A Day in the Life … of an Allergy UK Nurse Advisor 

Tell us about your job and how long have you worked for Allergy UK 

I have worked for Allergy UK for almost 10 years now which is the longest I have worked in any one specific role over the 24 years of my nursing career. Prior to this job, I worked as a Research Nurse on the HealthNuts Study HealthNuts – Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and lived in Melbourne, Australia, which was a very different way of life although the skills and experience I gained have been hugely valuable to my work in the allergy speciality in the UK.   
My job title is Nurse Advisor and, whilst I do give advice, the title doesn’t really begin to encompass the diverse nature of my role. Working as a nurse for a patient organisation is a unique and interesting role with many different work streams. 

I help families with children who have food allergy and eczema in the clinical service stream of the Dietitian’s Service and telephone eczema clinic. I am also passionate about education and helping to upskill healthcare professionals in allergy knowledge through a variety of platforms including developing written educational materials, delivering masterclasses and webinars.

I am dedicated to helping people better understand their allergies and how to manage them. A unique aspect of my role is working in media to help dispel myths, amplify the impact of allergy on individuals and communities and to get allergy in the conversation.  

It sounds like a varied role! How do you organise your time and do you have favourite tasks? 

Working in a collaborative way with the wider team to help make the cogs tick and support all of the valuable work that goes on. I work within a clinical team consisting of three nurses and a dietitian and we all have different skills and areas of expertise which brings a unique richness to the team. At the same time, our work is like a thread running through the wider organisational work. 

The most rewarding aspect of my role is helping people – it’s a privilege and an opportunity to make a difference. My role is also very rewarding because I get to work alongside people with differing skillsets and knowledge so there is always an opportunity to learn something new. 

How do you prepare for your eczema clinics?  

Running an effective telephone clinic requires organisation, active listening skills and an empathetic ear. I give myself time to prepare for the call, prepare by reading the patient notes and making sure I have a quiet focus to ensure I can take an allergy history and answer any questions.  

What are some common concerns or misconceptions patients have about eczema that you address? 

Many parents seek to better understand the condition and how to treat it, so a large portion of time is spent going through the topical treatments and how to use them. I call these “tool kits” which help people manage their eczema. Once we have reviewed what is in a family tool kit, I may offer guidance on suitability and some practical tips.

Being an allergy nurse and a mum of two children helps me to translate the research and science into helpful and practical advice that is family centred. Dispelling myths and correcting misperceptions are both important parts of my work. Common myths include the belief that eczema is caused by a food allergy – which is not true. Helping families to understand the link between these two different conditions is vital.  

It’s lunchtime – how do you take a break and return refreshed? 

Lunch is an important part of the day, a chance to eat something healthy and light and get a change of scenery. This might be a short walk and break from the computer. These quick fixes help boost my energy levels ready to tackle my afternoon work.  

How do you stay updated on new treatments or research in eczema and allergies? 

Keeping informed and up to speed with the changing allergy landscape is an important part of my role. I feel it’s important to be connected to people working at grass roots level, so I am part of different research, working and advocacy groups collaborating with allergy experts.
I keep my self professionally updated by attending academic conferences, for example, this year I attended the EACCI Conference in Glasgow which was a great opportunity. I also try to find the time to dive into a health article or listen to an allergy podcast. 

At the end of the day, how do you wind down? 

Outside of work I am a real foodie and I love experimenting in the kitchen, music is often on in the background and little people (my children) keep me entertained talking to me about their day. I like to keep fit and healthy and can often be seen dressed in lycra down at the local gym or pulling on my running shoes to get a few kms under my belt. Once dinner prep is out of the way, the children are asleep and my never-ending ‘to do’ list feels more under control, I may indulge in a good book with the commitment to read as I am part of a book club or watch a Netflix series.