Lending a hand to learn

Published: 17 August 2011

Brenda Mcllmurray is a health care assistant working with older people in Northern Ireland. Last year she decided to become an RCN learning representative and now helps colleagues get the most from their career. She explains the role’s rewards and how you could benefit too

Brenda’s been an HCA for 14 years but didn’t think too much about helping others with their career until someone suggested she should become a learning representative with the RCN. She enrolled on a course and despite first-day nerves, found the experience really exhilarating.   

"Mingling with people on the course gave me so much spark. It made me realise my own worth," Brenda says. "I’ve always had a hunger to know more, to do more, and the course, though challenging, provided the perfect platform. I began to regain the enthusiasm I started my career with."

Big rewards

As her role has developed, Brenda says her confidence has rocketed and she’s learning something new every day. "I’ve always been passionate but shy with it. Being a learning representative gives me a great sense of pride in what I do. It’s empowering to help bring out the skills of others," she says.

Brenda is constantly looking to learn as much as possible to improve patient care. "Learning is infectious," she says.
"I’ve helped so many colleagues. Students and staff nurses now come up to me for advice and it’s so rewarding to be able to assist them. I’m not afraid to take on challenges any more. So many doors have opened."

Influencing an audience

Brenda attended her first RCN Congress earlier this year and spoke for the first time in public about her journey to become a learning representative. "I was wracked with nerves but it was incredibly exciting to know the audience was so influential. I used to think: they won’t listen to me, I’m just an HCA. When I looked out across that packed hall I knew how wrong I was."

So what are her tips for those speaking for the first time? "Speak from the heart, be positive and have faith in what you say." And she adds: "Take deep breaths for nerves!"

Get involved

Brenda is eager to encourage other HCAs to become learning representatives. "HCAs make up the spine of nursing," she says. "The more HCAs involved, the louder the voice is, the better the care. It is time for HCAs to step up and realise how vital they are."

Brenda points out that there is strong support available from the RCN for learning representatives. "The RCN is more than a support network, it’s a family. You will never be on your own with the RCN behind you," she says.

Does she have any final words of encouragement for others thinking of becoming learning representatives? "Don’t be afraid to come forward. Nothing worthwhile is easy, but if I can do it, anyone can."

More information

Find out more about becoming a representative or read information on the role of the learning representative.

Brenda is also the Northern Ireland representative on the RCN’s HCA/AP Committee. Find out more about who the committee members are and what they do to support you.