2 minute read
I DIDN'T KNOW I WANTED TO BE A NURSE
At 17, James Savage was clear about his career choice – politics was his first love and he’d applied to study the subject at university. But events took him down a very different route.
I’d enjoyed politics at high school in County Down, Northern Ireland. I was involved with programmes to tackle anti social behaviour and worked with the First Minister during work experience. I thought my future would be in driving forward policy.”
James is a natural problem solver. “I’m neurodiverse, I have dyslexia and dyspraxia, so I wanted a more practical career. I love talking to people and fixing problems.”
He was working as carer in a nursing home to gain points for his university portfolio when he discovered his career may lie in a different direction.
“I found myself drawn to helping dementia patients and their families, I was passionate about improving the quality of care”, said James.
Serendipity stepped in when he was contacted by Liverpool John Moores university after declining several offers to study politics. “I told them my reason and they offered me a place on their nursing course!”
James is now on a ward supporting people with acute mental health issues and hoping to progress to a role in healthcare policy. He’s pursuing his love affair with politics representing North West student nurses
within the Royal College of Nursing. He’s also supporting new nurses within Health Education England’s quality improvement programmes.
Why did he choose Mersey Care? “This Trust is so far ahead of the game in how we treat patients. There are such innovative pathways, especially in trauma informed care.
Does he think about going home? “Sometimes, but I love my job here, Mersey Care is so varied. I don’t think people realise the diversity of our organisation – there are so many roles – whether it’s practical, research, patient facing or in an office, we have room for everyone.”
FIND OUT MORE
about how to develop your career at Mersey Care visit: merseycare.nhs.uk/current-vacancies
