In honour of South Asian Heritage Month 2024 - Jessica Fernandes
My professional journey started as an international nurse when I enrolled to complete the preceptorship program. This was the first step towards my professional growth because it allowed me to have a better understanding of different policies, procedures and guidelines to provide evidence-based care.
Being an overseas nurse, I found it extremely challenging at the start of my career to adapt to the healthcare system in England. It was a new adventure for me as I had never worked in the UK before. When I joined the Trust in 2014, my first role was as a registered nurse in one of the medicine for elderly wards at St Mary’s Hospital. Culturally, coming from an Indian heritage, it is a privilege to look after our elders. I was grateful to work in the ward because I felt I could make a difference by showing kindness, compassion and empathy for this group of patients who can be complex, vulnerable and frail, but at the same time require gentle, loving care to recover.
Whilst I was still learning and adapting to the new ways of working, I found it quite exciting that there were so many opportunities available as a nurse to progress at different levels within the framework of professional practice and development. Nurses have a fundamental role to play, from being patients’ and safety advocates to providing safe and excellent patient care. I found it powerful that nurses have a voice in the organisation, which is different from India where we often tend to have a more hierarchical system. At imperial, no matter what grade or level, I always felt welcomed by both patients and staff.
I believe nursing is an exciting and rewarding job because every day we make a difference to someone’s life. I feel extremely privilege to work at this Trust and for the support, hospitability, generosity and opportunities offered from the beginning of my career. I am immensely grateful for the support I received from all staff groups including senior managers for their guidance, leadership support and developmental opportunities. This has allowed me to grow and develop into my current role as a ward matron and I am thankful to everyone in the organisation who believed in my hard work, commitment, ability and passion for nursing.
This year’s South Asian Heritage Month theme, 'Free to be me', resonates with me because throughout my journey at Imperial, I have felt supported and guided to be innovative by bringing new ideas and making changes that matter, while doing the right thing for our patients and staff. The experience and exposure I have received over the years has really shaped me into the leader I am today and allowed the nursing voice to be heard and to make a real difference in the NHS.
