Karen Turner worked as a nurse for the NHS in her early 20s, and after many years working in the commercial world in travel and photography, she has recently joined #teamHDFT in a care support role.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic Karen was working part-time for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust as an administrator for Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy in Hambleton and Richmondshire.
She had already been considering re-joining the NHS in a clinical role after supporting her father through a long illness. The call to redeploy staff in response to Covid-19 prompted Karen to get in touch with HR and explain she was an ex Enrolled Nurse and could offer support with hands on care.
“I was keen to have a role with patient contact again and also wanted to help with the virus,” says Karen who is now working on Littondale Ward in a Care Support Worker role after completing the necessary training.
“Returning to the NHS just before the pandemic started, oddly gave me the opportunity to go back to hands on care, and it’s been a real privilege and very rewarding. It’s brought back skills that I thought I didn’t have any longer, and given me the opportunity to learn lots of new skills.
“Things have changed a great deal since I worked in the NHS over 30 years ago but you start remembering structures and care procedures on a ward very quickly.
“Being part of a team in an organisation where the focus is caring for others gives me a great sense of reward. At the end of a long shift walking out of the hospital, exhausted but knowing you have done something really worthwhile, is a great feeling.”
If you are interested in returning to work in the NHS, please contact our Careers Team [email protected].