The Interview

from Emphasis Winter 2019

ensure best practice and equity of care across the UK

Karly Ward is a clinical nurse specialist in pulmonary hypertension at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. She grew up in the small town of Newcastle (yes, really!) in County Down, before moving across the Irish Sea to study nursing at Northumbria University. After qualifying in 2016, her first role was a ward nurse in the respiratory medical ward at the Freeman, where she looked after people with PH. Karly became a clinical nurse specialist in pulmonary hypertension in early 2018.

Q. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? A. From a young age I wanted to be a vet because I love animals. When you’re young and naive you think a job where you can play with animals all day is going to be great! But I’ve always wanted to be in a caring role where I can help people. When I was doing my A-levels I did some work experience in a hospital and I spent time with physiotherapists, midwives and nurses - from that point I realised I definitely wanted to go into nursing.

Q. What made you want to work in the field of PH? A. In my first role as a ward nurse I was interested in the pulmonary hypertension patients from an early stage. I spent a lot of time with Rachel Crackett, one of the nurse specialists in PH, when she was seeing the PH patients and carrying out investigations. The more I learned about the work the nurse specialists did with the PH patients, the more it excited me and that’s what led me to apply for the job of clinical nurse specialist. Working with people with pulmonary hypertension means you see them regularly and I like that – you get to keep up to speed with how they’re getting on. It’s nice to see the change in patients as they go through the various stages of their treatment. Q. What are the challenges of living with PH compared to other respiratory diseases? A. I think the first challenge for patients is that they get passed between different specialists based on their symptoms, which can be really frustrating for them. When they do get the diagnosis, it’s important to remember that it not only affects their physical health, but their emotional wellbeing is also affected. They have to adapt the way they’re used to living and that can be hugely challenging – even something as simple as making a bed becomes so much more difficult. The second challenge is that PH is a hidden disease. I hear people’s frustrations time and time again because they get told that they look so well, but obviously they don’t feel well. It’s important to realise it’s not always something visible which could be affecting someone’s health and wellbeing. I think that’s one of the biggest things I’ve learnt from doing this job – there could be so many other things going on which aren’t visible from the outside.

Q. What is the most rewarding thing about your job? A. I love it when patients tell you that they feel so much better after talking to you. When we diagnose people with PH and tell them that there’s no cure, it’s quite daunting for them so... >>>

theinterview Clinical Nurse Specialist KARLY WARD

“It’s important to realise it’s not always something visible which could be affecting someone’s health and wellbeing.”

...I think a big part of our role as specialists is to listen to them and offer advice. Patients often confide in us and want to talk about issues that aren’t directly related to PH but they just feel like they have to offload. We give patients medication and hope it will improve their quality of life, but many of the issues can be resolved just by talking it through face-to-face or over the phone. They’re going through major life events and you’re there with them to guide them through.

Q. What achievement are you most proud of? A. My biggest achievement so far is getting this job! When I initially applied for it, I was advised that I might struggle because I hadn’t been qualified for very long and I was running before I could walk. But I decided there was nothing to lose and a lot to gain. I worked hard for it and I was proud of myself when I managed to get the job. I’ve really enjoyed my time so far and I hope there are many more enjoyable years to come working within the PH service.

Q. What does an average day look like for you? A. Normally I start by checking my emails and the answerphone to see if we’ve had any messages. We usually have a lot of phone calls and appointments to make so we’re very reliant on our secretary to help us! I then catch up with my colleagues to find out what’s been going on. We take it in turns to be the nurse that covers the ward, so if it’s my turn to do that, I go around with the consultants and check on the patients which are on the ward. I check to see if anything needs to be organised for them or if there are any investigations which need to be followed up. If it’s a clinic day, I get the chance to meet any new patients who have been admitted to the PH service. I introduce myself and some of the other doctors I work with, and then I like to find out a little bit about them and give them some information about what will be happening going forward. That also gives them the opportunity to ask me about anything that might be worrying them. Aside from that, I co-ordinate things like which patients are going to be seen by each doctor, and I also like to catch up with patients who come in for check-ups and see how they’re getting on.

Q. Who inspired you in your work? A.It may sound clichéd, but every person that I’ve worked alongside through my nursing career has inspired me. We’re so lucky to have amazing staff in the Freeman Hospital and the NHS in general. Like anyone, I have good days and bad days, but I’ve always been well supported and there’s always someone there for a shoulder to cry on or to have a laugh with. I spend more time with my colleagues than my family, so you become really close and you learn from each other. Outside of work, my mum inspires me the most. We speak every day on the phone, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without her support and constant life advice! She’s always believed in me and encouraged me to do things that are out of my comfort zone so she’s very special to me.

Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? A. I was once told to never have any regrets about what decisions I make in life. On a personal level, the advice I’ve given myself is to always start the day on a positive note.

Q. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? A. I work a lot, so I don’t get much time off! But when I’m not working, my favourite thing to do is go back to Northern Ireland to see my family and friends. It’s my favourite place in the world so I do that as much as I can. When I’m in Newcastle (the English one!), I like to keep fit by going to the gym and get out and about to see new places. In the six years I’ve been here it’s quite bad that I haven’t travelled around the North-East to see what it has to offer but it’s definitely on my to-do list. I also like to go on a spa day or even just relaxing at home is enough for me. .

Our sister website to help you live well with pulmonary hypertension

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