I think it was
@Pergola who mentioned a few pages ago she wanted to hear more from NHS staff? Well I'm going to tell you my story as a neonatal nurse working in a pandemic. My job is actually a privilege to do and I work with an incredible team of staff. I look after and care for not only the very sick term and premature babies, but their parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents and wider family and friends. I offer and provide emotional support to parents who are at their most vulnerable when their baby is sick and ultimately placed in the care of people they've never met. Sometimes I can answer questions confidently because I know pretty much which trajectory a baby will take, sometimes however, I don't have the answers and I can do no more than offer a shoulder to cry on. I have the skills and knowledge to be able to start resuscitation on a baby at delivery if needed and sometimes those skills are needed for babies who stop breathing for many different reasons. I have been involved in discussions about withdrawing resuscitation on babies who are too premature, too sick and for whom further efforts would be futile.
Back in March things changed on the unit. Parents can no longer visit their baby together, instead they must come separately. Brothers and sisters are not allowed in, neither are grandparents or friends. Some babies are in our unit for months so you can only imagine the stress and anxiety our visiting restrictions are causing.
I no longer bother wearing makeup for work because from the minute I set foot in the hospital, I am required to wear a mask. Sometimes I am in full PPE for hours looking after a baby. I work 12 hour shifts, days, nights, Christmas, New Year and Bank Holidays. I retired from full time work last year and now work part time because despite all the challenges, I don't think there is another job I would be able to do. I've worked as a nurse for almost 38 years and the last 25 have been in the neonatal unit. I've done loads of extra qualifications and training and my hourly rate is £15.65
I'm not here to bang on about nurses' pay because that's another story for another day but it makes me extremely angry that Sophie Hinchliffe is a millionaire basically because she shined her sink and got lucky. There's something inherently wrong with that.
Am I jealous? No because it's not a trait I have. Could I have left the NHS and found a different job? Yes but I know my true worth and I wouldn't trade places with her and her workshy idle husband for anything. Being a nurse was my ambition from being around three years old. It's definitely a vocation.
Being an Instagram famous influencer is not even worthy of being called a job!
Xxx