Katie Plum

Katie is currently a third year Mental Health nursing student at Herts. For six years, Katie was a senior care assistant, looking after patients with various forms of dementia. After graduating, Katie hopes to get a job within the perinatal mental health and continue her professional development.

I wanted to become a nurse as I feel it is a profession which offers the opportunity to expand my existing skill set and apply it to an unsung aspect of healthcare which I feel passionately about. I chose to study at the University of Hertfordshire as its reputation preceded itself in relation to nursing degrees.

I am currently undertaking an extended five-month placement as part of the Health Education England’s response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. I am based at Thumbswood Mother and Baby Unit which specialises in perinatal mental health.

Despite carrying my uniform into work in a pillowcase and wearing a mask for hours on end, I am actually really enjoying my placement. It took some time to get used to the PPE, but it has now become second nature. We have to do our bit to protect our service users and ourselves as much as possible. I feel a part of the privileged few who are able to continue to work in this troubled time. I enjoy working alongside my amazing colleagues and being part of a team who strive to make a difference and aid our service users’ recovery.

For me, working with families from start to finish carries great rewards, but there is no better feeling than them walking out of the unit with a smile on their face.