Posted on: 18 March 2020
Children’s nurse, Vicky Egan has always been dedicated to helping people since a young age.
“My passion is working with children and young people with complex needs as they and their families have an immeasurable amount of strength and dedication, and deserve the same quality of life as others” she says .
Before deciding on her nursing career, Victoria worked in a special needs school for ten years.
It was during her second year of nurse training, when she undertook a placement with a school nursing team that she thought about a school nurse role when qualifying.
“I loved going into schools and teaching children and young people about health promotion, getting them involved in making positive choices about their health. In my previous job working in a Special Needs School, I really enjoyed building relationships with the child and their families and providing holistic care.”
Vicky now works in our Harrow 0-19 children’s service as a community school staff nurse and supports seven schools within the borough.
The team consists of nurses who provide general health and wellbeing advice and support for parents, children and school staff.
“A typical day for me is staff training in schools, vision screening, health promotion and assessments, it’s never boring! It’s important to prioritise and make decisions because not every day is the same – something I love” she says.
Since qualifying in September last year, Vicky says although she joined the nursing profession as a mature student, it certainly has its advantages.
She said: “The learning never stops, even once you’re qualified. My advice is to know how to ask questions, even when you’re qualified it shows you are committed to learning, continue to be curious.”
Vicky is also a learning disabilities champion for her team, and advises those who want to get into nursing to be prepared for a lot of hard work and dedication.
She said: “You need to be willing to put in the time and effort as it can be challenging, but the rewards most definitely outweigh those challenges. It is about working together and communication in the nursing community.”
When she’s not working across schools, Vicky loves to spend time relaxing with family – “it’s my therapy” she says.
In the future, Vicky says she would like to be that nurse who made a difference.
“The best thing about being a nurse is that I am provided with the opportunity to make a difference. It’s about being there for people in their times of need, speaking up for the children and their families so they can be heard.”