Adult Nursing Degree is where Kirsty M is heading!

I was 18 years old when I was let go from my café job during COVID-19. I then started at The Hermitage. I was very apprehensive and nervous, as I had never done anything like this before, plus I was working nights which was a completely new thing for me! Being so young and not sure of what I wanted to achieve with my career, I left about a year later but armed with lots of knowledge on care for service users living with Dementia, Parkinson’s and other conditions, such as Diabetes and Dysphasia.

After doing some travelling, working different jobs and a lot of thinking, the best decision that I made was to go back and work at The Hermitage. I wanted to grow my knowledge on care for the elderly, so asked my manager how I could do this and he told me about the NVQ Diploma. I started to work on my Level 2 Diploma, which during this time I had been accepted into University to start my Adult Nursing Degree.

This was a very busy time in my life, due to a slight overlap of doing my NVQ and starting my Degree. It was all worth it when I achieved a Distinction in my Diploma. Completing the Diploma has grown my knowledge on academic writing, research and referencing which is required when in University. The feedback that I would receive from my assignments helped to build my confidence.

Now in the second year of University, I can safely say I wouldn’t have come this far and come out of my first year with brilliant grades if I had not have completed my Diploma. I have transferred a lot of knowledge and skills from my NVQ to my Degree.

I am now 22 and working on bank at The Hermitage whilst continuing my Adult Nursing Degree. Without the experience in care and achieving my NVQ, I think I would be struggling a lot more in my Degree.

If anyone is thinking that they want to work in Healthcare, then I would recommend doing the NVQ. I have enjoyed every second and developed my knowledge so much.

 – We would like to wish Kirsty all the best with her career progression and successful completion of the Adult Nursing Degree.