Lisa started her career at 18 years old as an auxiliary nurse on ward 15 at the Freeman Hospital where she worked for 11 years. After leaving ward 15 she went to work in the community in Newcastle for the palliative care team for seven years.
A total turn around in career led her into teaching where she taught in a primary school for another seven years.
Once her own children grew up she knew that she wanted to return to nursing and try something totally different – nursing was her true passion! Lisa returned to the Freeman Hospital in 2016 and became the family centred care lead for caring for families coming to theatre to receive their open-heart surgery. For Lisa coming back to the Freeman felt like ‘coming home where she belonged’ Where she wanted to finish her career in the hospital where it all started – a full circle.
In episode two we meet Lisa as she supports 13-year-old Seb – along with his parents Ivan and Nadine – as they prepare for Seb’s heart surgery at the Freeman Hospital.
What made you get into this area of work?
I wanted to take my skills that I have gained over many years and work somewhere that I had never experienced before. This led to me returning to the Freeman Hospital in cardiothoracic theatres. Little did I know then I could pioneer, inspire, and lead a surgical team into improving our patients’ surgical journey. I was awarded the healthcare support worker (HCSW) winner for the National RCNi Nursing award in 2019 for improving our service and the positive impact it has made for our families.
I created a training package for staff to educate them on the importance of family-centred care and support them to meet the emotional and psychological needs of patients and carers.
I also developed communication aids that give patients and carers vital information to help alleviate concerns, including an electronic book that translates information into different languages.
The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) supports us to provide a Baggins the bear teddy bears, certificate, book and a handwritten card from the theatre team caring for their child. This is a lovely keepsake for our children and parents to remember the time they spent at the Freeman Hospital and the people who cared for them.
What is your favourite part of your work?
Making a real difference to our patients’ health – in some cases this is ‘life or death’. Being part of that journey is very humbling and a reminder that we only live once and should cherish every moment. Life is so precious and sometimes are only remembered when we might lose life, that is where we all need support and guidance.
I share these moments daily with my theatre team in cardio theatres (who are my extended family) and like no other team I have ever worked with in my career. My favourite saying is ‘You will never feel like you are working if you love what you do’ and I love what I do every day.
What would you say to someone who is interested in progressing a similar career?
I have been blessed to work alongside so many amazing people during my career who taught and influenced me to become the person I am today.
I hope that I can show my peers that you can achieve anything if you put your mind and passion towards your goal. Teaching new skills and watching our students, ODPs and HCSWs grow into their role is fantastic for our future generations working in our Geordie Trust!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Family life is very important to me. I am very lucky to have a loving and caring family who have supported me in everything I do. I know from my job not all people have this support which makes me even more determined to care and look after our families on their surgical journey.
Believe it or not my work colleagues are the ones I share my spare time with that’s how much we really do care for each other! Swimming is the little bit of time just for me and time out session before the next shift!
How was the filming?
Nerve wrecking! I didn’t really know why I had been asked to be part of the series I am just doing my job. The crew and all the staff involved in the filming were all fantastic and very supportive. Hopefully people on the outside will understand what happens inside our theatres in the ‘secret life of cardio theatres’ and what really happens beyond the scenes. They will just have to learn the Geordie lingo!
How to you feel about being part of the series?
I will tell you after it has been aired! I’m very honoured and can hopefully be an inspiration to our future generations within our wonderful NHS and be proud to be a Geordie!
