Abbie Davies

"I feel the personality types matched well with me: Coach, Coordinator and Trainer. The main personality traits that fit with my job role were: friendly, compassionate; good listener; being good at working with a wide range of people; being understanding and helpful; organised and simplifying complex information when communicating with different people. Being understanding and helpful stands out as an important personality trait for my job role as I interact and treat varied patients who all deal with their diagnosis and treatment journey differently, as well as interacting with family members, friends and guardians of patients too. Often the patients I treat just need someone to talk to and off-load built up feelings and concerns; especially those who are vulnerable and live on their own or if they don't have a good support network. I am often involved with training students so being friendly; able to simplify complex information to communicate with different people, and being able to adapt my way of communication for varying needs helps to teach and explain treatment procedures and rationales to students. "

"I am a Band 5 Therapeutic Radiographer at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre. My job is delivering Radiotherapy treatment for patients with cancer. What I enjoy most about my job is being able to build a rapport with each patient I treat; taking time to listen and learn about their lives and their cancer journey so far. This is important when building trust and confidence with patients, especially nervous and anxious patients who require you to go that extra mile to support them. Also being able to use my scientific knowledge every day within my role is something I really enjoy. The starting salary when newly qualified is approx £24,000 in line with the NHS Agenda for change pay. "

"During my studies at Bristol UWE University I worked during the summer/christmas holidays as brain injury rehabilitation support worker (rsw). This part time job role enabled me to have an understanding about brain injuries and behavioural changes due to changes within the brain. I have been able to apply this knowledge and experience within my current job role as a therapeutic radiographer. Patients who receive treatment for brain tumours can exhibit significant behavioural changes and often require additional assistance and extra support. I was inspired to work within a healthcare setting after obvserving my grandad receiving varying cancer treatments. This lead me to research both types of radiography which included having work experience days observing both job roles. I decided therapeutic radiography was the job role most suited to me as the staff-patient rapport, patient-care and rewarding aspects of job appealed to me the most. "

"In my spare time, I enjoy regular exercise (including long outdoor walks and cardio/weight training at the gym) which allows me to remain fit and healthy for work and also to de-stress outside of work. I also enjoy reading books and at home yoga sessions in order to calm and relax my body and mind outside of work. My regular and flexible working hours (Monday - Friday) allow me to have weekends free to socialise with friends and family and go on short holiday breaks traveling around. "

"In my day to day job I set patients up in the correct position for treatment using laser cross-wires and tattoo dots on the patient. I deliver the radiation treatment; talk to them about any problems they are having; give them advice about treatment side effects, and I work within a large multi-disciplinary team consisting of varied health care professionals! I work closely alongside clinical oncologists, registrars, dieticians, speech and language therapists, dosimetrists and medical physicists. We have to wear a radiation dose monitor which tells us how much dose we receive (almost nothing), so that we stay safe."

"I gained GCSE qualifications grade A* - B in maths, english language, english literature, science (double award), IT, French, History, Food technology and RE. My A-level qualifications were Maths, English Literature, Biology, General studies and As Level chemistry. These qualifications lead me to gaining a Bsc degree in Radiotherapy and Oncology at University of the West of England in Bristol. "