Sheila came to the Hospice in August 1994
from Glasgow South College of Nursing. Greater Glasgow
Health Board were reviewing the numbers of teaching and
clinical staff and were encouraging anyone over the age
of 50 to take early retirement from the National Health
Service. Sheila was not ready to leave. She saw the job
of Nurse Teacher advertised by the Hospice, and decided
to make the move. This was a new venture for the Hospice
also as they had never had thier own Nurse Teacher. Sheila
was the first person appointed to this position.
Sheila's first job was to set up a formalised Education
Programme for all Hospice staff to encourage learning
and developement. This involved looking towards having
a recognised course for nurses and auxiliary nurses carrying
out Palliative Care.
Mandatory training was another of Sheila's key roles
such as Health and Safety, and Moving and Handling. The
Hospice's in-house physiotherapist was involved and worked
with Sheila in the Moving and Handling training.
Sheila also looked at more general training such as
First Aid and communication skills, eventually creating
a properly structured Education Department.
Before the opening of the Education Centre in 1198,
Sheila taught in the COnfernece Room in the main building,
where there was also a small library.
During the 11 years Sheila worked in the Hospice she
saw education grow, consequently there are a variety
of courses on offer including an accredited Palliative
Care Course, Counselling Courses, and Vocational Qualification
Courses which are still ongoing. A range of short courses
are also available including First Aid and Food Hygiene.
Sheila feels she has been very fortunate in the last
11 years of her working life to have worked with excellent
colleagues who have, and still are recieving vision and
guidance from the Chief Executive. |
