We interviewed Northern Healthcare Clinical Lead, Christine Trevor, to find out a little bit more about her background and inspirations.
I wanted to be a teacher, being a nurse was not on the agenda, I can’t cope with blood! I also wanted to sail the world.
Working for an accountant in Prestwich and I got paid £20.00. It was horrible, I hated it.
Work hard, and play hard.
Spend time with my family and friends. I like being the hostess and making a fuss of people, my house is always busy. I enjoy cooking with people and sitting round the kitchen table.
Wow, that’s a hard one I have so many; Bob Dylan, Clash, Stone Roses, Oasis, Primal Scream, Deacon Blue, I would also say Woody Guthrie would have to be on there, we used to listen to it when cleaning the ward, everybody hated it which made us clean faster so we could leave.
It was my dad who inspired me after taking ill, at the time I was looking at being a social worker, but learning more about that role made me realise that’s not what I wanted. I started college doing Health and Social Care with dad’s encouragement, I was a single mother at the time, so my parents really helped support me. My tutor was a mental health nurse who pushed me down this path, and on my second year I got a placement on the forensic ward and I loved it, from then I knew this is what I should be doing, and I loved working within the community.
I’ve had many mentors over the years, but I would say my first manager “Maddie” as well as my team leader “Gale” (who I am still friends with to this day), they saw something in me, and they encouraged me to push myself and I have so many wonderful experiences because of these people. They taught me to strive to be a friendly professional not a professional friend.
I think the progression of the residents and knowing that you have made a difference. At first a resident may really need your support and will seek you out every day just to talk, and gradually you watch that person grow, and they come and see you less and less until eventually it just becomes a hello and a wave when you come in. Watching the residents become more independent is such a touching feeling.
I never know what I’m walking in to, I like to see people and be part of something bigger. I suppose you could say it’s a sense of community for me as well as the residents.
Sometimes it’s just a chat or they may be feeling frustrated but don’t have the words to tell you, and we work together to find a solution. When colleagues come to me it’s generally for guidance.
I would say crisis management, risk management, and de-escalation. I would love to work with veterans one day.
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Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
