Remote Scottish island seeks new nurse
Posted 11 April 2017 - 17:03
Fed up of the hustle and bustle of hospital life? A dream nursing job has just become available on the remote Scottish island of Fair Isle
Picture: Alamy
NHS Shetland is searching for a nurse for Fair Isle, which has a population of 60, with the nearest GP surgery 40 miles away.
Situated in the 50-mile gap between the Orkney and Shetland islands to the north east of Scotland, it takes around two and half hours for a ferry crossing between the island and mainland Shetland – with just one crossing a week in the winter or three times a week in the summer.
Alternatively residents may travel by plane, either on one of the regular week day services or prior booking.
Non-doctor island nurse
The health board is looking for a band 6 nurse practitioner to fulfil the role of 'non-doctor island nurse', acting as the first point of contact for health needs.
The job advert reads: 'You must be able to work autonomously, providing nurse care to a high standard and be able to use you own initiative to address healthcare issues within this remote island setting.
'Professional colleagues and other non-doctor island nurses will provide mentorship and clinical supervision. A degree of personal resilience is also required to work in this single-handed post on a non-doctor island with support available via telephone or videoconference link.'
Relocation allowance
The selected nurse will work Monday to Friday, and provide a weekend on-call service.
They will also have the opportunity to rent the 'Nurses House' on the island, while working day to day in a separate clinic facility.
As a band 6, the nurse will be entitled to a salary of between £26,565 and £35,577. They will also qualify for a relocation package of up to £8,000 and the distant island allowance of £1,172.
Applications close on April 24, for more details click here.
The current island nurse Elena Mera Long – who plays the church organ during Sunday services – is leaving at the end of April to take up a post in Romania, according to the Scotsman.