We are UHB: Sherridan Oshevire

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust runs Good Hope, Heartlands, Queen Elizabeth and Solihull hospitals, Birmingham Chest Clinic and Solihull community services.

I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. I used to work for domiciliary care agencies, visiting and providing nursing care, including palliative care, to housebound patients. I have also worked in care homes and provided one-to-one and live-in care through care agencies as well. I chose working for care agencies because of the dynamic nature of the roles; you get the opportunity to work in various settings and build up your experiences. I have met lots of different kinds of patients and still cherish the words in a card I received from one of them to this day. And it is a reminder that this career that I chose is the way I can achieve self-fulfilment in life and I am happy I did.

It started from caring for my Nan back home. After she passed, I carried on doing it as I enjoyed it so much. I wanted a dynamic job with progression and the opportunity to gain a wealth of experience, especially in nursing, training whilst earning at the same time. So while doing my research, the NHS was one of the top results online.

As a healthcare assistant (HCA), I supported the Practice Nursing team, working as part of the Practice Multidisciplinary team. I would also assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, preventative care, health promotion and patient education.

In my new role as a trainee nursing associate (TNA) I undertake clinical tasks including venepuncture and electrocardiograms (ECGs). I also support individuals and their families and carers when faced with unwelcome news or life-changing diagnoses. I carry out and perform with recording clinical observations such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse. I discuss and share information with registered nurses on patients’ condition, behaviour, activity and responses. I look out and recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults. I sometimes supervise HCAs or take the lead in supporting them with patient care and handover concerns to nurses.

I currently work with elderly patients admitted into hospital from care homes or the community. They have been assessed in A&E and from there they are transferred on to our ward. On a normal day, I arrive for handover, which is where we familiarise and educate ourselves on the patients we are supporting. After that we provide the patient with personal care, feeding and emotional and psychological needs through companionship and chatting, especially with those whose relatives are far away.

Our patients are elderly and sometimes tend to forget where they are, so a continuous gentle reminder of where they are and that they are safe is needed. Over time you get used to seeing certain patients re-admitted into the hospital and the joy of knowing you contributed to their health is wonderful.

I used to say to myself that every routine at work, be it challenging or not, went the way it was supposed to be because nothing is perfect. Something as basic a successfully assisting an elderly patient to eat and drink is a delight. I sometimes wish you could eat on their behalf! Every day can be a challenge at work especially when you work with elderly patients. These patients are very frail and in their lovely thoughts can be unintentionally aggressive misinterpreting the care or support you are trying to provide. To overcome it, I have to try again or try other food they might like. If they refuse a main meal, make sure the pudding they accept is large. I also encourage family members to bring in goodies and things the patients like to eat; we put some on the table by the bedside and it is lovely to see them pick these things from their table and eat. The patient, their family - we are all happy.

I think my biggest learning point is knowing life is dynamic and no day at work is the same. Working at UHB and especially being a TNA on an elderly care ward gives me daily exposure to various teams. A patient can be admitted for one reason and might need the care of others who are not usually part of our team. This gives us the opportunity to work with them by chaperoning or shadowing while they carry out their assessment.

My ward currently is a student-led ward, plus some of its former HCAs are now currently TNAs. You must be dynamic, open minded, keen to learn and have the ability to work on your own, use your initiative and training, while working within your role and responsibilities. Here, you are well supported to improve your skills and knowledge.

My job is a thought-provoking and emotional journey. It makes you see and appreciate life for what it is. It is interesting, a learning curve and self-discovering. Plus, the self-fulfilment you get in seeing and knowing you contributed to a person’s life and the journey of seeing them go through end of life peacefully is unquantifiable. Being allowed to go through this with the family and patient is a privilege.

Does the TNA programme sound like something you'd be interested in? You can apply for our October cohort here: