My liver transplant and me: How my experiences will make me a better nurse

Sherniece Kaur was just a few weeks into her degree in Adult Nursing at Birmingham City University when she fell ill and was admitted to hospital for a liver transplant. While in hospital, she met Amy Davis, the Ward Sister, and Olivia Price, a BCU Nursing graduate, who had both themselves had liver transplants. The three of them are now friends, and members of the newly formed British Liver Youth Support Group, through which they help support their peers and share their experiences of liver disease.

The experience had a profound effect on Sherniece. It made her more determined than ever in her dream to become a nurse, as it so nearly didn’t happen for her. When she restarted her degree, after 10 months in hospital, she was delighted to find herself on placement in the ward where she had been a patient, and working alongside Amy and Olivia, who had helped to look after her as a patient. As a result of her liver transplant, she had an understanding of the patient experience from the other side, and was able to apply this knowledge in her placement.

I know how they feel

“Having been a patient and then being on placement in the same ward, I am able to think differently from other nurses. I can see things that others might not see, and understand what patients say, because I remember being in their situation. I understand the importance of small things, such as someone having the time to take you down to the restaurant for some non-hospital food.

“I can pick up things that other nurses wouldn’t because I know what patients might be worrying about. I appreciate that a lot of patients, especially younger ones, may have body image issues – a liver transplant leaves a very big scar, and people worry about that. But I can show them that further down the line, they won’t mind the scar – in fact it’s a reminder of the gift of life they’ve been given. I can show them that they will return to normal life, as I have.”

Getting support

In hospital, Sherniece was one of the younger patients on the ward. There was a support group for people with liver disease, with a very friendly leader who would visit everyone on the ward and chat to them, but the members were all older people. When the transplant transition nurses suggested setting up a new group for younger patients, Sherniece jumped at the idea, as she felt it would be helpful to meet other young people who had been through the same experience. She thought it would really motivate people to see how well others had done in recovery.

The group, all aged between 15 and 24, get together each week – virtually at the moment – and discuss things they don’t want to ask medical staff. They enjoy the opportunity to hear each other’s stories and share their experiences. It gives them someone to talk to outside their family group, which is especially useful during lockdown, and helped them establish lasting friendships. They also have talks from specialists such as pharmacists and doctors to hear about the latest research. Mr Pereira, the surgeon who operated on all the group members, has spoken about his research and developments that he is raising money for. When coronavirus restrictions ease, Sherniece hopes to be able to visit the ward to sit with patients and support them.

Getting back on track

Sherniece is about to enter her third year of her nursing degree, so she’s looking forward to qualifying as a nurse. “After graduation, I would like to work on the liver ward, and become a Ward Sister, and eventually, I would like to work as a liver co-ordinator. I’d also like to be a mentor to students on placement, and help motivate them. Lots of students will have setbacks and need time out of their studies. I want to help them to carry on and show them that things will fall into place. All of the nurses, sisters and staff have been lovely to me on the transplant ward. I couldn’t praise them more, and I want to carry that on.”