Here’s what it’s like to be a nurse on board Britain’s biggest warship.
I joined the Royal Naval Reserve four years ago and have gained a huge amount, both personally and professionally. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and had the opportunity to try things I would never get to do in ‘civvy street’.
LNN Helen Green shares her experience as a Navy Reservist on-board HMS Queen Elizabeth 👇
I joined the Royal Naval Reserve because I wanted to be pushed outside my comfort zone, to widen my experience as a nurse and to provide high quality clinical care.
There have been many highlights from my deployment on HMS Queen Elizabeth so far, including being winched from the flight deck into a Merlin helicopter and seeing a pod of whales from the air.
I am currently part of the Role 2 Afloat Medical Team on board HMS Queen Elizabeth which is a small team of specialist medical personnel with the capability to provide emergency care to a critically ill or injured casualty.
When deployed on the ship, we are on standby 24 hours a day in case we are needed, but we also conduct training, research and practice our skills with simulation. We are always ready.
Working as a Reservist for the Royal Navy, I’ve gained lots of clinical knowledge and experience which is directly relevant to my job in the NHS, but I have also developed a broader skill set including leadership, mentorship, communication and decision-making.
There have been many highlights from my deployment on HMS Queen Elizabeth so far including being winched from the flight deck into a Merlin helicopter and seeing a pod of whales from the air. However, standing on the flight deck while leaving Portsmouth was such a special moment — I can’t wait to do it again on the way home!
HMS Queen Elizabeth has now returned from her Deployment to North America and along with her cutting-edge F-35 jets, she will soon be at the heart of the UK’s offer to NATO’s Readiness Initiative.
Read more about our contribution to NATO here:
