What is your role at Avon and Wiltshire mental health partnership NHS trust (AWP)?
I’ve been a registered mental health nurse for a year; after graduating I joined AWP as a staff nurse at Sycamore ward in Bath, working with adults experiencing severe mental distress. I love my job – it’s incredibly rewarding and no two shifts are ever the same.
Why did you choose a career in mental health nursing?
I suspect nursing is in my blood! I originally studied marine biology, but after extensive travelling, my thoughts turned to nursing. I discussed it with my mum – a very experienced general nurse – she suggested I’d be suited to mental health nursing. I’ve loved it from day one.
Why did you want to join the Sycamore team?
As a student I did six placements with AWP in a wide range of services. When I graduated I wanted broad experience and an acute ward is a good place to work with lots of different people from all backgrounds and with wide ranging mental health conditions.
Newly qualified nurses complete a ‘preceptorship’ programme – how does this work in AWP?
AWP’s preceptorship programme of practical training is designed to consolidate and extend our knowledge and skills. It’s very flexible, is tailored to our needs and interests and we complete it at our own pace over 12 months.
We are matched with a preceptorship nurse who supports us with regular meetings and supervision. I completed the programme in three months but I continue to have a strong relationship with my preceptorship nurse, Abi Challoner, who is a great mentor and adviser.
We’re encouraged to reflect, which is extremely important. Mental health wards can be emotionally intense places and regular reflection develops confidence and resilience.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
There’s an element of unpredictability on every shift. But we’re a very well managed team with a good skill mix and we work through unexpected challenges together.
And what are the most rewarding aspects of your work?
Being part of the process of someone recovering is incredibly rewarding and really quite humbling. People sometimes come back to say hello and let us know how they’re getting on. It’s brilliant that even though people share their darkest times with us, they feel positively about the ward afterwards. I think it says a lot about how much people value what we do.
You mentioned resilience and the unpredictability of some of your work. Do you do anything in particular to prepare yourself for a shift?
I try not to anticipate a shift in advance – for me it’s better to meet the challenges of each shift as they happen and reflect afterwards. My colleagues are brilliant. We go through a lot together and we make sure we take time out to have a good giggle together.
What are your reflections on your first year in the job?
It has been absolutely brilliant. I joined with no particular expectations because I primarily wanted to focus on the transition from student to nurse. But I’ve really developed as a nurse and grown in confidence and I’ve had great feedback. I’ve come a long way but I do remind myself that I’m still a newly qualified nurse!
What’s next for you?
I’ve still got plenty to learn here at Sycamore ward, but there are lots of development opportunities in AWP. We’re encouraged to try new things and to develop our particular areas of interest and there are opportunities to spend periods working in different settings and with different client groups. I’m now in a place where I can start thinking about what I want from my nursing career.
What would you say to others embarking on a career in mental health nursing?
Mental health is a dynamic field and with the many opportunities for development offered by a trust of AWP’s size and diversity I’d definitely say that mental health nursing can be a very rewarding career for life.
Find out more about job opportunities at AWP here
Content on this page is produced and paid for by Avon and Wiltshire mental health partnership NHS trust
