Current Role:
As a Band 6, my responsibility on shift is to check the patient census, patient acuity and provide a fair patient allocation to nurses, while considering their knowledge, skills and competencies. Another key role is to be the team lead for the nursing staff, who can address difficult situations and concerns from the multidisciplinary team, patients and their families.
My career journey
In December 2012, I started my nursing career as a general ward staff nurse providing care to adults and children. I was then transferred as a staff nurse into the Emergency Department.
In 2014, I was promoted into the position of Head nurse for the Emergency Department in another hospital which was then followed by a move to the role of Head nurse of the inpatient Paediatric Ward and later the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
In a further career move I took up the role of nurse supervisor of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for 1 year, and later the tole of Senior nurse supervisor of the intensive care unit during the COVID pandemic.
In December 2022, I made an exciting career move which brought me to England to experience paediatric nursing care in the NHS. I successfully passed the international examinations and interviews and became a Band 5 staff nurse in Acorn Ward of Whipps Cross Hospital. In March 2025, I underwent interview for a Band 6 position, which I successfully obtained.
What does good leadership mean to you and how has this inspired your career?
In my view, being a good leader does not equate to being the best and the most popular senior nurse in the ward. I perceive good leadership as being humane, compassionate, understanding and helpful to your colleagues, especially when they are struggling. A good leader is knowledgeable and skilful enough to provide the best quality care to patients, whilst also supporting the team. My mother always says, “Being a nurse, you always need to be patient and see your patients as human beings with emotions who need help.”
I started my nursing career with these morals and virtues in life, and I have worked hard to still maintain these principles in my profession. It inspired me in simple ways like smiling even when your troubled, being optimistic with the results, and working patiently and professionally under pressure. It helped me to be more knowledgeable, skilful, professional, compassionate and stronger. There were several times when I wanted to give up, but I honestly see the passion and drive in my heart. There might be personal biases, but I always try to eliminate those and promote equality in different situations.
What support can you offer to members of the Network?
I believe I will be able to support with discussions, and workshops about diseases and nursing management for paediatric patients to help provide appropriate nursing care. With this, they can build their own strength, knowledge and skills, so that in the future, they are ready to support other nursing staff.
Meditation exercises and self-assessment can also be done to know more about oneself and be able to effectively plan for the career that they want to achieve.
In addition, we can discuss patient allocation, patient acuity, equality among staff, and personal biases to jumpstart their leadership journey.
We can also provide opportunities to develop therapeutic communication skills by discussion and dramatization or scenarios.