Meet our nurses
Carolyne Sang
District Nurse Manager
I had a lot of support in every area that I worked in as a newly qualified nurse, especially in the community
I did my nurse training at Kings College and, after qualifying in 2018, I saw that Whittington Health was interviewing for a Band 5 community and hospital rotation post. I was very interested in the idea of working for an integrated care organisation where I would have the opportunity to gain experience of working in the two settings.
I got the job and was given a role in the community for six months, then in A&E for six months and then in the Acute Assessment Unit for three months. The transition between the roles was efficient and seamless.
I had a lot of support in every area that I worked in as a newly qualified nurse, especially in the community, and I was very grateful because transitioning from student to registered professional is a big step. After my community experience, I knew I wanted to stay working there and spoke to the recruitment office who were really helpful.
I have always found it easy to move in the direction I want to go in. Every step of the way I’ve been given options, support and guidance. Importantly, I have felt able to speak up and say what I would like. My advice to any other NQNs is think about your ambitions and communicate what you would like to do to help you get there. WH offers a lot of chances for the newly qualified and you can pick rotations and see where you fit best.
Working in an integrated care organisation, and having had the experience of hospital and community working, I have a very good understanding of the complete patient journey and sometimes I even know who will be looking after my patients in the hospital, all the way from A&E to the ward. We have access to information about their journey through their path of care and having that knowledge feels important to me.
After my rotation posts, six months into my community role as a Band 5, I saw an advert for a district nursing course. During appraisal, my manager and I chatted about it and she asked why didn’t I consider doing the course at Southbank Uni. I decided to go for it and then the pattern of my week was university for two days, two days placement back with the team and one day for self-directed study. Applying the knowledge that I learnt with my team was good. The course was one year and it was intense, but I had really good support. Several other students didn’t have such support and things didn’t happen at the right time or their placements were harder to come by. I was again grateful that WH organised things well.
I completed the course in September 2022 and afterwards I felt I needed a few months out. WH was happy to accommodate my break, during which time I did bank nursing. In October that year the role of District Nurse team manager was advertised and I applied and interviewed in November and started in January 2023.
Going from a Band 5 to 7 in a fairly short space of time has been a steep learning curve and a real stretch but I had great back-up and mentoring every step of the way.
My role now involves keeping the district nursing team running smoothly and making sure every member gets the training they need. I like to be able to help colleagues in their journey, just as I was helped in mine.
I got the job and was given a role in the community for six months, then in A&E for six months and then in the Acute Assessment Unit for three months. The transition between the roles was efficient and seamless.
I had a lot of support in every area that I worked in as a newly qualified nurse, especially in the community, and I was very grateful because transitioning from student to registered professional is a big step. After my community experience, I knew I wanted to stay working there and spoke to the recruitment office who were really helpful.
I have always found it easy to move in the direction I want to go in. Every step of the way I’ve been given options, support and guidance. Importantly, I have felt able to speak up and say what I would like. My advice to any other NQNs is think about your ambitions and communicate what you would like to do to help you get there. WH offers a lot of chances for the newly qualified and you can pick rotations and see where you fit best.
Working in an integrated care organisation, and having had the experience of hospital and community working, I have a very good understanding of the complete patient journey and sometimes I even know who will be looking after my patients in the hospital, all the way from A&E to the ward. We have access to information about their journey through their path of care and having that knowledge feels important to me.
After my rotation posts, six months into my community role as a Band 5, I saw an advert for a district nursing course. During appraisal, my manager and I chatted about it and she asked why didn’t I consider doing the course at Southbank Uni. I decided to go for it and then the pattern of my week was university for two days, two days placement back with the team and one day for self-directed study. Applying the knowledge that I learnt with my team was good. The course was one year and it was intense, but I had really good support. Several other students didn’t have such support and things didn’t happen at the right time or their placements were harder to come by. I was again grateful that WH organised things well.
I completed the course in September 2022 and afterwards I felt I needed a few months out. WH was happy to accommodate my break, during which time I did bank nursing. In October that year the role of District Nurse team manager was advertised and I applied and interviewed in November and started in January 2023.
Going from a Band 5 to 7 in a fairly short space of time has been a steep learning curve and a real stretch but I had great back-up and mentoring every step of the way.
My role now involves keeping the district nursing team running smoothly and making sure every member gets the training they need. I like to be able to help colleagues in their journey, just as I was helped in mine.
Last updated26 Mar 2025