BJN Awards 2019: Nurse of the Year—runner up

When I was first asked to write about the work that I have done for the last 26 years, I thought it might not be too difficult, but when I finally settled down to write I found it hard to know where to start. I have been incredibly lucky in my job and my choice of specialisation, having more or less ‘fallen’ into this post in 1993. I moved to Aberdeen from London in 1991 because my husband's job as a geologist had taken us to the North East of Scotland, which was quite a culture shock for me, having lived for 15 years in London's East End. I had completed a District Nursing qualification and I was settling into life in Scotland, making new friends, and had also just had a baby.

I did not apply for the post when it was first advertised, as I felt I had no knowledge or experience in looking after people with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, I did apply the second time and I was fortunate enough to be given the job. The CF specialist job was part time and involved setting up a new adult service in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.