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As a practice nurse , you will work in medical centres on RAF stations , focusing on health education and preventative medicine . Depending on the number of patients – which can also include RAF families and other civilians – you may be the only practice nurse on site or be part of a team .
On an RAF base , your role will be very similar to that of a practice nurse within the NHS . You will be encouraged to keep your nursing skills sharp and your performance will be benchmarked against the NHS to ensure that we are giving our patients the same standard of care , or better .
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ON THE JOB : PRACTICE NURSE
FLIGHT SERGEANT
ELLERY
I am currently the Practice Nurse Manager at David Stone Medical Centre , RAF Brize Norton . I completed nurse training through the RAF at Portsmouth University . Following this I was posted to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre ( DMRC ) Headley Court , prior to moving into Primary Health Care ( PHC ). PHC was the area of nursing I wanted to focus on , and I have not looked back . I have worked in medical centres at RAF Scampton ( home of the Red Arrows ), RAF Leeming , RAF Brize Norton , RAF Benson and RAF High Wycombe . I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the RAF . My intention was to stay in for 9 years , but 19 years later ; still here . I started nursing at the rank of
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Corporal , rising to Flight Sergeant . I have completed specialist PHC courses such as immunisations & vaccinations , cervical cytology , mentorship , travel health , Asthma then more specialist courses such as Sexual Health and International Health with some being up to Master ’ s level . Working in a military medical centre is different to that of the NHS . Our patients are generally younger , involving more travel and occupational health , being sent to some weird and wonderful destinations with their jobs . I love the hands-on aspect of my job , but with higher rank comes more management and administration , although I aim to do as much clinical work as my day allows .
I have deployed to Afghanistan and Ascension Island , both very busy deployments and a massive eye opener . On my deployment to Afghanistan I worked in a coalition
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environment , meeting casualties arriving by helicopter with serious injuries . In comparison , my deployment to Ascension saw me being the only nurse on an island in the middle of the South Atlantic . These two deployments were worlds apart .
Out of work I have enjoyed lots of adventure training activity weeks , including skiing . Prior to joining I had never even put on a set of skis , but the RAF provided me with enjoyable and high-quality tuition ; which led to downhill skiing competitions . I have also enjoyed many perks of the job , attending tennis semi-finals in Wimbledon , Buckingham Palace Garden party and horse racing at Ascot .
I would recommend joining the RAF to anyone , especially nursing in PHC . There has never been a day that I have not enjoyed coming to work .
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