Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Kerry Reynolds Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Kerry Reynolds I'm able to give one-on-one support to family members all along the brain injury pathway. One year ago, Kerry Reynolds became Headway's first acute trauma support nurse based in the North East of the country. Working within the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, Kerry provides emotional and practical support to families and carers in the early stages after brain injury. Here, she tells us what she has learnt in her first year in the role, the challenges she has faced along the way and why she loves her job so much. "The role of the HATS nurses is new and unique. I work as part of the hospital team, attending meetings and going on ward rounds, representing Headway in an acute clinical setting. "Being a HATS nurse is so rewarding. I'm able to give one-on-one support to family members all along the brain injury pathway and it makes such a difference. "I enjoy meeting new people from all walks of life, young and old, whether it's brain injury survivors and their families or medical professionals and staff. Although it has been a challenge to get to know so many people. "Families can get upset after a visit and they'll need someone to talk to. Every day is different, and it's certainly never boring. "The most inspiring aspect of my job is seeing how the families cope. We support people at the acute stage but it's also important to support people after discharge. "Recovery is a continuous journey that doesn't stop when the patient leaves hospital. The more I meet people the more I realise the transition from hospital to home is huge change. "That's why I set up the neuro rehab clinics, where discharged patients and their families meet with me at the hospital so I can continue to support them after they have left the hospital. "Although there are other services out there for them, a familiar face makes them feel at ease and less anxious. I really look forward to those sessions. "I want to support as many people as possible but there's only one of me and it's a huge major trauma unit. People go on so many different routes through their brain injury pathway and I can't always catch them right at the start of their journey. "I know there are more people out there. I know the devastation brain injury can cause. It's life changing and it affects a lot of young people. It would be great if we had more HATS nurses. "I love my job and I'm excited about the year ahead. It's only when you stop to think about what you've done in the past year that you realise what you've achieved, and hopefully, all of the people you've been able to support." Back to stories index Headway Acute Trauma Support Headway Acute Trauma Support (HATS) nurses provide vital assistance and support to families whose loved ones are in hospital following a brain injury. Find out more Headway Emergency Fund The Emergency Fund provides grants of up to £500 in the immediate aftermath of brain injury. Find out more Sue McIntyre Find out more Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings