'She enabled me to think out of the box...to dare to be a nurse who majored in research'

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I was going to be a biology teacher but, at age 16, I had a very serious road traffic accident and was in hospital and saw what a difference nurses could make. I changed my career plans at that point, I guess because I wanted to make a difference.

Where did you train?

University of Manchester. I was one of the early bachelor of nursing graduates.

What was your first job?

I worked as a staff nurse on an assessment ward for older people.

What trait do you least like in yourself and why?

Impatience, because of its potentially negative impact on others.

From whom have you learnt most and why?

I was fortunate in being taught by Jean McFarlane, the first professor of nursing in England. She set the tone as an inspirational leader for what could be possible in nursing. She enabled me to think out of the box and to dare to aspire to be a nurse who majored in research.

What advice would you give somebody starting out in the profession?

My advice would be not to be constrained by the here and now, and to aim high.

What keeps you awake?

I generally sleep very well. I am occasionally bothered by the misunderstanding in the press that graduate nurses are in some sense negatively viewed and linked to falling standards of care.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

I get the biggest buzz out of facilitating the development of others.

What is your proudest achievement?

My two daughters.

What do you think will change nursing in the next decade?

Economics and demography.

What job would you like to be doing in five years?

I have my dream job.

What do you think makes a good nurse?

No one attribute makes a good nurse - it takes a combination of intelligence, empathy and a commitment to making a difference.

If you could change one thing in healthcare, what would it be?

I would like to see a genuine commitment to health promotion and disease prevention with a realistic shift of resources from the acute sector to the community.

What would your ideal weekend involve?

Being with my family, skiing in the Alps.

If you could spend an hour in someone’s company, who would it be?

I would like to spend an hour with yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur because I admire the way she translated her dream into reality and I am in awe of her resilience, determination and fortitude.

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment.