Nursing Associate, Steven Jewell

Full name: Steven Jewell, Registered Nursing Associate

Place of work: Dickens Ward, Harbour Hospital

Job title: Registered Nursing Associate/ Pre reg nurse apprentice

Career Journey to date:

 I worked in various manual jobs since leaving school. Having left with no qualifications I spent 15 years as a greengrocer and worked at various warehouses as a stock loader. I opened up my own greengrocers and ran that for 5 years and then I decided I wanted to forge a career for myself in a different field. I started working in children’s homes, for both the local authority and in crisis homes in the private sector, progressing up to a senior role and completing my NVQ in child care/residential child care.

Having spent 3 years working with young people, I applied for a job at a local mental health trust and was successful in gaining a position as a health care support worker in an inpatient unit.

I started work on the intensive care unit and then applied for the trainee nursing associate apprentice role and was given a place on the course. The course was 2 years long, and enabled me to work on the wards and learn new skills and knowledge, as well as progressing up to professional registration with the NMC. During the course I worked across various wards and community placements, as well as placements at physical health hospitals, I also attended university one day a week to complete the academic requirements for my new role.

Following qualifying as a Registered Nursing Associate, I was successful in gaining a place on the pre reg nursing degree, a 20 month course fully funded by the trust and apprenticeship levy which will enable me to become a band 5 mental health nurse.

During my time working in mental health, I have completed courses in ECG’s, cannulation, phlebotomy, CBT and DBT training and numerous other opportunities for progression and self-improvement

What inspired you to become a mental health nurse?

During my time working in the children’s home, I developed a passion for helping others and supporting people who may have cognitive or behavioural difficulties. I wanted to progress in a career where I truly made a difference to people’s lives and where I had an opportunity to be supported to progress. Working for the NHS is a dream come true for me, I get to work with a multidisciplinary team daily, and help patients in their recovery.

I grew up in an era where mental health was not spoken about, and indeed I had my own mental health problems when I was younger and received help for this through counselling sessions. It was during these sessions that the seed was sown and I wanted to give something back and support those who also had mental health issues.

What are you most passionate about in mental health nursing?

I am passionate about person centred care, and viewing people with a holistic approach.

Seeing people admitted to the ward acutely unwell, and helping them with recovery. The feeling of job satisfaction, and knowing that we have truly made a difference, not just to the patient’s life, but their loved ones. Anyone of us could experience mental illness in our life, and we should respect and show compassion to all those who do.

About your role

Summary outline of your current role:

My role, Registered Nursing Associate (RNA)/ Pre reg nurse apprentice, is fairly new in nursing, first registered with the NMC in 2019. It was a route created to enable more opportunities for those working in the NHS or care sector, for them to progress to professional registration with the NMC.

My job role is important, as it helps bridge the gap between the bands 3 and 5. My job role lessens the demands placed on the band 5 nurses, as they can focus more on patient care and creating care planning, and more advanced roles. As a RNA I can help support with these, as well as utilising my knowledge skills and behaviours in carrying out the fundamentals of care under my professional registration. It is also a platform for progressing into a specified field of nursing, mine is mental health

What are the key priorities for your role?

Ensuring patient safety and respecting people’s autonomy. Working alongside the NMC code and mental capacity/mental health act in providing person centred care to all those who come into services and working alongside multidisciplinary teams to plan and provide person centred care.

What do you like most about your role?

No day is the same. Each day we work alongside different patients with different diagnoses, as well as working with a wide variety of colleagues. Seeing someone in recovery and knowing that we have had a part in their recovery, there is no greater feeling.

What have you achieved in your current role?

I have progressed from band 3 HCA to a registered nursing associate and am currently 9 months away from gaining another degree and obtaining my band 5 mental health nursing post. I have gained competencies in several fields through training, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectic behaviour therapy, phlebotomy and cannulation.

What do you hope to achieve in your current role?

To progress and help change people’s perspectives of mental illness, and help support people to prevent admissions to services

Inspiring others

Why should mental health nursing be considered as a career option?

It is a job for life and there are so many areas that you can work in. We make a difference to people lives daily. The work life balance is fantastic and the opportunities for progression are there. We are also guaranteed job stability, the NHS is the largest employer in the country.

What advice would you offer mental health nurses at the start of their career?

Self-care is important, we have to look after ourselves before we give our care to others. Find the correct balance and never be afraid to speak up or seek help if you are struggling. Promote positive mental health, network with other professionals and gain an insight and experience of the roles of other professionals and how we all interconnect.

How do you maintain your health and wellbeing, achieve a good work life balance, and develop resilience?

Through ongoing reflection and recognising our own limitations. We are all only human, we have to find time for ourselves as well as our patients.

What advice you would give to someone thinking of taking a similar career path as you?

Just do it, the apprentice route is the best thing I have done in my life. I have been paid a full time wage to train to be a nurse. I have no university fees, and I have gained invaluable experience accumulated across all my placements and my employer’s training.

Are there any useful websites/books/podcasts/videos that you would advise mental health nurses to refer to?

Twitter is a great tool for keeping up to date with NHS trusts and professionals, as well as a good networking tool for other students/nurses.

What is your favourite quote and how does this relate to you as a mental health nurse?

Find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.

This relates to me and my current role, I used to hate going to my old jobs, it was repetitive, boring and was simply a means to an end. Doing nursing has given me purpose and I embrace every day as a new learning opportunity or a chance to improve someone’s day