Charisma from the agency rang me at the last minute yesterday and instead of my usual rota asked me to do a shift at a different nursing home. When I say ‘asked’ it was kind of in the same way an armed robber would ask for the contents of the bank safe; but other than that I really feel that me and Charisma are starting to bond through these friendly phone calls. I won’t lie, I was a bit nervous about going somewhere else after being at Sunshine Nursing Home for so many weeks. I was just starting to get used to who and where everything was there; and I think they are getting used to me a little too. After the episode with Mrs G and the bath I feel like the carers are starting to see me as one of them, they even allocate me a break now! I think the incident with Mr F and his recycled maltesers also gave me more credibility in the eyes of the carers, but that’s a story for another day, preferably not until long after I’ve got back on the horse and been able to pop a few ch...

I’ve done loads of shifts at Sunshine now; well 7 counting today’s and 12 hours apiece – that equals loads in my book – I almost feel like a permanent member of staff.  After the initial baptism of fire that was my first shift I feel like I’ve taken to it like a duck to water. I’ve ditched the size ten uniform (much to the disgust of Charisma at the agency who ranted about cost), invested in some of that peppermint foot stuff and a new washing up bowl for the foot soaks, and I feel very positive about all the good things I’m doing there. Like today, Mrs G asked me for a bath and it was such a shock because the girls had told me that she hadn’t had a bath since she’d moved in. That’s not to say she’s dirty, she’s forever having a strip wash and you can tell by the soap on a rope she has hanging in her en-suite, that she’s not shy of soap and water. Anyway, it was shortly after lunch and a few of the residents had been helped onto bed rest so it was fairly quiet. I had fin...

It’s a good job I’m a ‘cup half full’ kind of girl and can stay positive most of the time.  I’m sitting on the number 31 with feet that look like twin haggis and a face to match. Purple, swollen and blotchy is quite a unique look but at least it means that the seat next to me is likely to stay free; it means my work bag which is full of knitting, uneaten sandwiches and the latest Marian Keyes blockbuster gets to sit down too. I look at that bag with disdain. The traitor. Lulling me into a false belief that I would have a quiet night for my first shift at the Sunshine Retirement Village. I mean, how unreasonable was it to think that fifty two elderly people would sleep all night? That four care staff would just do as they were told so that I could get on with being the nurse and fit in a quick drink and the odd egg mayo in between med rounds? Nothing, I am telling you nothing could be further removed from reality. I rang the bell at exactly 7.45pm. Charisma (as I have aptly...

Well it’s been a funny old week. Last week I posted my CV online and I’ve had a great response. Everyone it seems, wants a nurse to fly their plane or lead their financial strategy. As flattering as it may be I don’t quite think I have the required skill set to become the Chief Financial Officer for a leading supermarket chain; if I’m hone st I struggle to figure out that my income has got to exceed my outgoings if I want to cool the intimate relationship I seem to have with my bank manager… Anyway, I digress. The week got better when I was invited to apply to become an agency nurse. Having spent the last 6 months working in the NHS I’ve worked with many an agency nurse and the stories I’ d heard have always been really positive. So I rocked up at the interview and lo and behold, ten minutes later I’m walking out with an induction plan and a uniform! Happy days! Ok, so maybe I shouldn’t have blurted out that my dress size was a ten when they got to the part of dishing ou...