Adrian

Adrian, from Newcastle, worked as a decorator for 20 years before deciding to switch careers and become a nurse at 40.

Adrian says: “I had been decorating some homes for people with learning disabilities, and I absolutely loved being around them, engaging with them – I spent more time talking than painting!”

Adrian worked as a support worker for a few years, before applying to university to qualify as a nurse. Having left school with no qualifications, he completed several courses and went to evening classes to gain the qualifications needed to be accepted onto his nursing course.

In his role as a Community Nurse Practitioner, Adrian provides specialist healthcare and support to people with a learning disability, as well as their families and carers, helping them live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

He works to improve or maintain his patients’ physical and mental health, ensuring their health and care needs are met. He also tried to reduce barriers to patients living an independent life.

“I love meeting with patients, families, and care staff, delivering choice, inclusion, control and empowerment and most importantly, I love seeing the positive impact our work can have on people – seeing patients’ quality of life significantly improve,” says Adrian.

Despite coming to the profession later in life, Adrian has won several nursing awards. For two years running, Adrian won the Social Care Nurse Award in the North East Great British Care Awards.

One of his award nominations was the result of positive feedback from the mother of a patient who Adrian supported. She said he was ‘truly amazing’ with her son.

Adrian encourages others to consider a career in the NHS: “It’s an opportunity to work within a supportive environment, with many career options, whilst offering a variety of opportunities to personally and professionally develop.

“Ultimately you can be part of something making incredible differences to the lives of patients, families, carers and our colleagues.”