Specialising in mental health and elderly care, Colin has fulfilled a variety of roles across his career. Find out how Colin uses RMR to work around his many creative passions and regular jaunts around Scotland's Munros.
How many years have you been nursing?
Almost 20 years. My training started in the year 2000 and I qualified in 2003 as a Registered Mental Health Nurse.
What made you choose Mental Health Nursing?
Interestingly, I started my course with the intention of going down the General Nursing route. At that time, I had the chance to work in a care home that catered for short-term care for people with acute mental health problems. I found myself being very comfortable amongst people with mental health problems. I felt that I could build relationships up with them really quickly. Within two months of starting my course we had the option of changing, and I had no doubt at all that’s what I was going to train to be. And I’ve had no doubts whatsoever.
What’s your favourite part of being a nurse?
My favourite part is the residents that I’m working with, building that rapport. That’s where I find that I get the most enjoyment and satisfaction from. I enjoy the challenge; nursing is always a challenge. If you want to provide a level of care that is deemed excellent then you have to work hard at it. It’s imperative that you quickly build strong relationships with residents, especially within elderly care.
Did you work with an agency before RMR?
I had worked with an agency, many years ago. I found myself working for an agency and being shifted into prisons as a nurse. I took the opportunity and worked there for a number of years, but I didn’t really enjoy it as I missed the level of contact with people who were most in need of care.
What led you to working with RMR?
Coincidence and circumstance really. I worked in a variety of placements over the years, I ran care homes for a number of years, I ran crisis management for care homes with residents suffering from a variety of conditions. But my family are in the area that I work in now and I decided to move.
The full-time job that I took in this area wasn’t using my skills and experiences, so I sought out an agency and RMR were there.
What was it like joining RMR?
The entire process was eye-opening because it was made easy for me. I had to sort out documents and RMR was patient with me. The recruitment team communicated with me, made me believe that this was an agency that cares. That RMR values their staff. There are many agencies available to staff, but there was something inside me that said perhaps RMR might be the one that I enjoy working for.
How long have you worked with RMR?
I’ve worked with RMR for less than a year, but it has been profound and eye-opening year. I found very quickly that I was having shifts in appropriate places. I found that RMR had discovered who I am, what I want, what my choices are, and what my life entails. And therefore, they’ve been very flexible and tailored the shifts that they provide me around the rest of my life.
What advice would you give to someone considering working for RMR?
The best advice that I could give them would be to come to RMR. I wouldn’t be working for RMR if I couldn’t say that RMR have been the best for me, the best for the clients, and the best for the carers. Take the chance, jump in there. I’m giving my honest opinion that RMR care. That RMR are a valued company, who ultimately are making lives better for the people who need our care.
Outside of work how do you spend your time?
I spend my time playing guitar. I write songs, I like to record music videos with friends and family. This takes me away from what I do for my work periodically and gives my mind a rest from the mind-tasking job that we have as nurses.
I also like time on my own. Last year I climbed 17 Munros and I’ve set the challenge to climb 10 this year
Do you have any future career goals or aspirations?
No, I don’t have a goal. I’m happy with what I’m doing, and it’s been a long time coming. I’ve managed homes, with all the difficulties that come with it, and never been quite satisfied. I’ve never found that I have the life vs work balance that I have at this moment in time. So, I’m going to sit back and enjoy having that balance.
I’m enjoying my life, my work, and the balance that I have. If I wasn’t working for RMR then I may be working for someone else and I wouldn’t have that balance.
