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SEPTEMBER 2014 | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
r chance to join our team
Julie Tracey
I qualified as a nurse in 2006 after coming in three years earlier as a cadet as part of a scheme… The cadet programme was aimed at people without a medical background who wanted to go into nursing. Michel Ernstzen, Band 5 nurse
Julie Tracey – Associate Director of Nursing, Division A With QEHB taking shape, Julie took on an Julie qualified as a Staff Nurse, equivalent to a operational nursing role within Corporate current Band 5, in 1982 from the old Queen Nursing which included coordinating the nursing Elizabeth School of Nursing. workforce for the new hospital. Her first post was in renal at the old QE In 2007 she became Associate Director of Hospital, starting on permanent nights before Nursing in Corporate before being seconded to moving onto mixed days and nights. her current role in 2009, which then became Julie took the opportunity to complete a permanent 18 months later. six month, nationally recognised renal course Throughout her career, Julie says she has away from QE, before returning to work in the taken up opportunities to progress that have haemodialysis unit. been available, which included a Kings Fund She was promoted to Junior Sister in 1988 and Leadership course in 2002. then progressed further to the equivalent of a She says of her current senior role: “I enjoy Band 7 Senior Sister to run the haemodialysis unit. being in an operational management post During her time on the unit, Julie ran the home responding to different situations, being part haemodialysis programme which enables patients of the Divisional Management Team and to have this treatment in their own home contributing to the Nursing strategy. She then returned to the renal ward and was “Predominantly I enjoy the job because of the responsible for its move from the ground to the ability to influence patient care, supporting staff fourth floor of the old QE. and maintaining and improving standards.” Julie was seconded to Clinical Service So what qualities would be needed to take on Development as a Service Planner during which such a role? she was involved in arranging cancer peer review “I think you have to motivate, develop and visits, as well as some initial work in planning support, have empathy and be compassionate, but patient flows for the new QEHB. also be flexible and be a good communicator.” Then, after returning to be renal ward manager, she enjoyed a further secondment in helping to create a revised patient pathway for renal patients, including developing an acute renal care area. A further move into management saw Julie successfully apply to become Clinical Practice Manager for renal, urology and dialysis, before taking on the role of Senior Nurse for renal and urology in 2004.
Predominantly I enjoy the job because of the ability to influence patient care… Julie Tracey
Rachel Ernstzen (right) with husband Michel, son Ben and daughter Beth
The Ernstzen family Rachel Ernstzen – Night Coordinator Aged 46, Rachel qualified as a registered general nurse at the Queen Elizabeth School of Nursing in 1988. She initially worked as a Band 5 equivalent nurse on a surgical ward, before moving to the emergency admissions unit at the QE a year after qualifying. After spells working in intensive care and general medical, Rachel made the switch to night services in 1991, and was later promoted to her present role of Night Coordinator. She said: “I manage the night service team, which basically runs the hospital at night; managing wards, managing staffing, running the front door, and looking after acute patients. “I think it’s one of the best jobs in the Trust because you can be a manager but also have a lot of patient contact.” Rachel said training had played a key part in her progression from a general nurse to Night Coordinator. “I voluntarily did a diploma in nursing at Wolverhampton in 1995 with the aim of progressing my career. “It was a one-year part-time course, which was paid for by the Trust, but I then did one more module in pain management at Birmingham City University which topped my diploma to a degree. “There have always been education opportunities as I have gone along.” Rachel said an attraction of her current job was the night work but she said nurses looking to do a similar role also needed to be a good
communicator, a skilled nurse, flexible, able to get on with a wide variety of people, and able to adapt to a varying set of circumstances. Husband Michel Ernstzen, 52, is a Band 5 nurse working in intensive care in WCCA. “I qualified as a nurse in 2006 after coming in three years earlier as a cadet as part of a scheme run by South Birmingham Health Authority. The cadet programme was aimed at people without a medical background who wanted to go into nursing. It was paid by South Birmingham.” Prior to joining the nurse cadet scheme, Michel had spent 10 years working in a bakery before going into the telecoms industry. He also spent a couple of years at car maker Rover, working on the track at the former Longbridge plant, before coming to UHB. Daughter Beth Ernstzen, 20, is working as an auxiliary nurse on CDU having joined Locate three years ago. She obtained her current fulltime job in September 2012. Son Ben Ernstzen, 18, joins Locate as a housekeeper on August 18 this year after completing the first year of his product design degree at Nottingham Trent University. And Rachel’s niece, Michelle Bates, 40, has also recently joined Locate as a healthcare assistant in CDU while doing an Access to Midwifery course at Birmingham City University.
To make a job application All vacancies, including bank vacancies, are advertised on the NHS Jobs website www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs If you visit the website and register (it is free), you can set up search criteria and whenever vacancies are posted the NHS Jobs website will notify you so you can submit an application. For each vacancy there will be a specific person to contact. This will be detailed in the advert. For more general enquiries applicants can email: RegisteredNursePractitionerRecruitment@uhb.nhs.uk We check the inbox regularly and will respond to an enquiry within two working days. Alternatively, you can call Anne-Marie Garvey, nurse advisor for recruitment, on 0121 371 6629. For further information on working at our Trust please contact the following staff ■ Theatres: Emma Donovan, Lead Professional Development Practitioner – 07788 339792 ■ Critical Care: Helen Gyves, Matron Critical Care – 0121 371 2778 ■ Critical Care: Joanna Gallimore, Lead Professional Development Sister, Critical Care via Email: joanna.gallimore@uhb.nhs.uk ■ Division D: Sue Sharp – Professional Development Sister, Division D – 07825 274017 ■ Division B: Sara Bardell – Professional Development Sister, Division B – 07919 572719 ■ Division C: Allison Page – Deputy Associate Director – 07920 594850
See www.uhb.nhs.uk for the latest news 26/08/2014 16:06