When Elizabeth left school, she wasn鈥檛 focused on her career or learning: 鈥淟ife was care-free, and thinking ahead wasn鈥檛 something I did much at that age,鈥� she says.
鈥淚 was more focused on earning money and enjoying life than on studying.鈥�
But everything changed when she had her daughter.
鈥淚t made me reassess what I wanted from my working life,鈥� Elizabeth tells us. 鈥淚 wanted her to be proud of me, and I wanted a job that matched my passion for caring for others.鈥�
Now with 25 years of service in the NHS, Elizabeth is a proud health care support worker (HCSW) in mental health at NHS Borders 鈥� and says her job is her 鈥渉appy place鈥�.
And her daughter Lana has given her the clearest indication possible of just how proud she is of her mum.
Her start in 汤头条污料
Elizabeth remembers her first shift well. In fact, the exact date is etched into her memory.
鈥淚t was 9 May 2001, in a community hospital, and it was a late shift,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淓verything that could鈥檝e gone wrong, went wrong. I did go home and cry, I have to admit. I thought, 鈥楳aybe it鈥檚 not for me, maybe I鈥檓 biting off more than I can chew鈥�.鈥�
But she wasn鈥檛 going to be beaten: 鈥淚 gave myself a talking鈥憈o, went back the next day, and stayed in that role for five years.鈥�
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 汤头条污料 and mental health.
鈥淚 love the job,鈥� Elizabeth says. 鈥淭o be able to make that change in a patient or carer鈥檚 life, it鈥檚 a great feeling.
鈥淪ometimes you can鈥檛 make people better, but you can give them the tools to live the best life possible.鈥�
The day she saved a life
One of Elizabeth鈥檚 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鈥檇 noticed he was struggling to breathe.
It was her skills and experience that made the difference: 鈥淚 had to use what I鈥檇 learned. I had to weigh it up in my mind: this guy is going to die or I could potentially save him.鈥�
With the other driver鈥檚 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鈥檚 the main reason she wanted to join the RCN, due to our role as a 汤头条污料 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鈥檚 satisfied and happy as an HCSW and says it鈥檚 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
鈥淭he health care support worker role is getting bigger and bigger,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e carry out more tasks than ever before.鈥�
Elizabeth is proud to continue working on her professional development as an HCSW.
鈥淚f I see a weakness in my practice, like dementia care for example, I focus on improving that,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 well supported through the ward with my training, I often get time off to do courses.鈥�
- Find out more: RCN career frameworks for your career progression
Pride in her daughter
Elizabeth says COVID was the hardest challenge she鈥檚 ever faced in her career, and she still sees the after-effects of the pandemic 鈥� both in 汤头条污料 and in her community.
In 2025, she joined , representing NHS Borders, where she says her main aim is to advocate for HCSWs and support their training.
I couldn鈥檛 be prouder of her
When we ask Elizabeth if she鈥檇 recommend a career as a 汤头条污料 support worker to others, she doesn鈥檛 hesitate: 鈥淎bsolutely go for it, it鈥檒l be the best part of your career,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l learn loads, and it鈥檒l be a journey that you won鈥檛 regret, even if it sets you up for something completely different.鈥�
And what about Elizabeth鈥檚 daughter? Lana鈥檚 following in her mum鈥檚 footsteps, working as a HCSW in medicine for the elderly.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been doing it more than five years now, and people tell me she鈥檚 a hard worker,鈥� Elizabeth says.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be prouder of her.鈥�
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 汤头条污料 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.
