day in the life

A day in the life of Jenny Nightingale, Epilepsy Society's epilepsy specialist nurse

What are your working hours?

I am a working mum with three little boys, so I am part-time at Epilepsy Society. My eldest son is five and my twins are three. I work from 8am-4.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays and 8am-3pm on Tuesdays. This helps me to fit in all my family commitments too. 
 

What does your day-to-day work involve?

My time is divided between running clinics for outpatients and being on call on our epilepsy specialist nurse advice-line.

At the Chalfont Centre in Buckinghamshire we see many people with hard-to-control seizures. They are often referred here after years of trying different anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). As well as living with the unpredictability of seizures, they may also be coping with side effects from medication, memory problems and sometimes cognitive difficulties. All these can lead to anxiety and stress and it is my job to support the patients and their families.

Many issues can be discussed during clinic time but for some people issues occur the next day or week or several months later. They may be having side effects from their medications or are concerned that they are still experiencing seizures, and this is where our epilepsy specialist nurse advice-line is so valuable. Outpatients can give me a ring, chat through their problem and either I can allay their worries and concerns or I can speak to their consultant for advice.

 
What are your key tasks?

My job is to act as an interface between the consultants and their patients. I am there to offer reassurance, information, support and advice in the broadest terms. For some people that may mean explaining more about the AEDs they have been prescribed and talking about the importance of taking them on a regular basis. Other patients may need to discuss lifestyle issues such as the impact that epilepsy may have on their jobs, their ability to drive and to support a family.

Some patients may be referred for tests such as video-telemetry or an MRI scan. I am there to answer the questions that there may not be time to cover during the appointment with the consultant.

My role is to enhance the quality of care for our patients, often from a diagnosis of epilepsy through to ongoing self-management. My aim is to improve people’s well being so that they can have a life free from the constraints of epilepsy.
 

How did you come to work at Epilepsy Society?

My father was a GP and my mother a nurse, so it felt very natural for me to go in for nursing.

I spent 20 years working as a nurse in the East End of London. I trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and  worked at The Royal London Hospital, working first of all in neurosurgery and then neurology. I also worked for some time for the British Brain and Spine Foundation as an information officer and on their helpline.

I found that I was really drawn to epilepsy and was particularly interested in the role of the specialist nurse. One of the parts of my job that I enjoy the most is providing clear, understandable information for patients and their families in such a way that it can help relieve a stressful situation.

I became an epilepsy specialist nurse in 1999 and set up the epilepsy services at the Royal London. I then studied for a masters in epileptology. I have also taught and lectured medical students and GPs and have spent a lot of time raising awareness about epilepsy out in the community through schools, colleges and in employment.

Education is a vital part of my work as it helps to eliminate stigma. The more people who are prepared to fly the flag for epilepsy, the more the public will understand about the condition.

Leaving my work in the East End of London was quite a wrench but I really wanted to come and work at Epilepsy Society. The Chalfont Centre is a centre of excellence for epilepsy and I felt I could further my knowledge about the condition, at the same time bringing my own experience and communication skills to the Society.

We have a brilliant multi-disciplinary team here and I feel very privileged to join as an epilepsy specialist nurse.

What skills do you need?

You need to be passionate about helping people with epilepsy and you need excellent communication skills. The job is all about people management. I would advise anyone to make sure they have a nursing qualification at least to degree level and that they have at least five years experience as a nurse before choosing to become a specialist nurse. I find that my work in neurology and neurosurgery really helps inform my work in epilepsy.

 
What are the best and most challenging things about your job?

The best part of my job is when I know I have helped someone to come to terms with a diagnosis of epilepsy and have really supported that person and their family. The most challenging part can be the frustration of not always being able to access the right social care or housing for a person. You can change the outcome of a person’s life if you support them but you need the allied support of other professionals to really make a difference.

Jenny Nightingale can only take calls on the epilepsy specialist nurse helpline from outpatients at Epilepsy Society's Chalfont Centre.

If you would like information, emotional support or just someone to talk to confidentially, please call our Epilepsy Society Helpline on 01494 601 400.