Blog

Child Health Team - Rachel Martinez

Rachel Martinez, Advanced Nurse Practitioner Lead, Child Health

Brief career history

I qualified as a paediatric nurse in 2011 from Northumbria University and started my nursing career as a junior staff nurse on ward 10 (general paediatrics) at North Tyneside General Hospital. My journey took a different direction when I joined the team at NSECH the day it opened in 2015, starting as a trainee paediatric advanced clinical practitioner (ACP). I qualified as an ACP in March 2017, and shortly after, I moved into the role of advanced paediatric nurse consultant in September 2017.

I spent five years in that role before moving into my current position as advanced nurse practitioner lead for child health in September 2022. In this role, I work as an ACP in Paediatric A&E rota, while also holding managerial responsibility for ACPs in acute paediatrics, neonates and the special care baby unit (SCBU).

Additionally, I oversee the child health specialist nursing teams (asthma, allergy, diabetes, and epilepsy) as well as the clinical educators.

Why I chose the career I did

I’m passionate about providing the best care for children and families and being able to continue developing as a clinician is important to me. I love that my role allows me to maintain my clinical skills when I work in A&E. The variety in my work keeps me engaged and energised. As a leader, it’s important to me that I bring the team along with me—if I am progressing and developing, then the team and individuals I look after should be too. It’s a privilege to be in a position where I can directly influence development opportunities and create new ones for my colleagues.

A typical day

There’s no such thing as a ‘typical day’ in my role, which I love! I cover a variety of shifts on the A&E rota each week — long days, nights, weekends, and even twilight shifts. Between these clinical hours, I also have my management and leadership days, which can change from week to week. My diary is always changing, sometimes on the day, and while that can be challenging, it’s also part of the excitement of the job.

My clinical shifts in the emergency department are often busy and involve assessing children and young people under the age of 16 from across the Northumberland and North Tyneside areas. These patients may either self-present with their parents/carers or be referred by other healthcare professionals.

In my role, I independently assess, diagnose, and manage the healthcare needs of these patients. I also provide supervision and educational support to junior doctors and medical students. Additionally, I hold the registrar bleep during shifts, taking calls from GPs and health visitors to offer clinical advice, signposting, or arranging same-day reviews in A&E when appropriate. No day is ever the same which is a large part of the appeal.

Why I love my role

What I love most about my role is making a difference. Being able to work at an advanced level I have the appropriate knowledge, skills and capabilities allowing me to provide the best possible care to patients and families in A&E, and that’s something I consider a real privilege because I’m not just doing a job—I’m being given the opportunity to make a real difference when children and their families need it most.

I’m fortunate to work with a fantastic team of colleagues who are equally dedicated to delivering high-quality care. The collaboration we have is amazing, and that’s such a big part of what makes the job so rewarding.

Challenges

Like anyone in healthcare, time is always my biggest challenge. Balancing clinical responsibilities with the non-clinical tasks that come with a leadership role can be tricky. Since my hours don’t fit a typical 9-to-5 working week it can be hard to attend meetings or stay as visible with my teams as I’d like. However, I’m mindful of this and always work on finding ways to stay connected and manage my time as effectively as possible.

Advice for parents and guardians

As a paediatric nurse, my top advice to parents is simple: trust your instincts. While we are trained professionals and paediatrics is our speciality, no one knows your child better than you. Your thoughts and concerns are always important, and we’re here to listen and support you.

A little bit about me

I met my husband at NSECH when he worked in adult A&E and we share our home with two retired greyhounds, who keep us on our toes! We love travelling and getting away to the Lake District for hikes and spending time outdoors. Getting on the fells and having a change of scenery really helps me relax and recharge. Finding that balance is important to me, as it helps me be the best version of myself, both at work and at home.

Hopes for the future

For now, I’m really enjoying my role and the work I’m doing across all the services I look after, and I am keen to continue developing within my current position.  I’m not entirely sure what my next step will be, but I’d like it to continue to involve leadership, while keeping some clinical work in the mix. I’m excited for the future, and I hope it’s within Northumbria Healthcare that I can continue to develop and progress my career. The Trust has played such a big role in my career journey to date, and I’m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities it’s given me and the fantastic individuals and colleagues I’ve met along the way.