Community nursery nurse Christine Healey describes what she's been doing since she left a school nursery
Monday
My eldest son and girl/boy twins are now old enough to go to school on their own, so with the three of them gone by 7.45am, I enjoy a stress-free breakfast. For the past year I've been working for the Croydon and Surrey Downs Community NHS Trust as a community nursery nurse, working alongside health visitors in south London. I changed from my old job in a school nursery class after reading an article in Nursery World - it made community nursery nursing sound really interesting!
I'm not at the health centre where I'm usually based this morning but in another one, joining health visitors and nursery nurses for a training session on the early signs of post-natal depression. A tough subject for Monday morning, but an important one.
Drive to a GP's surgery to work with a health visitor in a well-baby clinic in the afternoon. One of the mums asks about a rash on her baby's face; another asks if I can help her find childcare for her six-month-old - I give her the number of the local children's services agency. Nursery nurses are allowed a long induction process at the Trust that involves shadowing health visitors and then working for a while with a health visitor observing them.
Monday is Brownie night and I am Barn Owl to 24 seven- to 11-year-old girls. They are working on their 'craft badge' tonight, tie-dying T-shirts - messy but enjoyable!
Tuesday
At work just after 8am today to catch up with post. We work a flexi-time system. It's the team meeting this morning, sorting out duty rotas. One of the health visitors in the team refers two of her clients to me. Make a phone call to one of the mothers who had her baby three weeks ago by emergency Caesarean and arrange to visit her at home to weigh her baby. Phone the other mum who is having problems with potty training. Owning a car makes home visiting easier, though they are not essential. We are paid a mileage allowance and have a parking permit supplied to us.
As for the potty training - after some discussion we decide that maybe the potty is too small; the little boy is bigger than most, and the potty's size perhaps makes him feel insecure. Return to write up notes. Home at 5pm - my girl twin played netball for the school today but she's disappointed she didn't score a goal.
Wednesday
Meet Jennifer, another community nursery nurse, to talk about the postnatal support group we are going to start at our health centre. We hope to invite various speakers, including a baby massage specialist.
Developmental reviews for two-year-olds this afternoon, my favourite clinic. Jennifer and I run it ourselves, as our training in child development equips us perfectly. At one stage we have two sets of twins and a big brother running up and down the room. Two toddlers need further investigations - one referred to audiology, the other to speech therapy. Report back to the health visitors about the referrals and write up notes.
Thursday
My turn to spend half a day answering the phone and dealing with any clients that come to reception. Talk to one mother who wonders when she can introduce cows' milk into her baby's diet; another wants more information on the MMR immunisation.
Another well-baby clinic in the after- noon. Mainly get asked about weaning - it's difficult to describe pureed carrots mixed to a 'sloppy' consistency! Squeeze in a visit to someone with a nine-month-old baby waking three or four times a night. That problem can occur when babies are put in their cots asleep - ideally they should be awake so they learn to fall asleep by themselves. Suggest some new strategies and agree to phone mother in a week.
Friday
Paperwork this afternoon, busy clinic in the morning. One of our regulars arrives and we take cover when his mum takes his nappy off and puts him into the scales. Sure enough, the fountain starts - it happens every time and I always jump. He has wonderful bladder control and stops for a moment as he sees me - then up goes the foun- tain again! He can't stop smiling! NW
