Career Profile - Theresa Smith - Northampton

Why did you become a nurse?

When I was no older than six or seven, we used to go to Margate on holiday. Walking down to the beach every morning, I was fascinated by the sight of patients being pushed on to the open air balconies in their hospital beds by nurses dressed in crisp white aprons and starched caps. I never forgot that sight. I wanted to wear one of those uniforms. I wanted to help, so I suppose I knew that one day I would become a nurse.

How has your career developed since you started nursing?

In 1977 I got the uniform I so longed for. After a short introduction to nursing I was assigned my first ward, returning back to the classroom every three months to consolidate my experience and learn more anatomy and physiology. If I put on my reflective hat on here, this was a great way of learning: caring for the sick and dying, giving the patients good basic nursing care, taking time to speak to relatives and getting to know the family, gaining valuable knowledge from more experienced nurses, and just the exposure to daily hospital life.