Retiring Nurse Looks Backs on 48-Year Nursing Career

After 48 years as a nurse and due to retire I have written a blog about my nursing career.

I currently work for Lincolnshire County Council, as a Community Practice Educator, within Children’s Health.

State Enrolled Nurse

I began my nursing career as a cadet nurse in Lincoln in 1977, qualifying as a State Enrolled nurse in 1979. Initially I worked on a medical, care of the elderly ward. This was certainly an eye-opening experience often dealing/treating complex medical conditions, extending my knowledge; whilst working hard with three staff caring for 28 patients. As a team we were quite innovative and tried new ways of working, thereby improving patient care. Other wards frowned upon some changes, whilst others embraced some of the ideas.

Stages of progression have at times been challenging and I realise that I have never taken the easy route to eventual outcome. From a male surgical ward which incorporated ear, nose, and throat to orthopaedics – the exposure to many learning experiences was phenomenal and increased my knowledge, in previously unknown specialities.

Transition to Nurse Practitioner

On reflection I can still recall some of the patients’ names and diagnoses. This was because the expectation was that you conducted a full ward round with the Surgical Nursing Officer on a frequent basis. She asked unbelievably detailed questions with the anticipation that you would know the answer and was much more daunting than the surgeons at the time. As a young nurse dealing with death and extremely ill patients, I often thought I was too young for such conversations and discussed how I thought I would find this easier ‘if I was older’ – alas this was not the case. Never shying away from areas that I was less confident in, I then worked on a Coronary care unit and subsequently Accident and Emergency (A&E). Whilst in A&E I trained as a nurse practitioner, independently treating certain cases.

Midwifery Training and Move into Health Visiting

Upon conversion to a Registered General Nurse in 1993, I was able to complete my midwifery training, something I had always wanted to do. After the care of 44 mothers and their subsequent births, I returned to A&E (as no vacancies in midwifery). In 2003, I trained as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor). Once qualified I learnt the true art of public health nursing. I was exposed to the ultimate community health visiting team with colleagues who embraced collaboration with the local communities and partnerships. They enabled my interests in working holistically with local families, teenage pregnancy, and traveller communities.

Becoming an Educator

Building on from health visiting practice and wanting to disseminate some of the knowledge I had gained, I completed my Community Practice Educator (CPE) training and was then fortunate enough to complete my Master’s in healthcare education at Sheffield Hallam University.

Working as a Community Practice Educator, I have had many opportunities alongside my colleagues to shape the workforce in Lincolnshire, from training sessions in Antenatal Promotional interviewing, to becoming involved and leading staff in a research project for crying babies. Additionally, policy writing has been one of my responsibilities. Instrumental in creating a Universal Standard Operating Guidance (SOG) for H/V Practice and an Individual need SOG together with other practitioners. From 2019, Health Visitors in Lincolnshire have completed Newborn blood spot screening (NBBS) for transfer in contacts. I currently lead the NBBS Screening programme and facilitate, co-ordinate and train staff with local and regional involvement. The role also incorporates development of policy to ensure safe delivery.

I have supervised 23 student Health Visitors as a CPE, and supported many pre-registration nurses too. I have had an enviable career in nursing and will be forever thankful for the opportunities I have been given.

Final Reflections

I will miss working and life will be hugely different and a little scary, but I feel lucky to have experienced such a fulfilling career, enabling so much scope to grow and develop. Overall, if I have improved outcomes for children, families, and patients via my input, then that is the biggest reward that I could have asked for.

About Sylvia Wilkinson

Sylvia Wilkinson is a Queen’s Nurse, State Enrolled nurse, Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor) and Community Practice Educator, with a Master’s in Health Education.