Case study:

Danielle Robinson, care home nurse

Danielle is a nurse at Bupa’s St Nicholas care home in Liverpool.

Danielle was just looking for a change when she initially became a care assistant there in 2003. But, she says, “I immediately felt that I had found my vocation in care”.

“After three years working closely with the nurses, they convinced me to apply to study myself.”

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Caring for the whole person
“I think being a carer was brilliant. But, the way that I saw it, nursing was one better because you can do even more to help somebody,” says Danielle.

During her degree, Danielle started to think that nursing in a care home was different. “It’s a lot more personal,” she says.

“Of the placements I had in university, I didn’t really enjoy hospital work because I found you didn’t really have time for anybody.

“At least here you’ve got more time to spend one-on-one, even if it is just having a little chat.”

Beyond routine nursing
“In among the medication rounds and the paperwork, you’re not just dealing with residents – families as well might need updates on relatives’ conditions, or just a bit of support if somebody’s become unwell,” says Danielle.

“I spend a good chunk of my day – especially Monday to Friday – on phones to GPs, district nurses and dieticians.”

Nurses also take charge of care assessments for each new resident.

That routine will be familiar to many nurses. However, Danielle sees other differences for Bupa care home nurses.

“You do get a bit more responsibility working in a care home as opposed to a hospital,” she says.

“As a nurse in a care home you can quite often be in charge of a shift. You’re always well supported and it’s a good opportunity.”

Growing in a long-term career
Danielle became a registered nurse in 2010. But even before that she’d talked with St Nicholas (the Bupa care home she’d worked in as a carer) about returning.

“Many nurses struggle to find roles straight after qualifying,” she says. “In fact one of the friends I made at university has also come to work for us as a result. I’d mentioned not just the work I was doing here but also the opportunities you are given here. For example, now I’m doing my NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in management and medication.”

Danielle hopes her NVQ will help her become a care home manager eventually. But she’s also motivated to make the most of the training on offer so that she can keep pace with her profession.

“You’ve always got to be prepared to expand your knowledge because it’s something that’s forever changing, I’ve also asked to go on a mentorship course because we get a lot of student nurses. I want to be able to spend time with them as well, helping to train them.”

Loving where you work
Danielle loves the friendly, homely feeling at St Nicholas – an atmosphere that is nurtured by the dedicated, caring people who work there.

“The guys and girls in here are all just fantastic,” says Danielle. “It’s looking after people, caring for people, and that always gives you a feel-good factor, doesn’t it?”