Making a difference
Words from the wards: Jenita Loheswaran, Nursing Associate graduate talks about her nursing training at the University
Invenite spoke to Jenita Loheswaran 鈥 Nursing Associate graduate and recipient of this year鈥檚
Mel Joyner Award
鈥 as she embarked on the next phase of her nursing training at the University.
There were countless occasions during my course when I wondered what on earth I鈥檇 let myself in for. We had three days of induction in the classroom and that was it 鈥 I was on the wards of a community hospital in Cornwall.
I鈥檇 done a
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
degree at Plymouth and was working in the offices of a student letting company, wondering what my next step should be. Plymouth鈥檚 Nursing Apprenticeship seemed the perfect way to get hands-on healthcare experience and develop professionally at the same time. I certainly didn鈥檛 imagine when I applied that I would fall in love with nursing.
One of my early placements was on a stroke rehabilitation ward. I鈥檇 never met anyone who鈥檇 had a stroke until then. Some patients couldn鈥檛 even swallow. It was Autumn 2020 and the ward was locked down to visitors, so it was down to me and my colleagues to support them in every way. As I got to know my patients over the coming days and weeks, I began to see the difference my care was making.
鈥業鈥檓 helping this person walk again 鈥 I鈥檓 helping this lady eat again.鈥 It was an indescribable feeling to have contributed to their recovery 鈥 I was starting to see what a difference I could make as a nurse.
I was two months into my training on my second ever night shift when I had my first death. I haven鈥檛 forgotten how it felt 鈥 I was terrified. But with the support of the senior nurses, I learned what to do and how to do it.
When I got home the next morning, I thought about the difference I鈥檇 made to that man and his family. I鈥檇 been privileged to be one of the last people to care for him. It was another turning point 鈥 discovering I was capable of coping and doing a good job. I thought, 鈥榠f I can do this after a few months, what difference will I be able to make in two years鈥 time?鈥
There have been plenty of challenges along the way. I moved to Cornwall for this adventure and 鈥 coming from London 鈥 was na茂ve about the lack of diversity I鈥檇 find here. It didn鈥檛 really hit home until I was the only person of colour on the wards. I started getting comments and remarks made by patients and colleagues 鈥 which have been hard to cope with.
But it was this that prompted me to get involved in the equality and diversity work at the University. I thought 鈥 if I don鈥檛 do something about this, who will? As a young British Asian woman, I felt it was my duty to be a pioneer of diversity amongst my peers and colleagues.
We鈥檝e already made some progress with the nursing curriculum 鈥 some of the new anatomy models in the medical school now have different skin tones. All of the changes are about making us better healthcare professionals. We鈥檙e taught in lectures about skin conditions 鈥 but the pictures usually show these symptoms on white skin. I need to know what this rash would look like on my skin 鈥 so I can identify it correctly on all my patients.
Experiencing prejudice at work is difficult, but I treat all patients with the same level of care.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code states that we must prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety and promote professionalism and trust 鈥 standards of practice I aim to upkeep.
My hope is that through the next 40 years I鈥檓 nursing, things will continue to change for the better.
I鈥檓 about to start my top up course to complete the full nursing degree at Plymouth. As I鈥檝e been based in community settings for most of my training, I鈥檓 excited to get acute care experience and get to grips with faster pace wards. I grew up watching Casualty 鈥 so I鈥檇 love to experience A&E life, even if it isn鈥檛 exactly like on the TV! I鈥檝e also been really encouraged by the staff to think about a career in lecturing. I鈥檇 never considered teaching, but I鈥檝e been so supported by the staff here at Plymouth that it鈥檚 something I can envision myself doing. Perhaps in years to come I鈥檒l be teaching on the very Plymouth course I trained on. Wouldn鈥檛 that be wonderful to come full circle!
The Mel Joyner Award
Mel was a much loved and respected member of University staff who sadly died in 2018. Mel worked at the University for 20 years, her first role was as a lecturer in social sciences and her last role was Director of Student Services.
Mel鈥檚 family have launched this award to celebrate Mel鈥檚 passion for Plymouth and its students. The annual
Mel Joyner Awards
support students at the University who are making a positive contribution to University life.
鈥淭he joy and comfort in providing a bursary in Mel鈥檚 name keeps our daughters鈥 memory alive. Her dedication and love was for those students at Plymouth that beat adversity and followed their dream.鈥 Fred and Dianne Joyner
