Some questions for Kirstie
Question: What do you do to unwind at the end of a long day? Answer: Being passionate about healthy living, I love spending time outside and enjoy evening walks with my fiancé Aaron and our dog Chino, perhaps chasing the sunset at St Ouens or through the country lanes of Trinity. I spend a lot of my time training for triathlon, but I also find time to catch up with family and friends which usually involves good food and a cosy atmosphere.
Question: What do you like most about being a nurse? Answer:
I love that every day is different and I meet someone
new. The people I meet are incredible, and have their own life story to tell, such as eighty-year-old ladies who have seen a career dancing on the stage, couples that have travelled the world on a sailing boat, and elderly gentlemen who survived the war and have gripping stories like you see in the movies.
Nurses work very closely with people and their families and we see people at their most vulnerable. It’s quite an honour to be in a profession where people look to you for help.
Question: What do you most dislike about being a nurse? Answer:
I generally really enjoy my role, but if I had to pick
something I dislike, it would be not being able to always fulfil every request from patients and their relatives. The demands of the role are growing and sometimes there is just not enough hours in the day, but I try my very best.
patients. I administer medications, observe and monitor patients' conditions, and communicate with Doctors and other Health Professionals within the multidisciplinary team.
The EAU is a fast-paced area providing early assessment and necessary investigations and treatment to adult patients. Referrals come from General Practitioners or by the Accident and Emergency department, and turnover of patients varies from day to day with as many as twenty plus new patients seen per shift.
Once a patient is stable and initial interventions have taken place, a plan of care is agreed by the doctor, patient and nurse. We aim to get patients home as soon as they are medically fit to prevent disruption to their lives and to reduce risk of hospital-acquired infections. If a patient needs a longer period to recover, they are transferred to the appropriate ward.
At the end of the shift at 20:30 p.m. I cycle home where I am greeted by my over-excited dog and immensely supportive fiancé. Aaron takes the role of head chef and waits for me to get home so we can eat together and reflect on the day.
20/20 A day in the life of... Page 75
Question: How did you become a nurse? Answer: My mum was an Auxiliary Nurse in the UK and encouraged me. I was always passionate about health and started in the Sport Industry, then went travelling and came back to Jersey to the newly opened Emergency Assessment Unit in the General Hospital as a Health Care Assistant. I trained as a nurse locally while working as a Health Care Assistant, which was hard work. I didn’t always think I’d make it but with the support of family, friends, tutors and colleagues I qualified as a Staff Nurse and haven’t looked back.
Question: What advice would you give someone, either just starting their career or midway through their career, who wants to be a nurse?
Answer: Set goals, have a long-term plan, and tailor your goals to build your own profile. A career in nursing can take you anywhere; gain as much experience as you can, and even spend time in an area you don’t think you’ll enjoy - you might be surprised.
GROUP TRAINING STUDIOS
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