When I left school I studied child development, I met with a careers advisor who told me to be a nurse I’d need to go to university. Straight away I said I wasn’t good enough for uni & that was that.
Fast forward 15 years & NF2 showed me, my strength & resilience & I decided life was too short not to at least try.
Turns out I was good enough, after gaining a 1st class degree, I stepped into my 1st nursing job at Addenbrookes hospital in September 2020 as a Neuro Nurse.
I love my job, changing my career was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but also the most amazing.
I work on a busy neuro ward, we care for neurosurgical & neurology patients. I love that every day is different, I’m constantly learning and that I get to have a positive impact on individuals who are going through some of the hardest times of their lives.
I have the most supportive manager & colleagues who all know I have NF2. My manager has allowed me to adjust my shift patterns more than once as my chronic pain & fatigue became too much for the 13 hr shifts. I find my hearing can cause difficulties at times, I’m completely deaf in my right ear & wearing face masks has been a massive barrier to communication. But whether its colleagues, patients or their relatives the majority have been incredibly understanding.
I now have a much better work life balance. Its a difficult balance, but so important to try & achieve it. I’ve learnt the hard way that I can’t look after my patients if I don’t look after myself 1st.
– Kim
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This blog has been created as a way to share stories, ideas, positivity and even sprinkle in some science. Everyone is welcome here and warmly encouraged to join us in contributing to our community through this blog. If you would like to add anything (anything at all!) then please contact myself, Grace Gregory, at grace@nf2biosolutions.org and we can pop it up on our blog. Watch this space and please join in helping us all connect and share with one another!