When Elizabeth left school, she wasn’t focused on her career or learning: “Life was care-free, and thinking ahead wasn’t something I did much at that age,” she says.
“I was more focused on earning money and enjoying life than on studying.”
But everything changed when she had her daughter.
“It made me reassess what I wanted from my working life,” Elizabeth tells us. “I wanted her to be proud of me, and I wanted a job that matched my passion for caring for others.”
Now with 25 years of service in the NHS, Elizabeth is a proud health care support worker (HCSW) in mental health at NHS Borders – and says her job is her “happy place”.
And her daughter Lana has given her the clearest indication possible of just how proud she is of her mum.
Her start in nursing
Elizabeth remembers her first shift well. In fact, the exact date is etched into her memory.
“It was 9 May 2001, in a community hospital, and it was a late shift,” she recalls. “Everything that could’ve gone wrong, went wrong. I did go home and cry, I have to admit. I thought, ‘Maybe it’s not for me, maybe I’m biting off more than I can chew’.”
But she wasn’t going to be beaten: “I gave myself a talking‑to, went back the next day, and stayed in that role for five years.”
Elizabeth now works in mental health, specialising in care for the over-70s. She also works across many other wards in NHS Borders through the staff bank, which helps her maintain her skills in both general nursing and mental health.
“I love the job,” Elizabeth says. “To be able to make that change in a patient or carer’s life, it’s a great feeling.
“Sometimes you can’t make people better, but you can give them the tools to live the best life possible.”
The day she saved a life
One of Elizabeth’s most memorable days in her health care career did not in fact take place at work.
Driving home from a late shift, she found a man lying face-down in the middle of the road in a pool of blood. Another man driving the other way also stopped and phoned an ambulance.
Elizabeth then had a difficult decision to make - she’d noticed he was struggling to breathe.
It was her skills and experience that made the difference: “I had to use what I’d learned. I had to weigh it up in my mind: this guy is going to die or I could potentially save him.”
With the other driver’s help, they rolled the injured man to free up his airway, which the ambulance crew later said probably saved his life.
She later found out the injured man had passed out while leaning over the fence of one of the houses, fallen down an embankment and rolled into the road. Thanks to Elizabeth and her fellow rescuer, he made a full recovery.
They both received commendations from Police Scotland, and on the day they got their awards, the injured man sent her a letter and flowers.
Learning and development
Elizabeth has a passion for learning and development on the job, and it’s the main reason she wanted to join the RCN, due to our role as a nursing professional body and the various courses and learning modules available to members.
She did more than two years of nurse education, stopping for personal reasons, but says she carries everything she learned on the programme with her today. Ultimately, she’s satisfied and happy as an HCSW and says it’s a fulfilling career in its own right, rather than a stepping stone.
If I see a weakness in my practice... I focus on improving that
“The health care support worker role is getting bigger and bigger,” she says. “We carry out more tasks than ever before.”
Elizabeth is proud to continue working on her professional development as an HCSW.
“If I see a weakness in my practice, like dementia care for example, I focus on improving that,” she says. “I’m well supported through the ward with my training, I often get time off to do courses.”
- Find out more: RCN career frameworks for your career progression
Pride in her daughter
Elizabeth says COVID was the hardest challenge she’s ever faced in her career, and she still sees the after-effects of the pandemic – both in nursing and in her community.
In 2025, she joined the Healthcare Support Worker Advisory Group for Scotland, representing NHS Borders, where she says her main aim is to advocate for HCSWs and support their training.
I couldn’t be prouder of her
When we ask Elizabeth if she’d recommend a career as a nursing support worker to others, she doesn’t hesitate: “Absolutely go for it, it’ll be the best part of your career,” she says. “You’ll learn loads, and it’ll be a journey that you won’t regret, even if it sets you up for something completely different.”
And what about Elizabeth’s daughter? Lana’s following in her mum’s footsteps, working as a HCSW in medicine for the elderly.
“She’s been doing it more than five years now, and people tell me she’s a hard worker,” Elizabeth says.
“I couldn’t be prouder of her.”
First Steps
RCN First Steps is a trusted, free learning resource for those starting out in health care. While originally developed for health care assistants (HCAs), it is a valuable resource for all nursing support staff working across health and care settings.
Recently updated, it is now more accessible than ever – even if you’re not an RCN member.
Whether you're new to your role, returning to practice, or looking to refresh your knowledge, First Steps helps you develop the skills and confidence needed to deliver safe, compassionate, and person-centred care.
Access it anytime, anywhere – including on your phone. RCN members can also receive a certificate of completion.
Discover more learning resources for nursing support workers.
