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Learn from Donnas inspiring personal journey and gain insights into exploring your own care options. Find the support and guidance you need to make informed decisions.

Setting: Residential care home with nursing.

Overview of current role

I work a shift pattern in a nursing home so my working day always starts with a handover, a review of the residents and allocation of staff. I'm also involved in caring for my residents which might mean:

• supporting people with medication
• monitoring skin integrety and pressure area care
• clinical observations
• monitoring and supporting nutritional intake
• personal hygiene
• supporting visits into and out of the care home for resident, families and external professionals such as GPs, MH team, dieticians and tissue viability.

I'm responsive to needs that may appear throughout the shift and communicating with people either in person or taking calls from families and other professionals. I keep documentation up to date so there is an acurate record and care plan for each individual person. 

How did I get here

I started as a care assistant working shifts around my young family. I really thrived in the setting and soon progressed to be a senior care assistant. In 2020 I was supported by the owner of the nursing home I work in to do the nursing associate apprenticeship programme which was a two year programme leading me to my current role. It was hard work looking after my family and doing the academic study and placements but I am really glad I chose this career pathway. 

Qualifications and education

• registered nursing associate

• maths and english grades 9-4 (A -C)

• foundation degree nursing associate programme.

Training, knowledge and skills

• experience of working or volunteering in a health or care setting is usually preferred

• communicating with people

• working as part of a team

• leadership and delegation skills.

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