Real Life Stories

Jeff Ingleby is a Nurse working in the NHS.

Question 1: How did you become a medical professional? (We’re you inspired by a family member? Childhood dream? Etc)

My earliest memory from school was taking part in an assembly. I must have been about 5/6. We all had to stand up and say what we wanted to be when we were older. I stood up and said "I want to be a doctor, but I don't like to look at blood, so I'll probably be a newsagent". I'd always thought I would be involved in healthcare, as I grew up I took more of an interest in Nursing which is where I am now.

Question 2: What element of your role do you most enjoy?

It really depends what mood I'm in. Mostly I enjoy patient contact, being able to chat with patients whilst sometimes doing something as mundane as tying their laces. Talking and listening is a marvellous way of making a patient feel better. Somedays though I enjoy being co-ordinator or team leader and just doing the management side. But only very occasionally!

Question 3: What element of your role do you least enjoy /or what element was a surprise to you?

The biggest surprise was the unpleasantness that some people are capable of. Mood swings, fear, frustration etc we understand while people are in hospital. We're aware of how stressful coming into hospital is and make allowances for people's angry/unpleasant  behaviour, however there is a line that more and more people cross and that is where their behaviour and attitudes/actions become unacceptable. I started hospital work 13 years ago and aggression/violence was generally attributed to a medical cause eg confusion, agitation etc, the patient was not always to blame but their current condition causing it. But more recently, colleagues have been victim to violence/aggression that is simply because the individuals believe it is acceptable way of treating staff.

Question 4: Knowing what you do now, if you could go back and start again would you still choose to work in the medical profession? (Please give a reason for your answer)

Yes, putting aside the issues and complaints and problems nurses and other health care workers face, the reason we are all there is because we want to help or make a difference. As cliched as it sounds, it's true. Lots of people join to "save the world" where this desire fades as you realise the scale of problems, the desire to make a difference never goes and the sense of achievement and feeling you get when your patient smiles and says thank you for helping them is amazing.

Question 5: If you could give your past self some words of wisdom, what would you say?

Don't waste time worrying about things out of your control. And not to forget that it's the small things that often mean the most.