Christopher Graham Loftus

• I was employed on this YTS from school, due to large numbers of unemployment in the mid 1980's, work for a school leaver was difficult to find. I choose shop work, from a limited number of schemes available to try and improve my communication and numeracy skills. I had placements and both small shops to large supermarkets, and duties included stock rotation, working the cash till and handling customer's money. I had this job until I gained my first paid employment.

• I gained my first fully paid employment at the above factory where I started working on the production line, doing many menial tasks, and was promoted up to being quality controller. I left in 1994, to pursue a dream I had to become a Nurse.
• Conducted thorough inspections of finished products, ensuring adherence to standards.
• Engaged in continuous learning about new manufacturing technologies, enhancing skill set and adaptability.
• Advanced production efficiency by implementing precise cutting techniques.
• Operated fabrication machinery to enhance productivity.
• Collaborated effectively with team members during large-scale projects to ensure timely completion,.
• Identified and reported non-conformities or deviations from quality standards, facilitating necessary corrective actions.
• Reviewed incoming goods against specifications, rejecting inadequate materials, components and finished products.

• I attained my first job in the field of nursing by starting on the above diabetic medical ward; my duties included basic nursing care, Routine observations. Whist on this ward I gained my NVQ level 2 and 3, and was put forward by the ward manager to be seconded from the trust to the UCE for my nurse training.

• I was Seconded and employed from Heartlands Hospital under the BASE consortium, to enable me to do my nurse training.

• I returned to Heartlands Hospital as a newly qualified D grade staff nurse, onto an area where I had done a student nurse placement, and had enjoyed the Variety of different aspects of nursing that this ward provided. My role included assessing, and implementing patient care, giving patient's prescribed medication, including IV drugs. I left the ward, although I was happy, to future my career prospects and to learn a new specialty.

• I moved areas within the hospital to work on the Oncology / Haematology unit of ward 19, due to an interest in palliative care and chemotherapy. The move to this ward may allow me to develop my skills in a more specialised area, and may allow me the opportunity to move upward in my chosen profession.
• I have since working on ward 19 gained a greater understanding of different conditions and treatments to do with cancer care, and have been given in house training in chemotherapy administration, including a greater use of my Venepuncture, Phlebotomy and Cannulation skills.
• In 2006 I applied for and gained the E grade staff nurse post, and as a result I am often in charge of the ward area managing the staff, and any problems that might occur. I have also been given the management task of being the health and safety and COSHH representative for the ward area.
• In 2012, I applied and was awarded at interview my Band 6 Charge Nurse post on the ward, which saw my responsibilities and role change, including, more mentoring of staff and students, being in overall charge of the Ward. supporting the ward manager with her tasks, including staff management, including appraisals, sickness reviews, introducing new staff to the ward and teaching, signing off documentation for chemotherapy and stem cell administration. Bed and Patient management off duty creation and management, incident form reviews, as the health and safety representative on the ward, compiling health and safety reports and action plans. Ensuring the documentation was appropriate and complied with the metrics system used in the trust.
• I also undertook many of the stem cell and bone marrow transplants on the ward, often assessing more junior members of staff who were learning about the transplant protocols and possible complications during the procedure, this part of the role I really enjoyed because it allowed me to spend more time on my patient care and assessment, helping to alleviate fears, and concerns from the patient and their loved ones.
• I also regularly held the Acute Oncology / Emergency Triage page, which involved me giving information and advice and attempting to prevent problems with chemotherapy side effects and sepsis for those patients who had received treatment at home, which often involves attempting to secure an emergency bed in the trust for those who might be at risk.
• In October 2017, I applied for the acting Band 7 role, while the current ward manager was off, unfortunately I was unsuccessful at interview, although gained positive feedback from the interview team.
• I decided to leave the NHS and the Trust due to personal reasons in January 2018, which I am more than happy to explain face to face.

• I Obtained for a temporary job as a Shop Assistant while I waited for a Nursing reference to be issued from Heartlands hospital.
  I worked in a busy little shop, having responsibility for stock and selling goods and handling money with face to face contact with the general public.
• During the six week period of working here, I was nominated for a customer service award for the airport for exemplary customer care and service, however, I left before I found out if I had won.
• Collaborated effectively with team members during busy periods.
• Handled queries regarding products, providing detailed information as necessary.
• Completed restocking swiftly post delivery arrival to ensure immediate product availability.

Having been granted a Nursing reference from Heartlands Hospital, I joined Your World as a Chemotherapy Agency Nurse, working on Oncology and Haematology wards and Day Units across the West Midlands, which gave me experience of different hospitals and working in busy Chemotherapy Day Units.

• I had worked several times on Ward 35 UHCW and was invited to apply for a permanent Band 5 Staff Nurse position, and enjoyed the challenges that this role gave me and to be part of a team once again. Whilst employed at UHCW I have undertaken a teaching and assessors course, a Critical care course, and been updated in my cannulation and venepuncture, chemotherapy plus all the necessary mandatory training required.
  I again applied for a charge nurse post on the same ward and gained my Band 6 Role in 2022.
  During my time at UHCW I was nominated 4 times for a Daisy award, which is done by patients and or their families for compassion and nursing excellence.
  
  Following the death of my father from Lung Cancer during 2025, I found it initially difficult to nurse patients with the same condition and palliative care patients, so decided to leave and give myself a short break from Nursing with an aim of returning as a member of the nursing bank team so I can improve my work life balance.
• Facilitated smooth discharge processes for a seamless transition home.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary team to enhance patient care.
• Managed wound dressings, promoting healing and preventing infection.
• Provided compassionate emotional support to patients, easing their anxiety.
• Executed clinical tasks efficiently whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• Improved patient comfort by providing expert bedside care.
• Administered intravenous fluids, IV antibiotics , and chemotherapy for the correct inpatients.
• Identified early warning signs of deteriorating health through vigilant monitoring.