A Mental Health Nurse and Community Psychiatric Nurse talk to Morenike Adebayo about their careers in the healthcare system.
1. What does your job actually involve?
Mental Health Nurse: Working with people with first episode psychosis, ranging from 14-25 year olds and those who are seen as ‘at risk’ of mental illnesses.
Community Psychiatric Nurse: Nursing young people from the age of 14-35 years experiencing first episode psychosis or at risk of developing psychosis. The Job involves both medical and psychological
treatment which is evidence based, supporting people back into education, employment, helping with
housing etc.
2. What previous jobs have you had?
MHN: I’ve worked in factories, volunteered at mental institutions and with an environmental team and worked as a nursing assistant.
CPN: Police officer.
3. What qualifications do you have?
MHN: CSE in English, Geography, History, Needlecraft and Human Biology (1978), CSE in Human Biology, Maths, Typewriting, English Studies, Literature and Language History (1979), O Level Maths, Human Biology, Biology, Mathematics and Art (1980/1982/1983), ENB Mental Nursing (1987)
CPN: Degree in Mental Health Nursing, Certificate in Non-Medical Prescribing (nurse prescriber)
4. How did you land your current job?
MHN: Applied to do my nurse training, took a test and the rest is history.
CPN: Through gaining experience in clinical setting such hospitals.
5. Is it what you expected?
MHN: Not at first but it got easier.
CPN: Yes.
6. What is the best aspect of your job?
MHN: Meeting people who are willing to work with you and have a desire to improve their lives
CPN: Making a difference in someone’s life.
7. What is the worst aspect?
MHN: Not being given the opportunity to discuss changes in a big institution such as NHS, treated like a number and not a person.
CPN: Payment by result.
8. What kind of person generally succeeds in your industry?
MHN: This is an interesting question; it appears that people who have progressed into higher positions do not represent the people that work in the Trust from a diverse perspective.
CPN: Someone with the ability to care and are emotionally sound as the job can be demanding and
challenging.
9. What advice would you give to someone looking to get into your line of work?
MHN: Run as far as you can, there are many other high powered jobs that not only pay more but respect you as an individual.
CPN: At times it’s a safe job to have with high availability of jobs after training and employability in various sectors, but this is counterbalanced by less financial gains at times.