To mark British Science Week, we’re #SmashingStereotypes and bringing you stories from staff in the Health Protection and Screening Services Directorate.
Today, we’re bringing you Lee's story.
"I’d love to see more male nurses.
Throughout school, I never really thought about a career in science. I enjoyed history and wanted to pursue a career in history or the police. It was only when I started my first job did the thought of working in science occur to me.
I left school midway through my A-levels. My first job was as a caterer at the University Hospital of Wales. After doing the job for a year or two I was given the opportunity to apply for a band 2 Health Care Support Worker role in neurology.
It was while working in this role, alongside nurses, that I decided I wanted to pursue a nursing career. I wanted to help people in their time of need. My mother, who is a registered nurse, was also an inspiration.
I applied for an Access to Nursing course at a local college and gained the qualifications I needed to enroll at the University of South Wales. I graduated in 2018.
I returned to neurology as a qualified nurse. After a year, I was fortunate to gain a band 6 role on the ward. I stayed until the Covid pandemic hit. I volunteered to work on the wards based in the Principality Stadium. It was a very tough time, and I learned a lot about a wide range of issues.
In 2021, while redeployed to help deliver Covid vaccinations, I successfully applied for a band 7 Clinical Lead role. I stayed there until January 2024, when I moved to my current role with Diabetic Eye Screening Wales.
My Regional Nurse Co-ordinator role involves leading and supporting a team, while maintaining and promoting clinical excellence in clinics. I am also responsible for contacting and speaking to participants who have queries about screening. I get a lot of satisfaction from working with participants and helping them through any queries or issues they may have.
I would encourage any who is thinking about pursuing a career in science, and specifically nursing, to explore all the possible opportunities. I would love to see more male nurses. As a young boy, the idea of nursing as a career never seemed a possibility to me. But early experiences in my career, and having my mum as a role model, changed that.
Nursing is challenging but incredibly rewarding. You learn life skills, as well as learning a lot about yourself. You go home after you shift knowing that you’ve made a difference to someone’s life." - Lee Morgan, Regional Nurse Co-ordinator, Diabetic Eye Screening Wales.