Sleep practitioner Review

by NHS

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.8/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I look after patients newly diagnosed with sleep apnoea. I issued CPAP machines and follow-up to ensure compliance and help and support with any problems.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I am training to complete my degree and become a clincal physiologist (I attended MMU at foundation degree level). I am also learning to perform respiratory testing so will be a combined respirtory/sleep physiologist.

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I enjoy learning new things. Learning from other people already doing the job can be really helpful. I find hands on training to be more beneficial than being just in the classroom.

9/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

I found it difficult to begin with. Sitting a respiratory exam when you have no resp training or even seen some of the test performed was very difficult. I failed my first exam and felt it was too soon to be sitting it.

7/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

To begin with, getting time to study, learn new things and getting paperwork signed off was difficult due to staff shortages. Manager was difficult to begin with with regards to freeing me to attend placement to learn respiratory training. Over time this has improved. More structure/guidance would have helped.

7/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

I found tutors to be helpful offering advice and support with workload, information regarding course and lectures etc. and helping with difficulties in my workplace. Skillsats was also helpful giving guidance and advice with assignements.

8/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

It has given me a better level of knowledge and understanding, which will help me in my daily role. It has also made me reflect on my practices as I have been in healthcare a long time.

8/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

No, due to family/carer repsonsibilites I do not have time for this.

7/10

9a. Would you recommend NHS to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

I work with a good group of people. I enjoy my job and the interactions with my patients. New roles/tasks are going to be introduced, to give me wider experience. I have been able to change my working hours to fit in with my home life (4 long days).

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NHS?

Work hard and don't shy away from asking to go further or to do more. Hard work in my experience has alway been rewarded. Working in the NHS for many years, from a band 2 to a band 5. With this qualification I can become a band 6.