Sarah Durber

Name and Job Title:
​Sarah Durber, Practice Nurse and Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner
 
Describe your current job role:
My current job role is split between that of a practice nurse and a trainee advanced clinical practitioner. In practice nursing, I am managing long term chronic conditions, such as asthma and COPD, Diabetes etc. I also undertake cervical screening, immunisations and travel vaccinations. As a trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner, I undertake telephone triage and see on the day emergency/minor illness presentations (within my scope of practice). It is very fun and rewarding and every day is different.

How did you start your career in health?
I initially trained as a beauty therapist when leaving school which gave me a passion for anatomy and physiology. I then fell into a job as a care assistant at the age of 21 and I wanted to do more, so I applied for university to train to be a nurse. I qualified in 2014 as an RGN. ​

How did you reach your current position?
Upon qualifying I worked in Acute medicine then moved into the emergency department where I spent two years working as a band 5 staff nurse. I was approached by a friend who was looking to train a practice nurse from scratch, so I took the opportunity and was able to top up to my degree. After working in Primary Care for twelve months I was offered the opportunity to undertake the V300 independent prescribing module and this gave me insight into more advanced consultations and differential diagnoses. As part of the five-year forward view, there was funded training available for advanced clinical practitioners, so I approached the partners and manager and they felt that the role could benefit the practice so was able to undertake the training. 
 
Who or what has been your inspiration?
My first mentor Stephanie Heyes, always a constant source of inspiration with her work ethic and knowledge. Jamie Swales (Acute Care Team) for always believing in me, pushing me to do more and to never give up. Every member of the NHS for doing such an amazing job, 365 days a year.
 
What advice would you give others on reaching their potential or embarking on a career in health?
Be organised, invest in a diary and comfortable shoes. Ensure you treat people as you would like to be treated, smile and no matter what, always take every opportunity presented to you – you never know where it will take you!!
  
What does 2020 #YearoftheNurseandMidwife mean to you?
It is amazing that nurses and midwifes are being celebrated! It is nice for the public to get a glimpse into the varied and challenging work that we do and how much nursing has evolved over the years.
 
Favourite quotes of all time
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perserverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all love of what you are doing”
Anonymous
“attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse”
Florence Nightingale.