Publish date: 25 June 2025
Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse, Christina Hayward, shares her story as part of Armed Forces Week
I was just six months qualified and planning my wedding to a Welsh Guardsman; there were four weeks to go, lots of last-minute jobs still to do, and I was excited for our big day. Then I got a call that changed everything.
In five days, I was being deployed to Strensall Barracks to begin pre-deployment training. We were heading to Iraq, supporting the first wave of the conflict.
I rang my fiancé in a panic. As a newly qualified nurse, I never really expected to end up in a war zone. I was scared, not just about what I’d face, but whether I was ready. I was in the final stages of my corporal leadership course but still felt very new, both as a nurse and as a leader.
My fiancé - calm, organised, and very much a soldier - sorted everything in three days. We were married at Pirbright Barracks Church where the padre, with military humour, opened with: “We all know why we are here - Tina will either come back with sunburn or chemical burns.”
It raised a laugh from the soldiers, but understandably didn’t go down as well with my mother!
Despite the whirlwind, it was a brilliant wedding. The RSM gave us a crate of champagne, there was port on every table, someone was assigned to keep the jukebox fed with coins, and the Sergeants’ Mess put on a curry buffet, all for the princely sum of £40. It was perfect in its own military way.
After training, we were flown to Kuwait. We moved on to Shaibah Airfield, where we built a tented field hospital with 200 beds in 40-degree heat, with no running water. It was physically gruelling - possibly the best (and least recommended) diet I’ve ever done.
We treated all sorts: diarrhoea and vomiting from poor sanitation, and injuries from the local population caught in the crossfire.
"I learned fast. It was overwhelming at times, but an incredible experience - one that shaped who I am both as a soldier and a nurse. I wouldn’t be the clinician I am today without it."
I returned home after three months, only to be sent out again six months later for another six month tour. Then, when I finally came back, my husband was deployed for six months. In the first three years of our marriage we barely saw each other, but we made it work. We’re still going strong today with two beautiful boys.
Looking back, the military gave me confidence, resilience, and purpose. Even though my service wasn’t long, it gave me everything I needed to thrive in my NHS career. It helped me find out who I was and I carry that forward every single day in my role now.
We asked Christina how she finds working in the NHS, after a career in the armed forces:
After leaving the armed forces, I wanted a role where I could continue to make a meaningful difference. Nursing within the NHS felt like a natural transition - serving people, working under pressure, and maintaining high standards. The NHS offered me a structured yet compassionate environment where I could apply my clinical skills while continuing to serve a community.
Absolutely. Both demand resilience, teamwork, and the ability to think clearly in high-pressure situations. There’s a shared emphasis on leadership, accountability, and putting others before yourself. The chain of command structure in the NHS can feel familiar, and like the forces, you’re part of something bigger with a clear purpose.
Discipline, adaptability, and situational awareness have been crucial. In the forces, I learned to assess situations quickly and make decisions confidently - something that translates well into clinical judgement, especially in tissue viability where early intervention is vital. Communication, particularly with diverse teams and under stress, has also been invaluable.
Yes, I would. Mersey Care has a strong focus on values based care, inclusion, and wellbeing - all things that resonate with military culture. There’s also room to grow, specialise, and make a real difference. I have found Mersey Care to be supportive and progressive, especially in encouraging further education and innovation within roles.
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