Herlen Cadena qualified as a nurse more than 20 years ago – and she still loves the ‘noble’ and ‘rewarding’ profession she chose to go into.

But it is a profession that has seen a drop in numbers and is the subject of much discussion when it comes to staff levels and the impact of Brexit on EU Nationals.

Earlier this month the BBC reported findings from the Health Foundation showing that in April 2017 just 46 nurses joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register, down from 1,304 in July 2016.

Herlen, however, is confident that there are many people out there with the qualities to become a nurse/

“There is nothing difficult about nursing,” she says. “You will be shown how to do it and be supported, you just have to come in with an open mind.

“I always remember being told that doctors, pilots, solicitors – all of them – will need a nurse at some point in their lives. It is a very rewarding job.”

Herlen works for agency CLCA – which stands for care, love, and commitment, all in one – and she feels every nurse should have these qualities.

“The principle of nursing itself is very noble but you have to have the caring attitude and you have to want to work with people,” she adds.

“It is a great thing to be working with people all day, and to be able to be the instrument that can provide the care that they need at their most vulnerable times.”

As well as working with private patients in a home setting Herlen works in an acute hospital – the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

“Working in an acute hospital is completely different from working in homecare,” she says.

“In a hospital people come in during an acute phase and there is a need for the care to be clinically led, in homecare it is the other way around, we provide clinical care but it is patient led.

“Working in the two different environments is very interesting and I very much enjoy both of them.”

If you are a qualified nurse, or healthcare assistant, looking to find work in the Shropshire, Staffordshire, Powys and Birmingham areas please do get in touch with CLCA on inquiry@clcacompanyltd.co.uk