Chrissy Marsh is a ward manager on ward A5 at CUH. She joined CUH straight from school as a pre-nursing student in 2003. Here Chrissy shares more about the 20 years she's worked with us.
What is your name and your role in our hospitals?
My name is Chrissy Marsh and I am a ward manager on ward A5.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The variety within my role and the fact that no two days are the same.
Also being able to make a difference in my patients journey and seeing them recover
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey.
I joined CUH in September 2003 as a pre-nursing student straight from finishing school. At the time CUH, in connection with Cambridge Regional College, was the only college to offer the pre-nursing course with clinical experience in an acute Hospital and entry support to a registered nurse programme.
I have always worked at CUH since starting my nursing career in 2003. I have only worked outside of CUH during my registered nurse training for clinical placements in the community.
Since joining over 20 years ago I have progressed from a pre-nursing student to a healthcare assistant, staff nurse, junior sister and now to a ward manager.
Tell us a bit about your career progression at CUH.
After leaving school in in July 2003 I started as a pre-nursing student with Addenbrooke's abd Cambridge Regional College working part-time and attending college to complete a BTEC first diploma in caring and Healthcare NVQ’s.
In July 2005 I completed my course and unfortunately was not accepted to start my adult nurse training, so I worked as a healthcare assistant on ward K3 which was a urology ward at time. I worked here for 18 months and then successfully gained entry to adult nursing and was offered a secondment by Addenbrooke's to complete this.
In September 2006 I started as a student nurse for a three year course. I interrupted my training in March 2009 for six months to have my first child. I returned in September 2009 and commenced my final management sign off placement on ward A4.
Initially I was terrified of starting on A4 and even tried to change placement area but once settled I loved it!
In May 2010 I obtained my Nursing and Midwifery Council registration and started as a registered nurse on ward A4.
I had my second child in March 2013 and took time out for maternity leave. I returned to work in November of that year and successfully returned as a junior sister to ward A5.
I was successfully appointed into a senior sister role for ward D6, a neuro ward with 16 beds in May 2015.
In October 2016 I had my third child and took time out for maternity leave. Upon return in September 2017 I was offered a role as ward manager for ward A5 which had a larger nursing team and bigger bed capacity, and this is where I remain today with the career aspiration of becoming a Matron for Neurosciences next.
Why you like working at CUH?
As a specialist hospital and tertiary centre for neurosciences, we provide specialist care and interventions for some of the sickest patients. The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members I have the pleasure of working with. And of course the flexible working CUH provides and easily accessible from a commuting aspect to.
What does a usual day look like for you?
Always busy! Aside from that, attending to the needs of my patients on the ward and supporting my nursing team to attend to the patients needs also. All at the same time as juggling manager admin tasks such as staff needs and support, development of staff, staffing allocation, bed managing, health and safety aspects, service improvements, compliments and complaints.
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
Every ward needs a ward manager who is experienced in their speciality and role to ensure it has a nursing team who is able to safely and promptly deliver the care required to ensure the best possible outcomes and recovery for the patients.
Ward managers are needed to oversee the holistic service provided and are a vital point of contact and the link within the MDT for escalation, management and to continually improve the service provided.
What is the most notable thing that has changed at CUH in your time working here?
The ever expanding size of the hospital and the service it provides.
What is the most notable thing that has changed in your profession/career in the years you’ve worked in the NHS?
The clinical acuity and severity of the patients we care for on the wards now compared to when I started my nursing career has changed massively. There are patients we care for daily on the ward that many years ago would have been only cared for in critical/intensive care areas.
