60 seconds with Dawn Harper
Find out more about Dawn, as she share her experience working as ward manager at Private Patients Unit and her life’s motivation.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Caring for my patients
How long have you been with RFL PPU?
I have been with PPU for 11 years!
Can you give us a brief run through of what a typical day is like for you?
A typical day for me begins with a handover from the night staff and then going to see my patients. My day also involves ward managing, attending meetings, liaising with my nurses and admitting and discharging patients.
Why did you choose to go into nursing?
Nursing has been a passion of mine ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to look after people and so I learnt and developed skills in nursing.
What is your greatest career achievement?
Becoming a band 6 nurse which eventually lead me to becoming band 7 ward manager.
What are the most significant challenges of your role?
My staff and my patients because I have a duty of care to both of their well-beings.
If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?
When I was in school I was really good at arts and crafts, so if I didn’t go into nursing I would have probably been a seamstress.
What do you do to relax and unwind after a busy day at work?
Spending time with my family, whether that’s seeing them in person or calling them. Enjoying my own home and taking time out for myself or treating myself to something nice!
What can’t you live without?
My family.
What would be your perfect day away from work?
Being in a different country; on the beach with my family and friends, having a laugh enjoying the sun and have a great time.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
I would travel to a few places; probably back to when my late niece was in hospital, or back home to Montserrat. I would also time travel back to see my dad again, back to when Jesus was on this earth and back to our last 2019 family holiday before COVID.