Heather Wilson, Policy and Programme Officer at the Health Foundation and Emergency Department nurse

In this podcast Laura interviews Heather Wilson. Heather discusses the work experience which led to her studying nursing at Edinburgh. She speaks about her interest in public heath, preventative health and policy started at university when she felt acutely aware of the downstream nature of healthcare in the UK. Heather completed a Graduate scheme at Cancer research and how she managed her clinical development as a newly qualified nurse at the same time. During the pandemic Heather discusses her work in the Emergency Department and Intensive care and how she started working in the Vaccination Centre. Heather is studying for a MSc in Public Health in London Centre for Tropical Disease Medicine and she talks about the working/ studying balance. Heather gives advice to all nurses in regards to self-care and self-preservation. Heather currently works at the at the Health Foundation as a Policy and Programme Officer alongside working on the bank as a nurse in the A&E Department of a central London hospital. Laura and Heather also talk about how they stay hopeful whilst working in challenging environments. They discuss how their identities as a nurse has changed over the course of the careers and how there is still a perception that as a nurse is that you must work clinically. Heather finally shares her goals and aspirations for the future.