RECRUITMENT
IT’S NEVER
TOO LATE
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Trish Conlan’s road into nursing was long and winding. She tells why it’s never too late to change direction.
Instead I got caught up in getting a wage and going out with the girls. 27 years later I was married with two children. I’d worked my way up to assistant branch manager and diverted into financial advice. But I was in a rut.
I always wanted to be a nurse. I got a place at nursing school, had my medical and was measured for my uniform. But my mum had passed away during my A levels. I had a massive wobble and felt I needed time out. Three weeks into an economics degree course I came home.
My son knew I was unhappy. He said “why don’t you go back to uni?” A month later I was in a lecture theatre with a class of 18 year olds and on the same campus as my daughter! My son was also at university studying medicine – we had three graduations in as many years!
It was 1980 there was a recession and no jobs. I was on the dole for a while, then two job offers came, one as a cashier with Halifax Building Society. My mum had always said ‘work in banking or the Civil Service’ so I took the job intending to stay a year to save for nursing school.
I got my first job three days after I graduated, as a community staff nurse, and in 2018 started my Specialist Qualification in District Nursing at Masters level. I’m now a District Nurse Team Leader. I love what I do. If I hadn’t made the move I’d have had big regrets. I’m glad I was older, both
District nurse Trish Conlan.
for studying and doing my job, you have so much more life experience. It’s not about age it’s what you can bring to the role. I’d say just do it!”
FIND OUT MORE about how to develop your career at Mersey Care visit: merseycare.nhs.uk/current-vacancies
