Martin Brennan

I joined this team of highly skilled clinicians to develop my role as a Nurse Practitioner. My main responsibilities included responding rapidly to critically unwell service users with the short term priority of hospital avoidance. Good communication with other professionals, such as GPs, was essential to facilitate safety.

Regrettably my parents were declining quickly with dementia, so I decided to become their carer, thus curtailing my employment.

Integrated Urgent Care Team (IUCT)

My role in this team involved visiting service users in their homes to assess both clinical and social needs. A care plan was devised to optimise their safety. Supervision and guidance for the care givers was prominent in this role, as was liaison with other clinicians, social workers, GPs.

I left this position to further enhance my clinical skills in an area that was local to me.

Rapid Response Team

My first community role, working from Blackpool Football Club stadium. Driving to visit service users in their homes, covering a large geographical area. This service developed into a 2 hour response team, in line with government guidelines, to maximise efficiency in response to urgent referrals.

I gained promotion to Band 6 Charge Nurse, which involved shift co-ordination and taking referrals, ensuring the safety of team members at all times.

Coronary Care Unit, Steppiing Hill Hospital.

This was an opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills in Cardiology. All service users were monitored intensively, so interpretation of cardiac rhythm and other readings was essential. Strong communication with other disciplines was important to maintain safety, such as liaising with clinicians in Cardiac Catheterisation Suite to ensure efficient information transfer when preparing for angiogram.

I left this role to relocate.

Medical Assessment Unit, Stepping Hill Hospital

My first NHS role since returning to nursing.

This was a busy environment with regular challenges, admitting service users, monitoring, providing critical medications, often intravenously. Teamwork was prominent in order to maintain safety. I liaised with multiple members of the multi-disciplinary team, such as pharmacists, dieticians.

Some conditions treated include Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Ischaemic Heart Disease, GI bleed, carcinoma of various types.

I left this role to persue an interest in Cardiology.

This was my first role returning to a clinical environment. It involved shifts in care homes, where I would be responsible for service users safety. Duties included medication administration, recording of written notes, supervising and guiding junior team members.

I left this position to take a role in the NHS

• Planned series of lessons to prepare learners for classroom and practical examinations.
• Updated student records, accurately detailing attendance and test scores.
• Strategically planned routes to meet learners' abilities and requirements.
• Prepared students for practical and theory examinations, maintaining high rate of first-time passes.