Rebecca Harris

Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with great respect. Their role can be so challenging as well as rewarding and fulfilling. In my opinion, an individual willing to gain this profession needs good interpersonal skills, be a good listener, empathetic, understanding other peoples needs without prejudice, eager to learn and strive to improve themselves. I know I possess all of the above qualities and endeavour to maintain and improve them wherever possible.

Since qualifying as a Children's Nurse, in 2012, I spent ten years on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children. My final placement during my nurse training was based on the unit. I enjoyed working with the multidisciplinary team and the array of skills I developed working with a wide range of conditions with children from birth to the age of seventeen boosted my confidence and knowledge greatly. I felt I blossomed on the unit as a student nurse and wanted to continue in gaining these specialised skills.

I undertook and passed a Preceptorship course during my first year which prepared me in becoming competent, flexible and accountable, helping me to become a self-directed worker and develop my ability to deliver evidence-based care, challenge opinions and evaluate my progression. This course was a stepping stone between being newly qualified to becoming a more competent professional nurse.

I have been trained to work with a multidisciplinary team to provide care to the sickest and most complex of patient conditions. Many patients are attached to ventilators, assisting them breathe from respiratory infections or chronic illnesses. Other children can be battling multisystem organ failure or have life limiting conditions. I was responsible for the management of these illnesses, and preventative measures to keep my patients from becoming a statistic. There were short-term patients and long-term patients on the unit and I ensured I built a healthy, supportive but professional relationship with all families.

Patients under my care had been managed by skilled and timely reduction of sedation, weaning from ventilation, physical rehabilitation, and psychological/emotional support, these are a few examples. My effective nursing care involved and continues to involve pro-active and prevention of complications, and prompt and skilled intervention in the event of sudden deterioration.

I completed a teaching course in 2016 and successfully passed which enables me to teach, assess and mentor students and nursing staff new to the unit. This shows I am experienced enough in my academia and clinical skills, I also undertook further training to become a sign off mentor, enabling me to make assessments about whether a student has achieved the required standard of proficiency for safe and effective practice for entry to the NMC.

I have worked with many different aged children with ranges of conditions - surgical, medical, oncology. I feel my skills, learning and confidence has accelerated. I feel capable in delivering and managing patient care. Being involved in working with children with life threatening and life limiting illnesses has released a passion for working with disability care and making a difference in someone's life.

When dealing with sensitive issues such as life limiting conditions in children, it is vital to maintain a safe and welcoming environment. A holistic approach is essential in this area so emotional, physical, mental and spiritual needs are met.

I have demonstrated a good knowledge of nursing skills and work well within the multidisciplinary team. My confidence and ability to cope in different circumstances has greatly increased. I am capable of also documenting and recording information independently and delivering thorough handovers. I have learnt precise time management, judgement and decision making from this experience. I fully understand the importance of family centred care and always aim to promote and facilitate this. I know families and parents are experts on their children and it is important to fully involve them so they are able to participate in their child's treatment.

In my current line of work I have worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Long Term Ventilation for the past 2.5 years. In that time I have developed expertise in respiratory and ventilation management and involvement in complex discharge planning.

I have established patients onto portable ventilators via non-invasive ventilation, (mask ventilation) or invasive ventilation, (tracheostomy), produced ventilator weaning plans and escalation plans alongside Respiratory Consultants, provided training to community based health professionals involved and specialist nursing advice and training to the patient families/carers.

I have developed excellent assessment, observational and nursing management skills with my experience of caring for children with ventilatory needs and am currently working through the Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning of the presenting child at UWE.

I have worked closely with the multidisciplinary team in hospital and community to ensure a coordinated quality service and best quality patient care.

There has been the occasional opportunity to carry out satellite visits to a patient's home or local hospital setting.

I have demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of the service, I have improved my IT skills greatly including use of email and Microsoft office packages.

I have provided advise, support and information from the time of diagnosis and throughout their care pathway.

In the past I have completed a Higher National Diploma in Early Childhood Studies where I have also gained experience working with children, attending placements lasting six months each. During this time I learnt about effective teamwork, developed excellent relationships with children and their families, the importance of play and communication, learnt about health and safety issues, confidentiality and acquired a responsible and positive attitude towards every area of work I was given.

I have also experienced three years of working in pre-schools having daily contact with children and their families and having responsibility of updating parents on their child's welfare and having a friendly and welcoming attitude towards them. I have observed families needs and am therefore aware of professional services that may be called upon for advice or intervention such as social services. I have awareness of possible conflicts when dealing with parents and know to remain professional at all times if such an occasion arises. I have acquired excellent communication and organisation skills, both of which are my strengths. Other responsibilities of mine involved interacting with children and help them with their learning, educational and social development, keeping records and filing reports, problems and progress. I also participated in parents evenings.

My Children's Nursing training has provided me with a variety of professional practice experiences. These experiences have helped me to gain relevant experience and practice to perfect my skills, such as the ability to build warm and trusting relationships. Each placement has provided me with opportunities to develop my confidence and professionalism. I have developed a wide range of clinical and interpersonal skills to adapt to new working environments and learn and practice about equality and diversity and working with different cultures. I have had experience on a variety of different placements including general medical, intensive care units, accident and emergency departments, and community based health care placements with the health visitor and school nurse.

I am conscientious and an astute observer gaining much insight and knowledge from experiences. I am very determined to succeed and am always committed to doing my best. I am a warm and friendly person and have a great sense of humour. I am a hard worker, have a good attitude to work and am always building positive relationships with those who I am working alongside. As well as being able to practice autonomously, I am capable of working well as a team member. I respect other professionals and value their knowledge and any support they offer me. I am aware of the needs of parents, professionals and work colleagues and realise the importance of confidentiality. These experiences have led me to act on my own initiative and feel more confident as a nurse, being responsible and accountable for my actions. Throughout my training I have had increasing responsibility for patients and their families. This has helped me develop my time-management skills, prioritisation, and delivery of quality care and to become more familiar with written and IT documentation. In delivering patient care, I always practice in a manner that maintains patient confidentiality, dignity and rights and I respect patient individuality and choice. I believe these factors are crucial to facilitate trust between patient and nurse. I also realise the importance of policy adherence when performing nursing procedures and administering medications. I have participated in clinical audits knowing the aim is to improve patient care and professional efficacy by meeting targets. I am able to recognise the scope of my capabilities and seek advice when I require it. I look forward to having the opportunity to gain more specialised skills and knowledge. I am effective and willing, responsible and reliable, non-judgemental and well organised. I have effective listening skills and am always eager to learn new skills. I want to develop further as a professional and am prepared to attend any necessary courses to improve my future career. I am honest, have a positive attitude to change and have good self awareness. I have a full and up-to-date drivers licence. I have completed my NMC Revalidation February 2024.