A nurse from University Hospitals Tees who has been celebrating 50-years of service in the NHS has shared how her passion for the job still keeps her working.
Sandra Brennan, a urology nurse specialist from Stockton, began her NHS career at the age of 17 in 1975, working as a ward hostess within the psychiatry department at the University Hospital of North Tees.
Sandra undertook her training from 1976 – 79 and once newly qualified worked as a staff nurse in surgery, admitting that surgery has always had her heart.
As her career progressed, she completed qualifications in breast care, stoma care and in time management courses. She went on to work as a senior staff nurse on a surgical ward.
Sandra said: “Nursing was something that I had always thought about pursuing as a career. I had always wanted to travel and I had originally looked at becoming a Queen Alexandra’s Nurse, but they did not provide state registered nurse (SRN) training.
“I thought if I chose that path I’d get to travel the world – instead I’ve travelled to North Tees and back! But I’ve never regretted a single day of coming in to work in a job that I love.”
Choosing to specialise
Another turning point in Sandra’s career came when North Tees Health and Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust merged in 1999.
At the time, she had been working within ward management, but saw the merging of the two trusts as an opportunity to become a specialist nurse after completing a degree in cancer care. A chance vacancy saw Sandra decide to specialise within Urology.
She continued: “At that time I was thinking of specialising in breast or colorectal as I had a lot of experience within those conditions. But when a urology post came up – I thought about how this would be a new challenge – knowing I could progress to becoming an independent nurse prescriber providing nurse-led clinics, chemotherapy to patients and performing flexible cystoscopy and bladder biopsies, which is all part of my role now.”
Still passionate about the job five decades later
Sandra shared some of the changes she has seen over the years and took the time to reflect on just why she loves her job so much.
Sandra said: “I’ve seen quite a few changes in the care that we deliver, from foam dressings being replaced by vac dressing to the pilot of maggot therapy. I also remember introducing a pilot for the first 12-hour shifts, which staff embraced as they felt it provided better continuity of care for the patients, as well as a better life/work balance.
“Some other memorable projects I also worked on are the introduction of the surgical assessment unit on the surgical ward and the introduction of new breast re-construction techniques.
“I honestly love my job. I’ve been supported all the way by my husband and family throughout my nursing career and I’ve worked with a lot of inspirational, dedicated and fantastic colleagues. It’s the patients I care for and the people I work with that still keep me here now.
“How many people can say that they stay in a job for 50-years if they hate it!”