Year of the Nurse 2020, Michael Nouchi – Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pain Management
I started working for the NHS in March 2013, and only recently started working at Barts Health in January 2020
Why and how I got into nursing?
I was always interested in the medical field, and as I started learning more about the sciences, I found myself drawn to nursing. I like how nursing encompasses all the needs of a patient, not only physical, but also psychological, emotional, social, and even spiritual. It’s a much broader approach that assesses a person as a whole, rather than just reducing them to an injury or disease.
Typical Day
My day starts with checking emails and reviewing medical notes for patients my team has been following, along with checking for any new referrals. I will then start the daily ward round with my colleagues, going from ward to ward to assess patients and offer advice for better pain management. We see all non-obstetric epidurals and peripheral nerve catheters in the hospital, and generally offer support to the medical and nursing teams whenever specialist pain input is needed.
In the afternoon I follow-up any patients who need a second review and see any new referrals we’ve received since the morning round. We often have pain consultants joining us to see the most complex patients.
Depending on the day, I may be working at either The Royal London or St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. As we also run a chronic pain service, I am involved with various weekly outpatient clinics for patients with persistent pain, working closely with the other CNS’s and Pain Consultants to help people manage their pain at home. This involves helping patients with their medications, following up pain injections by phone, and communicating with GPs and other local services.
Teaching is a big part of my job as well, so I occasionally give lectures on our monthly study day or attend other study sessions to provide teaching about pain management for various teams in the Trust. We are in the process of starting a new education session for patients so they can learn about their chronic pain conditions.
One way I’ve made a difference as a nurse?
My role can be challenging since I tend to be mostly involved with patients who have complex management needs. It’s therefore extremely rewarding to come back to a patient and see that I was able to significantly reduce their pain, improve their overall experience in hospital, and hopefully get them home more quickly.
What you would say to someone considering a career in nursing?
Make sure it’s a career path that you can feel genuinely interested and passionate about. Nursing is hard work but can be extremely rewarding. Be prepared to be a life-long student, since you’ll always be challenged to learn more about your chosen field and progress as a medical professional. Also, start getting serious about drinking coffee!