Celebrating 40 years of nursing, my journey to NSHI
Sonia celebrates 40 years in nursing
Sonia joined the team back in February 2023 and this year celebrates 40 years of her nursing career. We take a trip down memory lane and look back at where it all began and how it has led to her role at NSHI.
In 1984 I left home a shy, naïve 18-year-old to start my nurse training. I remember my first day in uniform having my cap on upside down! Training was very different in those days, instead of attending university, you worked on the wards and were included in the staff numbers. We completed 6 weeks on the wards and 2 weeks in school.
I remember being terrified on my first ward, hiding in the sluice. The ward sister ran a tight ship and wouldn’t think twice stripping a bay of beds if your hospital corners weren’t right or the bed sheet was hem side up. Whilst the training was hard, you grew up fast, it instilled discipline into me which I still adhere to today.
After 3 years of training my first ward was acute medicine, I thought I was ready to save the world, what an eye opener that first shift as a qualified nurse was. You realise very quickly how unprepared you are to take charge of a ward full of sick people. Out of all the ward placements medicine was always where I felt happiest.
I love managing my team and I enjoy sharing my 40 years of nursing knowledge and experience.
In 1988 I moved to Nottingham Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital, working on a female elective surgical ward. I soon realised orthopaedics was not for me and was lucky enough to get a job in Oncology at Nottingham General Hospital. After having my 2nd child, I joined an agency to fit work around family life. It was during this time that I discovered Occupational Health Nursing, working for John Players & Rolls Royce.
In 1996 my career changed paths again as I was offered a job as a Practice Nurse. I continued to work as a Practice Nurse until 2009. I joined the research team at Nottingham City Hospital, researching community acquired pneumonia and Swine Flu. I was honoured to be asked to join the NICE pneumonia guidelines group which I am still a member of today.
In 2013 I started a role as Lead Asthma Nurse in Derby. During my time there I helped set up and deliver the Severe Asthma Service, the Allergy Service, and a bespoke pneumonia in reach service (the first of its kind in the UK). The highlights were being awarded employee of the year and the Respiratory Infection Team winning the BMJ Respiratory Team of the Year Award.
In 2020 my father passed away, at this point I realised I wanted to pass on my knowledge so joined Education for Health as an Associate Tutor and Content Developer.
So how did I end up at NSHI, I was ready for a new challenge and a new adventure. Here I am 40 years on working as a Regional Nurse Manager 4 days a week and the NSHI Academy 1 day a week. I love managing my team and I enjoy sharing my 40 years of nursing knowledge and experience, aspiring to create passion and motivation in the next generation of nurses.