A rewarding nursing career in the care home sector

I am a new member of the South East RCN board. I decided to apply for this role because I am now drawing to the end of my nursing career and felt I might be able to contribute some insights into private sector nursing that could be of benefit to the important work of the board committee.

My nursing career has predominantly been in the private sector which is an area of nursing that needs significant support from the RCN.

I was introduced to this area of nursing through my mother, also a registered nurse. She was for many years a district nurse in rural Essex, and I accompanied her on visits to patients many times when I was a child, subsequently I always wanted to be a nurse. Her dream was to have a nursing home of her own. She had worked in a London nursing home when newly qualified and it was in her eyes a wonderful place. It was owned by a dedicated nurse, who always put her patients first, they were treated with dignity, respect and very pampered. Little smoked salmon sandwiches starched linen napkins, all the things that a sick person needed to feel cherished.

My mother wanted to run a nursing home to emulate this haven for patients.

The opportunity arose for her to rent a nursing home in Southampton, and she enthusiastically took on the challenge along with my father who became business manager and handyman.

Sadly, my father died prematurely, and my mother was encouraged by her very supportive accountant to take out a mortgage and purchase the home. After some years the area was redeveloped and my mother found an alternative and more suitable property in another part of Hampshire, which had formerly been a NHS convalescent home. As a newly qualified nurse I helped my mother establish the home.

I continued to assist my mother with the home and eventually took over managing the home with the help of my husband, it was very much a family affair with our children helping with various chores pertinent to their ages. I had grown up with Mum’s patients as an important part of my life and subsequently my children had the special experience of being part of the life of the nursing home.

Care home nursing is very hard work but very rewarding. Nurses in these settings help so many people lead fulfilled and happy lives despite their handicaps. These nurses need to be recognised, and championed for the care they give and hopefully the support of the RCN can help raise the profile of care home nursing.