Rebecca Bowering

Rebecca Bowering

Rebecca Bowering, Staff Nurse at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explains how her career has developed since joining the NHS in 2012 as a Healthcare Support Worker

‘I began work aged 19, motivated by the passing of my grandmother to work in the care sector for a local provider. In time I wanted to progress and there was a Healthcare Support Worker recruitment day for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals. I went along and was successful in securing a post in the Ophthalmology clinic at Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop as a band two Healthcare Support Worker. Later, having completed my NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care I progressed to become a band three which involved using additional skills.

‘In time I was given the opportunity to become a Trainee Assistant Practitioner and I attended college weekly for 18 months. On completion I became a band four Assistant Practitioner, continuing to work in the Ophthalmology outpatients clinic but moving to Doncaster Royal Infirmary to gain more experience including treating emergency and complex cases.’

Later, having cared for her father during his final illness, Rebecca was inspired to turn ‘this difficult time into something positive’ and she determined to return to study to become a nurse.

‘I left my role in September 2019 to study at Sheffield Hallam University to become a Staff Nurse,’ she continues. ‘Due to my previous studies I only had to do two years instead of three. On successful completion of my Degree I secured a job on the C1 respiratory ward at Bassetlaw Hospital. I’d already worked there during the Covid-19 pandemic and took a lot of pride in my role. In October 2021 I started work there again, this time as a qualified Staff Nurse.

‘For the day-to-day running of the ward I work collaboratively with my colleagues to ensure all the patients are supported in their daily tasks, from getting washed and dressed to ensuring they understand to the best of their ability the care and treatment they’re receiving, and how long they are expected to be in hospital for. With my team I also carry out medication rounds, clinical observations, skin checks and ensure that patient-centred care is carried out in a timely manner.

‘As well as these duties I work closely with the doctors on the ward who review the patients daily to ensure they are up to date on the patients’ status and how they have been overnight. As a Staff Nurse it’s essential I keep up to date on each of my patients as it enables me to provide good quality, person-centred care – one of the areas of my job I pride myself on. It is very rewarding to see when you have really helped a patient on their road to recovery.

‘Looking back over my career so far, from Healthcare Support Worker to Assistant Practitioner and finally to becoming a qualified Staff Nurse – while working and gaining knowledge along the way – it’s been amazing, and with the support of the NHS I have been able to achieve my career goals.’