I qualified as an adult nurse nine years ago through the advanced diploma route, and my first role – which I held for four years – was in neuro/trauma theatres as an anaesthetic and recovery nurse. During this time, I topped up my advanced diploma to a full bachelor’s degree, where I was proud to achieve First Class Honours.
In 2019, I transitioned into primary care as a practice nurse, and two years after that I completed a level 6 award in diabetes management. I then moved into a leadership role as a lead practice nurse, where my main responsibilities revolved around workforce development, ensuring practice nurses across North Tyneside were upskilled and retained, but also encouraging more people into the profession.
I knew that transitioning into a leadership role would require some underpinning study to support this, as it was a steep learning curve for me. As the lead nurse within my organisation, I have responsibilities in ensuring our services are safe and effective for both patients and staff. I identified a gap in my knowledge around clinical governance and felt like the PgCert in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement at the University of Sunderland would be perfect to help me upskill in this area.
This was my first time as a student at Sunderland and I was really impressed! I enjoyed the course as there was a nice dynamic between the tutors and learners – we were treated more like colleagues than your typical “student”. Since completing the PgCert, I’ve been able to lead quality improvement projects in my role, including setting up new services and reducing health inequalities for our local population. As of 2024, I’m branching into education, and I’ve recently become a vaccine trainer and have plans to become a cervical screening mentor.
I always aim high academically and it never seems too long before I embark onto further studies. I’m inclined to complete a postgraduate diploma now that I’ve started on a level 7 pathway, and who knows? I may be tempted to pursue a master’s degree! I’ve definitely found my niche in primary care, and I absolutely love being an autonomous practitioner with my own caseload and the variety offered in general practice.
My advice to anyone thinking of studying at Sunderland would be to give it a go! The University seems ahead of the game and is proactive in developing courses that meet the real-life needs of the workforce. It’s been a very worthwhile experience for me learning valuable skills from experts in their field.”
Published 25 June 2024
Jonathan Hindmarsh