Emergency unit invites nurses to join its team
AN NHS hospital is inviting nurses to a recruitment day to encourage them to consider a career on its emergency assessment unit (EAU).
“EAU is a place where you can build a solid reputation and clinical education to build the career you want.” That’s the view of one member of the EAU nursing team at the University Hospital of North Tees, as the ward opens its doors as part of a nursing careers day.
The unit cares for patients who need immediate review and who are expected to need further treatment on a medical ward. Now the team is looking for current or aspiring nurses to join the unit to build a solid foundation for a long career in healthcare.
EAU’s open day will take place this Friday, May 10, in the Middlefield Centre at the University Hospital of North Tees. Interested nurses are welcome to drop in any time between 10am and 1pm to meet the team and find out more about the opportunities available.
The ward looks after patients with a variety of emergency healthcare needs, meaning new nurses can build up a wide knowledge of specialties to get a solid grounding for their dream role. But the ward also has recognised routes of progression and a new clinical educator in place to offer professional support to support long careers on the unit.
Rebecca Cawley, 31, from Hartlepool, always knew she wanted to be a nurse. As she puts it: “It’s one of those cringe things but it’s true.”
After her dreams of becoming a nurse started to become true and she excelled in her degree at Teesside University, she found herself on placement as a student nurse on the North Tees EAU.
When she qualified as a nurse in 2015, she applied for a job on the ward and has been there ever since. Rebecca said: “Everyone on EAU is so compassionate. We care so much about our patients and we get to see that difference that we make, seeing someone come in so critically unwell, looking after them and providing high quality patient care.
“We give our heart in all we do. Knowing that we’ve made a difference and getting people better and back home, that’s what we strive for.”
Last year, Rebecca realised she wanted to progress in her career but was reluctant to leave EAU. So when an opportunity came up to be a sister, she seized it.
She’s been in her role now since last June but shows no signs of slowing down her ambitions.
She’s since been supported in completing a course on leadership management and is next looking into completing her clinical skills.
“If anyone wants to know a little bit more about working here, please just come and have a chat with us. Pop on the ward, have a look around, spend some time and talk to us – everyone’s more than welcome.”
After 25 years working in retail, Adam Breen took a detour in life and decided to change his career.
After completing his nursing degree seven years ago, Adam, now 51 from Ingleby Barwick, has worked his way up the ranks to become a nurse practitioner. He has worked in the emergency assessment unit at the University Hospital of North Tees for over seven years now.
He said: “Being a nurse or nurse practitioner in acute medicine is dynamic - you’re constantly gaining knowledge and growing as an individual. EAU is a place where you can build a solid reputation and clinical education to build the career you want. It’s such a valuable experience for students, newly qualified nurses and staff wanting to upskill and advance their careers.
“Any nurses who start their careers on EAU can get a good grounding and ultimately find their passion for a particular specialty – or stay, like I have.” in