Helen Collins
Bailiff Bridge,West Yorkshire
Summary
Passionate nurse with over a decade of healthcare experience, looking to make a difference to patients with a vast array of conditions in a supportive and diverse environment.
Proven experience as an Interventional Radiology nurse, Cardiology nurse and in many specialist areas such as vascular, urology and GI and palliative care, which is also complemented by an extensive number of placements during my time as a student nurse . I undertake safe, person centred care for acute and chronic conditions, and emergency care.
Proven experience of diabetes management, COPD, chronic and acute pain, surgical site and wound care, with a strong commitment to infection control and sterile techniques which have been honed during my time as a IR nurse.
Skilled in cardiology, vascular, urology, and GI specialities, complemented by extensive nursing placements across various disciplines. Passionate about palliative and dementia care, providing dignified and person-centric services. Proven leadership abilities include team management, mentoring student nurses, and optimising patient flow. Proficient in Microsoft Office and healthcare systems such as CRIS and EPR. Committed to continuous learning and development within the healthcare sector.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work history
Interventional Radiology Nurse
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2023.09 - 2026.01
- Delivering safe, compassionate and person-centred care as Interventional Radiology Nurse.
- Scrubbing and circulating for acute and elective cases across vascular, urology, and GI specialties.
- Currently pursuing additional training in the vascular and cardiac labs, to become a Specialist Interventional Radiology Nurse.
- Administering conscious sedation and emergency care in labs, CT, and Ultrasound settings.
- Facilitating pre- and post-operative assessments and recovery, including out-of-hours emergency care.
- Directing diverse patient groups, including individuals with cancer, MND, and vascular conditions, through tailored lifestyle guidance and modifications.
- Coordinating patient lists, flow, and IR-specific checklists to ensure efficient operations.
- Managing stock and controlled medications and other areas of the department, as required.
Bank Staff Nurse – Various Wards
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2022.09 - 2026.01
- Bank Nursing role comprises of providing good quality, adaptable, safe, person-centred, ward based care in various areas of the hospital, including Vascular, Elderly and Respiratory, to mitigate staffing shortages, and to maintain ward-specific skills and increase knowledge and confidence.
Staff Nurse – Cardiology and CCU
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2021.09 - 2023.09
- Delivered high-quality, safe, person-centred, and skilled care to patients with chronic and acute cardiovascular conditions within a coronary care and rehabilitation ward setting.
- Provided emergency care for patients experiencing acute illnesses, including myocardial infarctions and life-threatening arrhythmias
- Led a team of Healthcare Assistants, junior staff, and students during night shifts.
- Took charge of the ward during night shifts, and managed complex admissions and discharges.
- Undertook nursing assessments in partnership with the MDT, and collaborated with specialists including consultants and physiotherapists for integrated patient management.
- Directed referrals to safeguarding, mental health, diabetes and tissue viability specialist nurses as needed.
HCA Bank
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2020.10 - 2021.08
- HCA role included supporting the Healthcare team by providing holistic care and assistance to patients.
- Facilitated personal care and hygiene needs, and documented ADLs, fluid and dietary intakes.
- Conducted evidence based pressure care, basic nursing assessments and ensured accurate and timely record keeping.
Paid Student Pre-Registration Nurse - Covid
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2021.02 - 2021.06
- Facilitated support for Registered Nurses and the wider MDT by providing safe, compassionate, professional, and person-centred care to individuals experiencing various cardiovascular conditions within an acute and rehabilitation hospital setting.
- Executed pressure care, and conducted various nursing assessments, including recording observations, MUST, Waterlow, skin and wound evaluations, moving and handling, and falls assessments.
BSC Adult Nursing Placement Experience
Various
2017.09 - 2021.06
- November 2017 – Elderly General Medical Ward
- April 2018 – District Nursing including Palliative Care
- March 2019 – Gynaecology Ward including Early Pregnancy and Female Surgical
- March 2019 – Abortion Clinic
- April 2019 – Male Surgical Ward
- November 2019 – Adult Outpatients (experience gained within multi-disciplinary clinics)
- December 2020 – Syncope Clinic
- December 2020 – Heart Failure Clinic
- February 2020 – District Nursing including Palliative Care
- April 2020 to July 2020 - Elderly Admissions Ward – COVID pandemic
- November 2020 to January 2021 – A&E – COVID pandemic
- January 2021 - Palliative Care
- January 2021 – Stroke Responder Ward Rounds
- February 2021 – Cardiology and CCU
Employed 2nd Year Student Nurse
Emergency COVID-19 Support
2020.04 - 2020.07
- Aided Healthcare Team in providing day-to-day patient care, performing essential nursing assessments, and facilitating pressure care, moving and handling, feeding and hydration, alongside managing admissions and discharges.
Health Care Assistant
Keystone Healthcare
2019.07 - 2020.04
- Agency work involved working across several settings including Nursing Homes, Respite Centres, Community Centres and 24-hour Support Centres.
- Supported and offered companionship to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia, victims of domestic abuse and trafficking, and elderly residents.
Support Worker
Precedo Healthcare Services Ltd
2017.08 - 2018.06
- Supported individuals with dementia on a one-to-one basis by assisting with ADLs, offering emotional support and companionship, mitigating and recording behaviours of concern, and providing reassurance during communication difficulties.
Care Assistant
Orchard Care Homes – Dementia Unit
2016.06 - 2017.07
- Ensured safe and dignified care for residents with dementia through person-centred approaches.
- Promoted independence by assisting with activities of daily living.
- Fostered companionship and provided reassurance to improve quality of life.
- Handled behaviours of concern with de-escalation techniques, support and compassion.
- Undertook domestic responsibilities such as cleaning and cooking, when required.
Trainee Compliance Officer
Tenet Group
2015.08 - 2016.05
- Delivered technical guidance and ensured regulatory compliance through help desk services.
- Conducted product research via telephone, written communication, and in-person consultations.
- Supported all aspects of Financial Planning under supervision of Compliance Manager.
- Undertook elements of Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning through examinations in Regulation, Mortgage Advice and Pensions.
Regulatory Supervisor
Wren Sterling Financial Planning Limited
2013.11 - 2015.07
- Supported Head of Risk and Policy in formulating strategies for financial products, and submitting reports to regulatory agencies.
- Collaborating effectively with operations departments on product design, while ensuring compliance with relevant Government Agencies and regulators.
Support Analyst
The Consulting Consortium
2011.02 - 2013.11
- Delivered administrative support to Compliance Director during execution of managed services including business assurance, complaint handling, paraplanning support, redress calculations and compliance outsourcing.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Adult Nursing
The University of Bradford
Bradford 09/2017 - 06/2021
Master of Arts - Media Studies
The University of Bradford
Bradford 10/2009 - 06/2010
Bachelor of Arts - Media Studies with Digital Imaging
The University of Bradford
Bradford 09/2006 - 06/2009
A-Levels - English Literature, General Studies, ICT
Titus Salt School
ShipleyGCSEs - Various
Titus Salt School
Shipley, BradfordSkills
- Vast array of healthcare experience spanning across 10 years
- Transferrable Interventional Radiology (IR) lab, ward based and community acquired skills, with excellent experience of acute and chronic disease management and care, such as diabetes management, COPD, chronic pain, pressure ulcer management and giving advice on lifestyle choices such as stopping smoking or getting outside to aid mental health
- Proven holistic assessment and emergency care skills, and qualified to Immediate Life Support (ILS) level
- Proficient at conscious sedation, scrub nursing and patient assessment and care
- Good understanding of wound care management, and experience of managing wounds during employment on Cardiology ward and placements for District Nursing
- Evidence based sterile, ANTT and clean technique, and always adhere to infection control guidelines
- Knowledge of a number of specialities, including Cardiology, Vascular, Urology and GI, along with 8 good quality nursing placements as a student nurse, which covered a number of areas including Elderly Care, Gynaecology and Male Surgical
- Passionate about palliative and dementia care, and providing holistic, good quality and dignified care
- Adaptable and person-centric, enthusiastic and keen to learn and develop, and build on knowledge and experience
- Good communicator, experience of leading a team, mentoring student nurses and junior members of the team, and managing patient flow
- Timely and accurate documentation, including assisting with verbal and written consent and sitting in on patient consultation meetings, organising patients and using IR specific pre-procedure checklists
- Manage IR stock, controlled and non controlled medications, drug fridges and freezers and different areas of the Radiology Department as required
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, CRIS, ICE, EPR and ESR, with some experience of SystemOne from my student placements
Additional Experience
- Link Nurse for Palliative and Dementia Care - these have been areas of interest throughout my healthcare career, and I have first hand experience of working with patients and their families in their final journey in my previous role on the Cardiology Ward. In addition, I work with many cancer and MND patients in my current role as an Interventional Radiology Nurse, and endeavour to make their experience in IR as comfortable, dignified and as stress free as possible.
- IR Document Review - I have recently taken on an additional admin role within IR, where I undertake a monthly review of documents, and notify the author to review and update.
- Friends of Bailiff Bridge School (FOBBS) PTA volunteer - I undertake weekly and yearly fundraising activities for the school, and I regularly help out with school events.
Training Courses
Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor Course - October 2025
Palliative Care - End of Life - December 2022
Immediate Life Support (ILS) - February 2025 (rebooked this year)
RQF Paediatric First Aid - May 2019
NVQ 2 - Dementia Awareness - August 2017
Care Certificate - November 2016
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Interventional Radiology Nurse
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2023.09 - 2026.01
Bank Staff Nurse – Various Wards
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2022.09 - 2026.01
Staff Nurse – Cardiology and CCU
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2021.09 - 2023.09
Paid Student Pre-Registration Nurse - Covid
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2021.02 - 2021.06
HCA Bank
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
2020.10 - 2021.08
Employed 2nd Year Student Nurse
Emergency COVID-19 Support
2020.04 - 2020.07
Health Care Assistant
Keystone Healthcare
2019.07 - 2020.04
BSC Adult Nursing Placement Experience
Various
2017.09 - 2021.06
Support Worker
Precedo Healthcare Services Ltd
2017.08 - 2018.06
Care Assistant
Orchard Care Homes – Dementia Unit
2016.06 - 2017.07
Trainee Compliance Officer
Tenet Group
2015.08 - 2016.05
Regulatory Supervisor
Wren Sterling Financial Planning Limited
2013.11 - 2015.07
Support Analyst
The Consulting Consortium
2011.02 - 2013.11
Bachelor of Science - Adult Nursing
The University of Bradford
09/2017 - 06/2021
Master of Arts - Media Studies
The University of Bradford
10/2009 - 06/2010
Bachelor of Arts - Media Studies with Digital Imaging
The University of Bradford
09/2006 - 06/2009
A-Levels - English Literature, General Studies, ICT
Titus Salt School
GCSEs - Various
Titus Salt School