Episoder

  • In this episode Laura meets with Sergeant Laila Wallace who is a Nurse recruiter for the RAF and is a Registered Adult Nurse. She shares what made her apply to be a nurse and what led her to applying to join the RAF after qualifying. She discusses the transition from working in a Medical Admission Unit to being in the RAF and working as a Quality Improvement Sepsis nurse. She talks about the opportunities available within the military and how the opportunities she has had have shaped her career. Laila has also worked as part of the Deployable Aeromedical Response Team Sqn at Tactical Medical Wing and has also worked as part of the Aeromedical Evacuation Sqn in 2020, tasked with delivering global Aeromedical Evacuation. She shares her experiences and discusses how pre-hospital care courses has shaped her as a nurse. Laila has worked in various leadership positions and she shares how she adapted to these roles. During the pandemic Laila was deployed to co-ordinate and run a vaccination programme in partnership with the Southeast NHS hub in support of Military Assistance to Civilian Authority. She discusses the importance of saying yes to all opportunities when they present themselves and talks about her role as Nurse recruiter for the RAF. Laila gives advice anyone interested in joining the military. Laila shares her career aims and goals for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • Lieutenant Emily Williams is a Hospital Officer on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ARGUS. Emily shares her reasons for applying for her nurse training and why she decided to join the Royal Navy. She discusses her time deployed to Norway and her experiences during this deployment. During the pandemic Emily was deployed as part of the Covid rapid response transfer team during the pandemic and she talks about how this sparked her interest in critical care. Emily discusses how she has completed post graduate training and modules in critical care, she shares advice for anyone considering this speciality. Emily gives advice for anyone interested in applying to the military and the Royal Navy. She shares her plans and career aims for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

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  • In this episode Laura meets with Sgt Jayne Lum Kin who is an Emergency Department Nurse and an RAF Reservist. Jayne talks about how travelling to Africa led her to decide to train to be a nurse. She has worked in the ED throughout her career, and she shares how she decided this speciality interested her. Jayne joined the RAF as a reservist when she was 50, and she talks about what led her to apply at this stage in her career. Jayne discusses her time in the RAF and gives advice for anyone also interested in joining the RAF. She shares her passion for travel and adventure and how developing as a Flight Nurse has been a fantastic experience. She shares advice for anyone interested in joining the RAF and for anyone who is interested in ED nursing. Jayne shares how she has worked as a contract nurse in Kabul and how she has worked within elite sports and at sporting events. Jayne talks about her career aims and goals for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • In this episode Laura meets with Captain Stephen Worsley who is a Deputy senior nursing officer at Defence Primary Healthcare in the Army.

    Stephen discusses why he decided to train as a nurse and the reason he chose Primary health care as a speciality. Stephen gives advice to anyone interested in Primary Health care and he discusses his experience studying for a Post graduate certificate in Unscheduled Primary Health care. He talks about how he joined the army and gives any advice for anyone interested in joining the military. He discusses the opportunities he has had whilst being the in the Army and how the Army has enabled him to develop outside of Nursing, including becoming a Physical Training Instructor. Stephen has just completed the Negotiated Learning module in order to top up to BSc Hons Nursing practice development and gives advice for anyone wishing to complete any post graduate study. Stephen is currently a deputy senior nursing officer and he talks about his role. Stephen shares advice for anyone who is a student nurse or a newly qualified nurse. He shares his career goals and aims for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • Katy discusses how she joined the army reserves and her motivations for joining the army full time. Katy has worked in Intensive Care since qualifying and provides advice for anyone interested in working in this speciality. She talks about her motivations for joining the army reserves and why she decided to join the army full time. Katy has completed post graduate qualifications in Intensive care nursing and provides advice for anyone wishing to study at level 7. Katy shares what her current role as Practice development officer and how she enjoys supporting and developing other nurses. Katy discusses her career aims and goals for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • Sgt Emmanuel Ebrada is a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner in the NHS and Critical Care nurse in the Army reserves. Manny shares his journey to studying to be a nurse and how this was driven by his passion for travel. Manny shares how he worked in the Philippines, Singapore and then moved to the United Kingdom. He discusses his career in Intensive care and why he was drawn to working in this speciality.

    Manny is a Critical Care nurse in the Army Reserves and he gives advice for anyone interested in joining the military. He talks about the support he has received from the Army in terms of his educational development, and how completing further postgraduate study has shaped his career. He shares the opportunities the Army has provided him, including travel and taking part in triathlons. Manny provides advice for anyone wishing to study at level 7 as he is currently completing a MSc alongside working full time in the NHS and being in the Army reserves. Manny shares his career aims for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • In this episode Laura meets with SSgt Gordie Mackenzie, who is a Registered adult nurse, Primary health care nurse, and part of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

    Gordie discusses how he qualified from Robert Gordon university in 2012 and his journey as a newly qualified nurse. He gives advice for anyone interested in joining the Army, and discusses his motivations for joining. Gordie talks about the reason he started working in Primary Health Care, and provides advice for anyone interested in changing speciality from secondary to primary care. Gordie shares his own journey through preceptorship and how when provided with the correct support all nurses can thrive. Gordie talks about his journey through post graduate speciality training and gives advice for anyone wishing to complete any further continual professional development. Gordie shares his experiences whilst on deployment and his career goals for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • In this episode Lt Colonel Mohammed Fertout discusses his career in the army, where he was a combat medic for 11 years prior to starting his Mental Health Nursing training. Mo worked at an inpatient unit on qualifying and talks about his transition to working in the community and the need for the appropriate support for nurses making this transition. Mo went on to complete the Regular Commissions Board to become an Army Nursing Officer completing Professional Qualified Officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He then worked as a nursing officer in Cyprus and was also deployed to Iraq twice during a very tough period.

    Mo has also worked as a Lecturer and Research Fellow and was seconded to the Kings College Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) London. He discusses how he contributed and published research focused on post deployment mental health problems. He also completed a MSc in War and psychiatry, and how this enabled him to explore the roles nurses play in population and public Mental health and witness the impact of conflict and violence on populations as much as individuals.

    Mo discusses the need to be open minded to opportunities and how his career has been impacted by advice and recommendations from colleagues. He talks about how he then took up a role focusing on health improvement and how this enabled him to develop his knowledge and experience about the links between physical and mental health. During the Covid-19 pandemic Mo was responsible for coordinating some of the Defence response to supporting the NHS but still ensuring enough clinical workforce remained to support Defence operations held at readiness or deployed around the globe.

    Mo shares how he is on the Defence medical leadership programme in partnership with Cumbria university and gives advice to anyone wishing to complete any further study. He gives advice for people interested in joining the military and for student nurses. The episode ends with Mo sharing his plans for the future and his career aims.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • In this episode Laura speaks with Company Sergeant Major Cally Brunton. Cally is the Company Sergeant Major for Ypres Company at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Cally originally joined the army as a health care assistant and discusses her journey to becoming a registered nurse. She provides advise for anyone interested in joining the army and wishing to study to become a nurse.

    She talks about her new role at Sandhurst and how she juggles her desire to remain clinically up to date as a Primary Health Care nurse. Cally has recently completed her non- medical prescribing course and gives advise for anyone interested in this qualification. She also shares her career aims and hopes for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • In this episode Laura meets with Suzanne Turner who is the Regional Nurse Advisor for Defence Primary Health Care Scotland & Northern Ireland.

    Suzanne shares how she trained as a nurse at Anglia Ruskin University after a career as a civil servant with the Ministry of Defence. Suzanne discusses how she worked in the community as a newly qualified nurse, and provides for advice for anyone who also is interested working in this speciality. Suzanne then moved on to a Clinical Team Lead post and shares advice for anyone hesitant to apply for a leadership position. Suzanne talks about how missed working with the military and applied and was successful in getting the Specialist Practice Nurse role at Fort George in Scotland. Suzanne is currently studying for a MSc for Advanced Professional Practice and gives advice for anyone wishing to study at level 7. Suzanne is also a Professional Nurse Advocate and she shares the impact that this training and role has had on her practice. Suzanne discusses her current role as Regional Nurse Advisor for Defence Primary Health Care Scotland & Northern Ireland and how she is enjoying the challenges and opportunities this role presents. Suzanne also shares advice for students, newly qualified nurses or anyone interested in working as a civilian within defence nursing.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • Sharon Fox is a Regional Nursing Advisor for Defence Primary health Care North region. Sharon shares her nursing career, from being one of the first ‘Project 2000’ nurses having completed her training at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (part of Oxford Brookes University).

    She started her career working on a surgical ward and has moved in various Intensive Care settings. Sharon discussed how she moved to Germany and started work in Primary Health care and how her career has progressed since then. She gives advise for anyone interested in this speciality and for anyone interested working with the military as a civilian. She also shares her career goals and aims for the future.

    For further information please follow:

    X = @DMS_MilMed

    Linkedin = Defence Medical Services

    Insta = @StrategicCommand

    UK armed forces

    You can browse regular and reservist roles here:

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

    Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

    Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service

    Civil Service

    The MOD employs civilians in clinical and other relevant business and technical roles:

    Civil Service Jobs

    Flexible Resource Pool (Bank)

  • Welcome to series 5 of Navigating Nursing. In this series I interview Defence nurses, including nurses working in the regular military, reserves and civil service nurses.

    This series highlights the diversity of the nursing profession and aims to inspire nurses, Nurse associates, healthcare support workers and students.

    #DefenceNursing #Onemedicalmindset #futureDMS #DMS

    Please follow Navigating Nursing on Instagram, Laura Whitehead on X (Twitter) and leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  • In this episode Laura interviews Georgie Cox who is an Associate Professor at University of East London. Georgie discusses her career to date and what inspired her to become a nurse. Georgie studied at the University of Westminster and completed a BSc in Physiology and shares how this has shaped has shaped her career. Georgie has worked in education for a number of years and she shares how important supporting students is. She has published a number of articles on hair racism after supporting a student through an incredibly difficult experience and Georgie talks about how this situation was managed and how important it is for us to all call out racism and discrimination.

    Georgie recently took part in the 100 Black Women Professors NOW change programme and she talks about how attending this programme has inspired to work towards becoming a Professor in the future. She shares advice for all leaders and aspiring leaders and shares her career aims for the future.

  • In this episode Laura meets with Tahira Mahmood who is a Bronchiectasis Clinical Nurse Specialist. She discusses her reasons for studying nursing at Bradford University. Tahira worked at Interventional Radiology when she qualified and worked her way up to a band 7. She talks about her experience in mentoring and reverse mentoring and the positive impact this has had on her progression and confidence. Tahira developed a video which was used as part of the international recruitment process, this is available through the link: Interventional Radiology - YouTube

     Tahira discusses her reasons for moving into a new role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and the challenges of working in a new Trust and being involved in setting up a new service. Tahira is enjoying her role and is splitting her time in working alongside the TB CNS team. She gives advice for anyone interested in being a Clinical Nurse Specialist and shares her career aims.  

  • In this episode Laura meets with Nathan Askew, a Chief Nurse, AHP and Experience officer. Nathan talks about what led him to apply to be a nurse and why he chose Children's nursing. He gives leadership advice and shares his view that one of the skills of a leader is to bring experts together to share ideas and problem solve.

    Nathan discusses his journey through his MSc in Advanced Nursing Practice and gives advice for anyone wishing to study at level 7. He talks about the importance of being flexible when completing post graduate study and how this can help you to develop whilst having a work life balance. Nathan is the Chair of the Association of Children and Young People's nurses, he shares the work he does with this organisation. Nathan also gives advice to anyone in a leadership position or who wishes to apply for one.

  • In this episode Laura meets with Julie Crane, who is a Senior Lecturer and Founding Director of Mary's Place CIC. Julie has had a varied career, she has worked in General Surgery, as a Clinical Research nurse and a clinical governance facilitator. Julie gives advice for anyone interested in applying for a new role, and the importance of remembering the transferable skills you have.

    Julie gives advice for anyone wishing to study at level 7. In her role as a Senior Lecturer Julie teaches Leadership and she discusses how her secondment has changed her as a lecturer and her teaching on the topic of leadership. Julie is the Founding Director of Mary’s Place CIC – which has been established to support newly qualified professionals make the transition from student to professional with greater ease and grace. The first project is supporting nurses, but the constitution for Mary’s Place is newly qualified professionals. Julie finished the episode by discussing her plans for the future.

  • In this episode Laura meets with Professor Alison Leary MBE. She discusses her transition from being an engineer and apprentice rocket scientist to training as a nurse. Professor Alison compares the similarities between being a scientist and the similarities it has with nursing as in both you are looking at real world issues. Professor Alison talks about her varied career in oncology, from being a Clinical Nurse Specialist, to conducting research and being involved in policy. Laura and Alison talk about myths for newly qualified nurses and how all nurses need to choose their employer carefully. It is important to remember it is a seller's market and don't be afraid to ensure you ask for what you want when looking for a job. Professor Alison gives her advice for nurses interested in research and talks about her work with the National Cancer Action Team. She discusses her work with The Queen's Nursing Institute and shares her plans for the future.

  • Sally Shearer OBE joins Laura for this episode of the Leadership series. Sally discusses her previous experience as a nursery nurse in a Special Care Baby Unit and what led her to complete her nurse training at the University of Nottingham. Sally discusses her career and her journey as a Director of Nursing at Barts Health and then at Sheffield Children’s as Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive. Sally gives advice for anyone looking at applying for a new role and the positives of moving to a new role in a different area. Sally is a member of a National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel as a registered children’s nurse. She gives advice for anyone involved in safeguarding and the importance of seeking support and advice. Sally is a mentor for nurses and she finds this enables her to keep her sense of reality. To find out more about the Child Safeguarding review panel: About us - Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Trigger warning:This episode discusses child safeguarding and caring for patient's who have self harmed

  • In this episode Laura speaks with Ash Greaves, a Homeless Pathway and Outreach Lead Nurse. Ash talks about what inspired him to become a nurse and the impact of his experiences before he trained as a nurse. Ash has worked with young disadvantaged people, people with disabilities, young people with substance misuse, sexual health, and mental health issues throughout his career. Ash started his nurse training in his mid- twenties and studied at the University of Bradford and he speaks about how his previous jobs have assisted him in his nursing career. Ash discusses the 2 MSc modules in Mental Disorders and Mental Capacity, and Best Interest Assessor course and the impact this had on his career development. Ash discusses his career to date and his current role as the Homeless Pathway and Outreach lead Nurse. Ash provides advice for student nurses and newly qualified nurses. The episode finishes with Ash sharing his career aspirations for the future.

  • In this episode Laura meets with Emma Firth who is a Regional Primary Care Lead in the North of England. Emma speaks about how she decided to do nursing and how she originally worked on a female surgery and gynaecology ward before working at HMP Wakefield prison as a primary care nurse. Emma discusses how studying her non- medical prescribing has been a pivotal learning moment in her career. Laura and Emma talk about the role of the Professional Nurse Advocate and the impact it can have on the workforce. Emma and Laura debate about the idea of ‘deskilling’ and how all nurse’s competence develops and involves over time depending on their current role and experience. Emma gives advice for newly qualified nurses and students and also outlines her career plans for the future.