Career Profile of an Independent Nurse

[from Academic OneFile]

Catherine Mason, Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Why did you become a nurse?

I wanted to make a difference to people's lives. I feel passionate about ensuring everyone gets decent care and respect.

How has your career developed since you started nursing?

Initially, I worked in a nursing home, on nights, looking after geriatric patients. I had a young family and a child with autism so this fitted in with family life.

Once my children started school, I was keen to develop my skills: I enrolled at Humberside University taking an HND in social care and then an Adult Education Certificate.

The position of matron came up at Wintringham, a state secondary school in Grimsby, in 1998. Since then, the school has become one of the government's designated sport and health academies, and my role has grown dramatically.

What does your current role entail?

As health, welfare and child protection co-ordinator at Oasis Wintringham, I deal with the pupils' health and welfare concerns, providing health clinics; health promotion; advice on contraception and smoking cessation; first aid and much more.

I teach in the classrooms and, with the rest of the academy staff, plan programs of support to address health concerns. I work with outside agencies to support our school community and deal with child protection concerns.

I am training other schools and agencies in some of the strategies we have found useful.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

Sometimes you become emotionally attached to the people you deal with, which can be difficult. You may have to make decisions you feel uncomfortable with; however interaction with students is very valuable.

The fact that they come forward for support, if you respect their wishes, is rewarding. My favourite part of the job is working in the classroom with the staff and the students within the academy. We have gained mutual respect.

How do you see your role developing?

I am working with the local council to develop and provide packages of support to schools within north-east Lincolnshire.

As an academy, we have been trying to engage with the hard-to-reach students. They are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. We have set up some alternative provisions and I am looking forward to working with staff and the students at these establishments.

If you weren't a nurse, what would you be?

Maybe a teacher, but I feel their role is undervalued, exhausting and challenging.

What would you do if you were health secretary?

Find out what people want. I would love to take the health secretary around some of the homes and families we deal with. Is it right that because of a postcode your health is at risk? Resources are unequally distributed. I had to go to Essex to have my son diagnosed with autism.

Access to good-quality healthcare should be available to all.

Fact file

Job title: Health, welfare and child protection co-ordinator

Location: Oasis Academy Wintringham, Grimsby, north-east Lincolnshire

Qualifications: RN

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Source Citation
"Independent Nurse: Professional Workplace - Career profile." GP 15 Feb. 2010: 49. Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Apr. 2010.