husband and kids were so supportive, as were my extended family, and the look on their faces on graduation day – when I graduated with distinction – was priceless!
First Steps in Nursing – and a Move to Social Care
My management placement was with the NHS at the Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh, in Neurological and Orthopedic rehab. I absolutely loved my role there and thrived in it. Sadly, I injured my back and after 2 years I had to leave. I then worked from home as a disability assessor for CAPITA and ATOS. This allowed me to maintain my NMC pin but I missed clinical work very much.
In summer of 2022 I was fit to return to clinical practice. I had always enjoyed working with the elderly and in palliative care when with the NHS and as a student, so I decided that perhaps a care home would be a good environment to work in and naively, I thought it might be easier than the hospital. I had never really been in a care home before so I looked at various options in the local area and saw that the reviews and facilities at The Manor were excellent.
I successfully applied for a staff nurse role and I started at The Manor in November 2022.
Building Relationships, Supporting Residents’ Lives
Seeing acute ward settings as a student and witnessing exhausted nurses resenting every shift in an NHS environment was not what I wanted for myself. I soon learned that nursing is much more than IVs, medication and paperwork – and it doesn’t have to be super-stressful or unrewarding.
As a care home nurse, I am able to build relationships with the residents and their families, which I love. Getting to know the people that you are looking after makes providing person centred care much easier as you can better understand their thoughts and feelings and can support them more effectively. In my role at The Manor, I participate in all aspects of residents’ care, not just the clinical. Yes, as a nurse I manage medications, dress wounds, and complete care plans and paperwork. However, I’m able to make time for meaningful interactions with the residents – to play games with them, read to them, spend time with them in the garden. In a hospital setting that would not be the case.
I enjoy seeing the residents living fulfilling lives and supporting them to do that. We help them maintain positive relationships with their loved ones. We celebrate holidays with them. When the time comes, we also help our residents have a comfortable death and support their families through some of their most difficult days. I have learnt that having a ‘good’ death is equally as important as a ‘good’ birth and life. Ensuring that residents’ last days are how they wanted them to be, in their own room, pain free and with loved ones around them is where the care home setting is so important. It offers families privacy and calm, with the knowledge that that help and support is just a call bell away.
The Challenges and Rewards of an Autonomous Role
The main difference between my role in the NHS and at The Manor is the autonomy I have. In the hospital there is always a team of nurses and doctors around you, whereas here I am usually the main nurse on the floor and although I have the support of the senior carer and a nurse on the other floor, the role is all about quick thinking and decision making. This also makes it challenging, but in this environment, I have grown in as a nurse in both skills and confidence.
Although I still hold the position of staff nurse, I have developed so much in a professional sense since moving to social care. I have become a confident, autonomous, skilled nurse and I feel my communication skills have improved to no end. My belief in my own abilities and knowledge has really grown, as have my leadership skills. I am now able to manage a floor successfully and smoothly with 36 residents, a senior carer and seven care staff.
Life at The Manor and with Caring Homes
The environment at The Manor is lovely - it doesn't feel clinical, it feels homely, like an extension of my family rather than work sometimes. The salary is excellent, the annual leave is fair, and the work life balance is great. Having a set rota as either a day or night nurse makes planning life so much simpler than an erratic shift pattern where you could be doing a combination of both.
Caring Homes also gives fantastic training - way more than is required for revalidation - and it’s all paid for, even the e-learning. The company is also very supportive of learning and progression in your career and if that is your goal, there are opportunities to move up – you can aim for Clinical Lead, Deputy Manager and even Home Manager.
I love my job. It is such a privilege to help care for and look after our residents and offer support to their families. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the smallest things can make the biggest difference and the sense of achievement when I leave each day is wonderful.
Finding my Calling in Social Care
Looking back to my training, I wasn’t the oldest of the nursing cohort, far from it, but I think life experience - having faced a lot and dealt with different situations - makes you a more understanding, empathetic nurse. I felt the caring side of the role was my calling - supporting, listening, giving personal care. Anyone can learn the clinical skills but a good bedside manner cannot be taught.
I would definitely recommend a career in social care, no matter what age you are when you begin the journey. I feel that you learn far more, the work is more rewarding and enjoyable and speaking from my own experience, I feel truly valued as a nurse by residents and their families. I really believe that on almost every single shift, I am making a difference to people’s lives.
Do it, make the jump, I promise you will not regret it!
Discover The Manor Care Home in Edinburgh
The Manor is a beautiful purpose built home located in Edinburgh, providing residential, nursing and dementia care in an elegant, spacious and tailor-made environment. There’s wonderful range of facilities to enjoy including comfortable lounges and a cinema, hair salon and bistro. Numerous activities take place, and the home is set within beautifully landscaped gardens where residents can choose from several different areas to relax and enjoy.
