This month, as we mark International Nurses’ Day, we are also taking the opportunity to hear the ‘Voices of Elysium’. Today’s interview is with Roz Kidwell, Deputy Ward Manager at Cotswold Spa Hospital. She tells us about her nursing journey and nursing in CAMHS services.
Tell us about Cotswold Spa Hospital.
Cotswold Spa is an eating disorder service that supports both children and adults. We’re a very small service that can support people aged 13-26 across two wards. Eight of the beds are for young people, and four are for adults. The real beauty of the service is that people can transition from the children’s service to the adult service. That’s not always possible elsewhere. The priority is focusing on patients as individuals. It’s a really rewarding place to work, and I’ve been here for 18 months.
What’s your nursing journey been like?
I qualified as an RCN – a paediatric nurse – 21 years ago. I did a nursing diploma and trained at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) with South Bank University. It was 50% practice and 50% theory. Nursing is a hands-on job, so that really was the best of both worlds and a great way to learn.
I worked at GOSH for five years on the cardiorespiratory ward. That meant many of our patients were ventilated or had tracheostomies. It was an environment that really made me grow up. It’s both a really sad and amazing place to work. You literally saw miracles. It made you realise how important life is.
At GOSH, though, every department is very specialist and your career goes up and up at a very sharp angle, but it’s not a well-balanced nursing career. I wanted to do more general nursing, assessments, etc. I started working in the Gloucester Kids Centre (we’d moved due to my husband’s job role), and anything could come through the door. Every day is different, even when you think you know what is coming up.
One day, a patient from Cotswold Spa came into the hospital, and I got talking to the support worker assisting them. The work Cotswold Spa was doing really interested me and I joined the bank.
I worked for some time at a private girls’ school looking after 950 students, but it wasn’t a place for career achievements or growth. I had just had a baby, and it worked for me at the time, but it wasn’t fulfilling. I’d kept in touch with the team at Cotswold Spa and took up a full-time position 18 months ago. It’s the ideal role.
I am supporting the nurse in charge to get through the shift. I make sure everything happens on time, I cover breaks and make sure everything is planned. I help come up with ideas to make shifts run better. I do a lot of audits. The role sees me midway between management and being on the floor, and still having contact with patients. It’s the best of both worlds.
Why did you want to become a nurse?
I always loved working and being with people and chatting. I like the rewarding feeling you get from helping someone get over an illness or to feel better in their life in general and making a difference.It’s about getting them through difficult times, and it’s what being a nurse is about for me.
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If Roz’s nursing journey has inspired you to consider becoming part of the Elysium team, then check out our current nursing job vacancies. You can also find out more about Elysium Children & Education services here.