Cendrig Rodriguez tells us why he became a nurse

Cendrig Rodriguez, is a development coach who supports district nurses to transfer into roles as neighbourhood nurses in Lambeth and Southwark.?

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the Philippines in March 2008, Cendrig moved to the UK in the September of that year. He worked as a care assistant in a nursing home, gained experience and promotion in mental health settings before joining Guy's and St Thomas' pioneering neighbourhood nursing team in 2017. ?

"I moved to the development coaching team in January 2020, but almost immediately I was redeployed to support clinical teams through the initial waves of the pandemic. COVID-19 really tested nurses, and made our profession even more meaningful. It made me realise just how precious life is and how special this profession is. Anything can happen, at any time! ?

"With nursing you become more compassionate, more than you could ever expect is possible".

"When I had COVID-19 myself at the start of the pandemic, I thought, 'Am I really happy to put my life at risk?' It was the first time I doubted myself becoming a health clinician. In fact, ever since I finished high school in the Philippines, I was certain that I wanted to become a nurse and at some point, a doctor. ?

"One of the main reasons I am still in the profession today is the satisfaction I get from looking after patients, especially wound care. I cannot express how satisfying it is to see a wound that is gradually healing. ?

"In neighbourhood nursing we also get to know our patients especially well as we see them every single day and can give them much more time. By building a rapport and trust, and a good professional relationship, we get to know who our patients are, more than the task itself, more than their diabetes, more than their insulin. You get to know who they were when they were younger, and if they are immigrants to this country why they came here and their experiences. These little details make me appreciate my job more and make me more interested in the career I have.?

"We see patients who may have relied on an elderly neighbour for example. So, when COVID-19 hit they found themselves on their own. We have to think, 'How can I help them to resolve this?' You're not just here to give them their medication, you become an advocate and support for them as well. One of the most rewarding factors is supporting patients to 'own' their own care and empowering the family members, carers and neighbours around them. ?

"We all have to face the fact that we are getting older, and that illnesses or disabilities will come. That's why I find nursing such a special job. It makes me consider, 'When I get old how will I deal with things?' Many doctors do not have that kind of relationship with the people they meet. No lawyer, mathematician, engineer either. With nursing you become more compassionate, more than you could ever expect is possible. ?

"As a coach I train our neighbourhood nursing teams to use the 'onion model'. As with the onion there are many layers but the patient must be at the core of what we do, then their informal support networks like family, carers, neighbours etc., then our neighbourhood nurses and finally formal networks like GPs, physiotherapists, podiatrists etc.?

"Team working is especially important in this model. As a neighbourhood nurse we get to manage our own time but we still need to look after each other. If I know my colleague needs more time with a particular patient, I'll offer to see more patients on the rest of the list that day. In return I know my colleagues trust me, will provide training and empower me. You soon realise that the success of one team member is the success of the whole team. Our wellbeing is as paramount as our patients."?

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