“It’s been a real journey, with up days and down days”
The word redeployment is defined as the act of moving employees, soldiers, and equipment to a different place or using them in a more effective way. Many of our staff selflessly stepped up and volunteered themselves to be redeployed into new departments across the trust and this included clinical nurse specialist (CNS), Carmen Zerafa.
We spoke with Carmen to find out more about her redeployment story and how she found returning to ward nursing, after practicing as a CNS for 11 years.
She said: “I have been a nurse for nearly 20 years and a CNS for 11-12 years. I only joined the trust in February this year, but I have always worked in cardiology and I was working in inherited cardiovascular conditions (ICC) at St Bartholomew’s Hospital prior to being redeployed”.
Carmen explained: “I was initially really worried about returning to work on a ward after 11 years as a CNS. I was also very new to the trust and my role, so it was very unsettling at first. I was worried I had lost all my previous skills. However, I had lots of training opportunities in the weeks prior to being redeployed and also lots of ward-based training from Leyla Ahmet the nurse Educator who has been brilliant and so supportive. She even sorted out some IT access issues I was having”.
“It has been really busy and stressful at times, but I have really enjoyed working on 3D and being a ward nurse again. It has been great to regain my skills and confidence in an acute setting and it’s also extremely rewarding”.
We asked Carmen what it has been like for her working during a pandemic, she said: “It has been a worrying and stressful time for all of us. The situation is constantly changing and evolving by the day and we have had to change and adapt our ways of working with it.
"I have had a constant worry about catching Covid-19 or passing it to a loved one and this has been hard. But on the wards there has been a real sense of unity and even though I didn’t know anybody in my new role, we were all in it together and had the same worries and anxieties which has been comforting.
"I have also felt really proud about being able to help and do my bit in the fight against this awful virus. I would have gone mad, if I had been in a job where I had to stay home”.
Carmen felt extremely well supported by her new colleagues, she said: “The ward manager on 3D Fabia Hofton, has been so supportive and really appreciative of me being there to help. The nurses and doctors are always happy to answer my questions and show me how to do things.
"I think they have also really appreciated me sharing my knowledge and experience with them! I have particularly enjoyed working with some of the student nurses as I really enjoy teaching.
"My biggest challenge has been getting used to the new IT systems, as everything is paperless now. The nursing care is pretty much the same and most of it all came back like it was second nature. I found navigating around the new IT system frustrating at first, but I’m getting really good at it now”.
Carmen continued to share: “It’s been a real journey, with up days and down days. There have been times where I have felt physically and mentally exhausted. I am going to be 50 this year, so ward nursing has been a physical challenge.
"I really admire and respect all the staff that work on the wards, they really do work so hard under enormous pressure.
"They have all handled this pandemic exceptionally and I am really proud to be part of the team”.