THE death of his father prompted more than just the typical outpouring of emotion – it was a career-defining moment.
Ian Squire, 41, could only sit and watch as his father battled against oesophageal cancer, and eventually passed away, aged 64, after contracting pneumonia last October.
At that time Ian, himself a father of four, had recently been made redundant after working as a production manager for an ink company.
The last days of his dad's life were spent on Nottingham City Hospital's Gervis Pearson ward, and Mr Squire was so genuinely impressed by the level of care his dad received from the nurses that he vowed to become one himself.
He said: "They really did go above and beyond the call of duty when they looked after my dad.
"They couldn't have done any more, it was heartening to see."
Shortly after losing his dad Mr Squire set about offering his services to the nursing profession.
He has now been a health care assistant for the past ten weeks at the City Hospital and works on Berman 2 ward.
He said: "My advice to others interested in it is 'go for it'. The job satisfaction I have got since starting is incredible, it's unlike anything else I've ever done."
Although he has only recently started, Mr Squire is a viable candidate for the Post's Nurse of the Year Award – which is aiming to reward some of our city's most unsung heroes.
Mr Squire, of Carlton, is the product of a unique scheme run by the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust – a teaching academy for healthcare assistants.
Since its inception in March last year more than 350 new healthcare assistants have gone through the academy, and all 1,300 existing healthcare assistants have taken on a refresher course.
The academy puts the healthcare professionals through their paces for a three-week course, and teaches them practical on-the-job skills such as end of life care, continence procedures and compassion.
The person who oversees the academy is assistant director of nursing, Theresa Walsh, who said: "It's worked very well so far, care and compassion are elements we try and instil in everyone who goes through the system."
