Louise, 58 - Swansea

Tell us a little about yourself and your current experience.

I've been a nurse for more than 30 years and now work three days a week.

I've worked in several different areas during my career, including elderly care and community nursing, and I still really enjoy having contact with patients.

As I've got closer to retirement, I've realised that I don't necessarily want to stop working completely. I just want more control over when I work.

Why did you choose the ear wax removal industry?

I wanted a clinical service that I could provide independently without taking on another demanding full-time role.

Ear wax removal seemed ideal because many of the patients who need it are older, and that's a group I've spent a large part of my career working with.

Home visits also appealed to me because some patients find travelling into a clinic very difficult.

Why did you choose wax. for your training?

I wanted a course that gave me plenty of practical experience.

At this stage in my career I wasn't interested in simply collecting another certificate. I wanted to leave knowing that I could actually provide the service safely.

wax. appeared very focused on real-world practice, which was exactly what I was looking for.

How did you find the course?

I had a really enjoyable day.

It was friendly, well organised and very hands-on.

I was surprised by how much there was to learn, particularly around examination and identifying when treatment isn't appropriate.

The practical work gave me the confidence I needed to believe I could actually go out and do this myself.

What did you learn?

We covered ear anatomy, otoscopy, contraindications, infection control, patient assessment and different ear conditions.

We also learned microsuction, warm-water irrigation and manual instrumentation.

One of the most important things for me was understanding the limitations of the service and knowing when somebody should be referred to another healthcare professional.

Would you recommend wax. training?

Without hesitation.

I'd particularly recommend it to experienced nurses who might be approaching retirement but aren't ready to completely leave healthcare.

It allows you to use decades of patient-care experience while working in a much more flexible way.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm going to begin with a mobile ear wax removal service covering Swansea and nearby communities.

I'd like to concentrate particularly on older and housebound patients.

Initially I'll offer appointments one or two days each week.

Eventually, I may add a small clinic day as well, but I want to keep the business simple and flexible rather than trying to build something huge.

Start your own story

One day of CPD-accredited training with NHS-trained clinicians - all three removal methods, live patients, and the business setup to earn with it.