The Shed had the privilege of hearing a truly fascinating presentation from our own resident nurse, Gethin, on his work as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner in the Ulster Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Gethin walked us through the huge variety of injuries he deals with on a daily basis — from the simple and straightforward to the complex fractures and dislocations that arrive through the ED doors. He even sprinkled in some historical context, giving us a surprising glimpse into how emergency care has evolved over the years.

We were shown real X-ray examples of broken bones and dislocated joints, with Gethin explaining exactly what he looks for when interpreting an image — the subtle angles, alignment, shadows and clues that reveal what’s actually going on beneath the skin.

From there he took us step-by-step through what happens next in the ED:
how bones are pulled back into place, how dislocations are relocated, how casts are applied, and how patients are managed with medication and reassurance.

For a bit of hands-on learning, he even demonstrated how to check for an Achilles tendon rupture — and we’re happy to confirm that every Shedder passed with flying colours!

It was an eye-opening session that gave all of us a deeper appreciation for the skill, experience, and calm decision-making nurses bring to emergency care.

A huge thank you to Gethin for giving us such an engaging insight into the incredible work you do — and for proving once again that the Shed’s talents stretch far beyond woodwork! 💚