I qualified as an Adult nurse in 2000 after studying a 4 year nursing degree at the University of Surrey. On qualifying I entered a preceptorship programme at The Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester. This was an 18-month programme which gave me experience in ITU, Gastric Medicine and Colorectal and Vascular surgery. It was on this ward my love for caring for surgical patients was born! I then spent 3 years working on the colorectal/vascular ward becoming senior staff nurse. On leaving here I worked as acting deputy sister on a mixed specialty ward at St Richards in Chichester before taking up the role as Stoma Care Specialist Nurse at the Royal Surrey in 2006. During the 19 years in post the service has changed greatly, with just myself being the only stoma nurse to now leading a team of 3 other stoma care nurses and 1 healthcare support worker. We are the specialist centre for bladder removal as well as gynaecological cancers. It is a challenging and rewarding career which I love.
