I qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1991 and started my first role on the Children’s Unit at St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals. I completed my Children’s Nurse qualification in 1993 at Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU) and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Following this I worked for 15 years at Whiston Hospital where I gained valuable experience in all aspects of children’s nursing including; medical, surgical, high dependency, advanced paediatric life support and acute community care. In 2003 I became lead nurse for the Hospital at Home team.
In 2005 I was successful in my application to establish a new Community Children’s Nursing Team in Knowlsey. This role enabled me to develop my specialist skills further, in the management of children living with very complex health needs and disabilities in the community; enhancing my negotiation and partnership working skills.
In 2006 I successfully completed my Community Children’s Nurse Specialist Practitioner BSc(Hons) at the University of Central Lancashire and was successful in gaining the position of team manager for the Community Children’s Nursing Team and Special School Nursing Team in Knowsley. I am also a non-medical prescriber gaining my V300 qualification in 2011. In 2014 I qualified as an Advanced Practitioner.
Since starting at Liverpool John Moore’s University in August 2016 I have been undertaking my PGCert in Higher Education. I am also currently organising a Masterclass event with colleagues on ‘Building Resilience’. My future plans are to undertake further study, considering children with complex health needs and the impact upon the family unit.