Royal Trinity Hospice has partnered with City University of London's Return to Practice Programme. Click here for more information about applying. 

Anne is a Charge Nurse working on the Inpatient Unit here at Trinity, having returned to nursing in 2016 after 32 years away from the profession. Working in a few different careers, Anne never felt entirely fulfilled in her other work and decided to undertake the Return to Practice programme to get back into nursing, a job she felt passionate about.

Getting back to where I'm meant to be

"I originally trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and once qualified I worked at St. Marks Hospital specialising in bowel conditions. I nursed there for a couple of years until I had my first child and then stopped working. Over the course of the next 32 years, I worked in various jobs from childminding, running a Toy Library, supporting childcare settings, to eventually working as a PA in an accounting firm helping people to restructure their businesses.

At this time, my daughter started her Registered Nurse training and was telling me about all the amazing things she was learning each day and I realised how much I missed nursing and that I wanted to return!

I was initially sceptical, having been out of nursing for so long, but my daughter introduced me to the Back to Practice programme through Kingston University London and it seemed perfect. They asked me where I wanted to do my placement and we decided that a hospice environment would be the right place for me.

The suggestion was Royal Trinity Hospice, and I was already familiar with Trinity as my father was cared for and died here many years ago.

Accessible training and a supportive environment 

The return to practice training was very accessible and I felt fully supported at Trinity. On my second day of placement here I knew this is where I wanted to be. At the time, there were quite a few people returning to practice or who had gone through the process earlier and everyone was incredibly supportive. They completely embraced us, helped us, and made the transition back into nursing feel so seamless.

Doing what you love again

If anyone is considering getting back into nursing, I highly recommend it. Go for it!

I wanted to do something which had significance. I wanted to go home at the end of the day and feel that I had helped someone to have a good death and know that I did my best for their family.

Being a nurse again is so rewarding, especially in a hospice. You feel that you’re making a real difference to people as not only are you helping the patient at this difficult time but you’re also supporting their family, it’s an absolute privilege."

Thank you to Anne for sharing her account.

Royal Trinity Hospice has partnered with City University of London's Return to Practice Programme. Click here for more information about applying. 

For an informal chat about Return to Practice, please contact Rita Samuda, Interim Head of Inpatient Services, on 020 7787 1000 or 07775 501 765.