Learner case study: Georgia Page
How my apprenticeship was the best route into Nursing
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“To anyone who is interested in a career in Nursing but who doesn’t have qualifications in the required subjects from school, I would highly recommend an apprenticeship. Valuable on-the-job learning each and every day, and the bonus of being paid for the privilege!” |
We really understand the power of apprenticeships at Access. In fact, 20% of our workforce started life as an apprentice! So too, many members of our families. The daughter of Lindsay Bell, one of our Trainer Assessors, is no exception. Here Georgia Page explains why an apprenticeship was the perfect route into qualifying with a First Class Honours degree in Nursing.
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“Like most 16-year-olds, I didn’t know what I wanted to do career wise when I chose my A-Levels. So I went with subjects that appealed to me which inevitably led to a random mix of Geography, Film Studies and Business Studies.
When I left school, I started to consider Nursing as my career choice but the degree course I was interested in wanted students who had A-Levels in science-based degrees. What they would accept as an alternative, however, was a Level 3 Clinical Skills apprenticeship.
Signing up for my Access apprenticeship was, quite simply, the best decision I could have made.
I had the opportunity to work and train at a GP surgery in Kimberley as a health care assistant. I was given the most amazing training, and was able to learn new clinical skills each and every day. Full sets of observations. Wound dressing and packing. Minor surgery. I even ran my own blood and flu jab clinics.
I loved how I was able to make an immediate difference to people’s wellbeing, and got a real sense of satisfaction of being able to help those most in need when I accompanied the community nurse on home visits.
I finished my apprenticeship at the end of 2017 and started my nursing degree at Derby University in March 2018. My training involved placements at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and King’s Mill in Sutton-in-Ashfield, as well as shadowing community nurses. In each, I was able to put the clinical skills I learned throughout my apprenticeship to good use.
Having now completed both an apprenticeship and a degree course, I can put to bed the notion that a degree course is academically harder than an apprenticeship. That definitely wasn’t my experience. The big difference between the two, of course, is that you get paid as an apprentice! I missed my own income whilst studying for a degree so chose to work in a mental health care home in Nottingham alongside my studies.
I’m very happy with the training route I’ve chosen. I could have opted for science-based A-Levels which would have given me a direct route on to my Nursing degree course at the age of 18. Had I have done that, I would have missed out on the valuable development my apprenticeship gave me. The early practical aspects of my clinical skills training. The varied experience that comes with dealing with the same patients over a length of time. Developing the work ethic and communication skills that are required to do well in a work setting.
In March, I will qualify as a registered nurse. I really like the idea of becoming a practice nurse, and eventually a prescribing nurse. I’m extremely proud to be gaining my NMC pin. As it’s recognised not only in this country but overseas in countries such as Australia, it opens doors in so many ways.
To anyone who is interested in a career in Nursing but who doesn’t have qualifications in the required subjects from school, I would highly recommend an apprenticeship. Valuable on-the-job learning each and every day, and the bonus of being paid for the privilege!”
When I left school, I started to consider Nursing as my career choice but the degree course I was interested in wanted students who had A-Levels in science-based degrees. What they would accept as an alternative, however, was a Level 3 Clinical Skills apprenticeship.
Signing up for my Access apprenticeship was, quite simply, the best decision I could have made.
I had the opportunity to work and train at a GP surgery in Kimberley as a health care assistant. I was given the most amazing training, and was able to learn new clinical skills each and every day. Full sets of observations. Wound dressing and packing. Minor surgery. I even ran my own blood and flu jab clinics.
I loved how I was able to make an immediate difference to people’s wellbeing, and got a real sense of satisfaction of being able to help those most in need when I accompanied the community nurse on home visits.
I finished my apprenticeship at the end of 2017 and started my nursing degree at Derby University in March 2018. My training involved placements at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and King’s Mill in Sutton-in-Ashfield, as well as shadowing community nurses. In each, I was able to put the clinical skills I learned throughout my apprenticeship to good use.
Having now completed both an apprenticeship and a degree course, I can put to bed the notion that a degree course is academically harder than an apprenticeship. That definitely wasn’t my experience. The big difference between the two, of course, is that you get paid as an apprentice! I missed my own income whilst studying for a degree so chose to work in a mental health care home in Nottingham alongside my studies.
I’m very happy with the training route I’ve chosen. I could have opted for science-based A-Levels which would have given me a direct route on to my Nursing degree course at the age of 18. Had I have done that, I would have missed out on the valuable development my apprenticeship gave me. The early practical aspects of my clinical skills training. The varied experience that comes with dealing with the same patients over a length of time. Developing the work ethic and communication skills that are required to do well in a work setting.
In March, I will qualify as a registered nurse. I really like the idea of becoming a practice nurse, and eventually a prescribing nurse. I’m extremely proud to be gaining my NMC pin. As it’s recognised not only in this country but overseas in countries such as Australia, it opens doors in so many ways.
To anyone who is interested in a career in Nursing but who doesn’t have qualifications in the required subjects from school, I would highly recommend an apprenticeship. Valuable on-the-job learning each and every day, and the bonus of being paid for the privilege!”
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