My nursing journey

Published: 10 August 2012

Jo Johnson, Matron For Health Visiting, School Nursing and Sexual Health, looks back on her career

I have always wanted to be a nurse and can remember sitting in Harrogate School of Nursing in 1989 when I qualified as a registered general nurse that this was too good to be true and that I would be found out!

My first staffing posts were in elderly care and a young disabled unit where I thrived as a newly qualified nurse with a lovely shiny belt and my nursing badges. I had lots of enthusiasm but no real life or nursing experience!

After four years I went to Leeds and worked at St James’s University Hospital in my first junior sister nursing post and worked on an acute gastroenterology unit. This was the role where I learned to stand on my own two feet and how to cope with enormous pressure.

I worked with a fantastic group of young energetic staff and we worked hard but also had some very good times. This was also the time I started my diploma in professional studies and in 1997 completed a BSc (Hons) in Professional Studies. To be totally honest I did not think I was able enough to complete a degree. My advice to you would be to absolutely go for it and enjoy it as I did. The only person who did not believe  in me was me!

I left in 1995 to have my first son who is now 17, and I did some part time staff nurse jobs in Harrrogate. I also worked in a nursing home on nights for a while.

In 1997 I heard from a friend who worked in school nursing that a job was being advertised and as soon as I found out about the role I applied. To my amazement I got the job and I have never looked back. Up to this point I had always worked in the hospital setting so I continued to do some nursing bank shifts as I did not want to loose any skills.
I completed my school nurse degree (SCPHN) in 1999 and I had my second child. In 2000 I had my third child and worked part time in school cursing until 2004 – as you can imagine I had my hands full!
In 2004 I became a band 7 team leader for children’s and district nursing services in Harrogate. I also started working full time. This role has been the catalyst for much of my leadership and management development and was the most challenging of the roles I have had . I found it difficult to manage the transition from clinician to manager but enjoyed the learning that came with the difficulties.

I completed a postgraduate certificate in education in 2005 and completed my MSc in Public Health in 2008.

I was seconded for one day a week to work with commissioners as a clinical executive member alongside my team leader role. I did this for four years and learned so much about the partnerships that exist across agencies and health and social care communities that help to deliver strategy. My role was to provide a clinical perspective when stratagies were being developed - a critical friend type of role. I loved every minute of it. The common thing here was I applied for it thinking I did not stand a chance but I did.

Finally in 2008 I became the Children’s Services Manager for half of North Yorkshire. Now that was a challenging role but again I found some fantastic role-models and like-minded people who have helped to shape me and to transform services.

I am currently the Matron for Health Visiting, School Nursing and Sexual Health for all of North Yorkshire. Once again in a very challenging but enjoyable role. I completed a masters module in leadership in April and started a train the trainers course for the leadership framework at the end of June.

I enjoy being a member of the Nurses in Management and Leadership Forum and am looking forward to liaising with more RCN members.
I also sit on the editorial board of the British Journal of School Nursing Board.

I enjoy working with teams so that staff feel that despite challenges they can make a difference. I want staff to enjoy coming to work knowing that they make the difference.