HCAs
The Follow-Up with Sheila: The Path to a Rewarding Healthcare Career
What happens when you follow your passion into a whole new field?
For Sheila, it’s led to a life-changing transformation. After leaving a successful HR career to pursue her dream of working in healthcare, she’s now on the cusp of becoming a Nursing Associate. In this follow-up, Sheila reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and growth that have defined her journey, sharing how switching careers has been one of her most fulfilling decisions and how her dedication to compassionate care continues to inspire her every day.
What are some of the most valuable lessons you've learned since making the switch to healthcare?
For me, it’s about striving to be the best I can be while embracing the power of collaborative teamwork. Throughout my apprenticeship journey, I’ve seen firsthand how teamwork enhances the experiences of both patients and staff, fostering a supportive and professional environment. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of a positive learning culture, where challenges and setbacks are seen as opportunities to grow and improve. This approach has enriched my understanding and reinforced the importance of continually seeking constructive ways to refine processes and practices.
Another key takeaway is the lasting impact of a patient’s first impression—compassionate care truly matters. Being open and honest about my learning and development has created opportunities to expand my knowledge while ensuring I always act within my scope of practice. With my upcoming transition to a registered nursing associate role, I’ve also learned the importance of staying curious, thinking creatively, and maintaining a focus on best practices to provide the highest standard of care.
You mentioned wanting to pursue the Nursing Associate apprenticeship. How is that journey going, and what are your next steps?
I am now in my 2nd and final year of the Nursing Associate apprenticeship which I started in October 2022. Balancing both the theory and the placements has been a perfect combination, and I am now in my final placement in Oncology which I finish on 2nd October 2024. I have had a variety of placements and have learned so much about the clinical, practical and interpersonal aspects of nursing in differing environments and I have met many truly inspirational nurses along the way. I feel I have been so lucky, and the support provided has been exceptional.
Once I have confirmation from the university that I have passed the Foundation Degree, then I will move to a band 4 Nursing Associate role in Ophthalmology which I am very excited about. I am very lucky to have had a wonderful placement there in 2023 and feel very fortunate to have secured a role there starting in November.
How do you think your work has influenced the lives of those around you, and how has that, in turn, impacted you?
I believe I set a good example to my colleagues, I am passionate about delivering compassionate professional patient care and strive to continually learn and develop so that I can be the best I can be personally and professionally. I have witnessed inspirational nursing and I have learned so much in terms of not just how to deliver best-practice clinical care but also the skills of handling a diverse group of patients across the trust. I have found that my willingness to learn and develop is welcomed and in turn, I want to share my learning and skillset to those that need and want it.
For me it is about being an advocate for great patient care and in turn I hope that through effective team collaboration, reflection on practice and communication this approach becomes second nature to all who work here.
If you could advise someone considering a mid-career switch to healthcare, what would you tell them about the transition and its rewards?
With age comes experience and at some stage, we question, what is important in life. I certainly questioned this, when I ended up in the hospital having had real difficulty breathing just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the treatment I received was excellent. I then began to think about my overall purpose in life and realised I needed to do something different, I wanted to make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives which I sensed would fill a void I had been feeling for some time.
HR was a wonderful career for me, but I felt I wanted more. If you feel you want to make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives, listen to your gut, ask yourself what is important in your life, and what will make you happy. Once you have identified that you want to make a change, talk to people, and look on the internet, YouTube is a great resource (as long as you look at reliable sources), go to careers fairs, or open days, or just contact the recruitment department. You have nothing to lose.
For me, this move came at a scary time (May 2020), but I feel I have gained so much more fulfilment in my life and go home every day knowing that I have done my best for my patients that day.
How do you feel your previous experience in HR has influenced your approach to patient care and teamwork in your current role?
I believe my previous roles have engendered the value of treating people with respect in a professional manner demonstrating competence to gain trust and credibility. Nursing is an extension to this albeit in a very different environment. The value set I live by can be applied to all areas of work, which revolves around teamwork, communication, motivation for continuous learning and development and development of skillset.
What are some of the key skills you’ve developed since transitioning to healthcare, and how have they contributed to your success?
Developing confidence in dealing with patient issues and concerns, I feel I can listen more effectively and feel so much more at ease with patients as I am not worrying about what I should say, you can be totally professional, relaxed, and authentic at the same time whilst delivering compassionate patient centred care. I feel I can ask for help and support, as sometimes in the corporate world, this can be seen as a sign of weakness, which is not the case. I am much more aware of the need for self-care too, if I do not look after my well-being, I cannot be there for my patients. My role has helped me to develop effective teamwork and communication skills in an acute environment across the MDT which enhances patient care. My skills are constantly developing and changing which is a wonderful feeling, this is such a great motivator for me knowing that there are opportunities for continued learning and for me to enhance my nursing skills.
Can you share a memorable experience or moment with a patient or colleague that reaffirmed your decision to work in healthcare?
During a particularly challenging time, I had the privilege of supporting a patient grappling with a life-altering diagnosis. They were overwhelmed, not just by the physical toll of the condition, but by the emotional weight of navigating the unknown. Through simply listening, engaging in conversation about their passions, and offering reassurance, I saw how meaningful it is to provide care that goes beyond clinical needs. By creating a space where they felt heard and supported, I witnessed the profound impact that compassion can have on easing emotional burdens. Moments like these reaffirm my commitment to healthcare and remind me why I chose this profession—to make a difference when people need it most.
What does working at UHS mean to you now that you've been here for a while? Has your perspective changed since you first joined?
UHS is a place where I feel at home, it has inspirational and dynamic teams and there is visibility and accessibility to those that make decisions about our work. I find it easy to approach colleagues, ask questions, share feedback/suggestions, and always feel I have been treated with respect and listened to, in fact, constructive challenge is encouraged, and I feel that this is seen positively if it can improve how we can work.
On joining, I knew that I was joining a Trust that is internationally recognised in pioneering surgery and research, however, having seen that in practice and once I got to understand what delivering great patient care means, has increased my loyalty to UHS as I have encountered people who are happy to share best practice, give their time especially as I have been on a very steep learning curve and the support I have received is something that has meant so much to me.
The people are what make UHS a great place to work coupled with a clear sense of passion to deliver the best for our patients whilst ensuring our staff are supported too. As a mature student, I am so grateful for the opportunities and time that has been dedicated to my learning and development through the apprenticeship programme that I was able to complete.
Conclusion
Sheila’s career change from HR to healthcare has been fuelled by a passion that continues to burn brightly, serving as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to follow your heart and make a difference. Now, as she nears the next phase of her healthcare career, her dedication to patient care remains as strong as ever. If you’re curious about how her journey began, don’t miss our earlier interview to see the incredible leap she made from HR to healing.
Inspired to learn more? Explore our careers site to learn more about the various careers we have to offer or click here to see our open vacancies.
Be apart of delivering exceptional patient care and lead the way with UHS.
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