Hi my name is Tracie and I have been nursing for over 30 years. I class myself as a good example of having worked my way up from the very bottom rung of the career ladder; with my passion, hard work and determination to succeed, I have gradually progressed up that ladder to be where I want to be today.
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My early career
I stared my caring vocation as a “care assistant” in 1989. I later embarked on my “formal” nursing career pathway as a Pupil Nurse commencing my State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) qualification on the 12th May 1991, the birth day of Florence Nightingale!
I took this route because having left school with just some basic qualifications, this wasn’t enough to offer me direct entry onto the Registered General Nursing (RGN) course. In being keen to progress, while completing my SEN training I also attended night school to get the relevant qualifications that I needed - and a few years later, I successfully converted to RGN via degree route.
What are you passionate about?
Health promotion and health education has always been a passion of mine and I am keen to promote this, both in and out of the workplace. I have always felt strongly that in order to do a great job, to be happy in our jobs, and to be the best that we can be, looking after our own physical and psychological wellbeing is paramount; after all, we can spend so much of our adult life in the workplace setting so it’s important that we feel fit and well when we’re at work.
I am also passionate about supporting people with disabilities in the workplace, and I believe that with the right advise, guidance, and support in place, people can achieve, and can be successful despite having a disability.
What qualifications do you have?
In the main I am dually qualified. I am a Registered General Nurse (RGN), and I also have a registered Specialist Community Public Health Nursing degree in Occupational Health - (SCPHN – OH). I have also undertaken health and safety training, and I am an advanced DSE Assessor. Learning never stops in Nursing however, and over the years I have gained numerous training certificates in areas such as smoking cessation, immunisation and vaccination, hearing and lung function testing, expert witness work, and report writing.
One of your greatest achievements?
There have been several proud moments over the years, but one that stands out is in respect of my commitment to promoting and delivering high standards of care, and towards continued learning and development. This resulted in me being awarded the “Queens Nurse” title in 2018. Since obtaining this award, I have been extremely lucky to have been further supported in gaining enhanced management training, successfully completing an Executive Nurse Leadership Course which was fully supported by the Queens Nursing Institute.
My Current Role:
My current role is that of an Independent Occupational Health Nurse Specialist and my mantra is “SHILOH” – Shaping Healthfulness, Individuality, and Longevity through Occupational Health. Although I am independent in practice, my role very much involves working in collaboration with several other health professionals such as Counsellors, GP’s, and Mental Health Practitioners.
There are many aspects to my role, but my main objective is to support employers in looking after their staff, and to support employees in leading a healthy and fulfilled lifestyle, and to achieve a safe, healthy and happy vocation.
What does an Occupational Health Nurse do?
An Occupational Health Nurse utilises a wide range of clinical skill sets in order to undertake the role effectively, and to make effective decisions. The role is never boring, and it presents with new challenges frequently that dictates that we very often have to “think on our feet”.
The role can be extremely varied with tasks ranging from case management work when people report sick from work, to giving vaccinations, to undertaking medicals and assessing fitness for work; and once an individual is deemed fit for their role, with or without adjustments, the main focus is to establish what workplace exposures an individual may come across during the course of their employment, and to advise on any provision that may be necessary – such as ongoing heath monitoring and personal protective equipment (PPE) for example.
Why Occupational Health Nursing?
Whilst there are some real challenges in Occupational Health to include a lack of understanding from others about the role, a lack of resources, and the potential for exposure to vicarious trauma, as long as this is managed effectively, the job satisfaction that can be gained from Occupational Health Nursing in my experience is immense!
My job allows me to support those, who despite having health detriments, to continue to work – and being able to make changes, make a difference, and to see the benefits unfold compliments the passion and drive that I have in ensuring as best as I can the health and wellbeing of people.
As an Occupational Health Nurse, another key part of my role means that I am very often privy to private and intimate details of somebody’s personal and professional life. Taking this into consideration, and in gaining the trust of an individual to “open up”, I feel privileged and honoured to be a part of their journey, especially when it comes to responding to, and supporting the process that empowers an individual to make effective decisions about their own health and employment.
This process is of equal importance when it comes to assisting employers in being fully informed in order that they too can make any decisions regarding any work-related matters with their staff.
What qualifications and skills do you need to enter into a career as an Occupational Health Nurse?
To practise as an Occupational Health Nurse / screening nurse in an Occupational Health setting, as a minimum, you will need to have a valid RGN qualification, and ideally a background in accident and emergency or community nursing, although the latter is not set in stone. I do believe however, that having a sound General Nursing background is hugely advantageous before progressing into Occupational Health Nursing.
Occupational Health Technicians (OHT’s) however do not need the RGN qualification, and there are courses specifically designed for the OHT role. This can be an excellent way to enter into the field of Occupational Health to determine whether this type of work is for you.