Case studies

"I love the one to one I have with patients - no other area will give you that"

My job is caring for patients - one to one - who have undergone heart or lung surgery (including transplants), or who have critical illness due to their heart or lung disease which requires long-term support with drugs or specialist devices to support their heart. Many of our patients have come out of surgery but we also get patients who have come to us after having serious heart attacks.

What you love about your job?

I love the one to one I have with patients - no other area will give you that. I also love particularly looking after the long-term patients. The best part of the job is when you see those patients recover and know that you had a part to play in their recovery. I have a keen interest in transplant and find this the most rewarding part of my job. You get a great sense of achievement when you care for a transplant patient and to be part of their journey is definitely very rewarding.

Proudest moment so far?

We had a patient who had been in for a about a month and his family said he appeared to be quite confused and disorientated and he wasn’t particularly eating which they assured me was not normal for him. When looking after him I sat down with the family and my patient and we discussed his concerns.  We soon realised his confusion and disorientation came down to the fact he wasn’t sure which day it was or the time, I suggested to the family that they bring in a watch or clock and a calendar for him, so he could know the time and the date. I also suggested to his wife that she was more than welcome to bring in food from home that they knew he enjoyed.

Whilst I didn’t care for this patient again during the rest of his stay on ITU, I saw him on the ward about a week later when I was transferring another patient from the Unit. His wife approached me and thanked me for my help - they did what I suggested and it helped massively. I spoke to the patient and he hugged me and thanked me. He got discharged that day!

Any tips for finding a job that you love?

If you know exactly what you want to do when you qualify do your research on that area. It helps at interview panel if you can show that you know a lot about the area and it shows you are keen. However if you are not sure about what you want to do don’t despair. Some people have to work in a few areas before they find their perfect job - eventually you will find the job you love.

Tell us about any travel and / or unusual aspects of the job:

As part of the job we sometimes transfer patients to other Units in the country. This can be nerve racking as during that time you are in a moving ambulance with a very sick patient who could be intubated and on support and it’s just you and the intensivist in a small space.

What are your usual working hours?

My normal working hours are 37.5 hrs a week and it’s a variety of night shift and day shift. We work three 12 hour shifts a week. From 07:30-20:00 hours on a day shift and from 19:30-08:00 hours on a night shift.

What training is needed for your job?

You can get into ITU with just your nursing degree. You will receive training while on the job to allow you to practice in ITU, so be prepared for a lot more studying once you get there!