抖阴短视频

鈥淚 always tried my best at school, but was told by a careers adviser that I wasn鈥檛 clever enough to be a nurse,鈥� 

she said. 

鈥淚 became a hairdresser but nursing was the dream! As years progressed, I went to work in care, before joining Livewell in 2008. As I鈥檝e worked up through roles I鈥檝e been praised for being dedicated to the job, always putting patients first and it鈥檚 something I really pride myself on. So when the degree apprenticeship opportunity came up at the 抖阴短视频, I decided to apply and was delighted 鈥� if shocked 鈥� to get in, starting in December 2019.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 easy 鈥� I scored really badly in the first module and had a massive knock in confidence. But thanks to one of the many amazing lecturers, I was referred to the University鈥檚 study support team and was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia. Even knowing I had these difficulties made me realise I didn鈥檛 lack intelligence, I just learnt differently.鈥�

The next challenge came in March 2020, when lockdown hit and students鈥� learning was moved online within a short space of time.

Tracy said: 

鈥淚t was a strange experience for all of us. Placements continued though and were a welcome relief 鈥� I did a really interesting one in male recovery, and it taught me a huge amount.

鈥淟ike many, living, working and studying through a pandemic was hard. Then I had a real lightbulb moment when I realised 鈥業鈥檝e done it鈥�. It was in a zoom lecture about lived experience, and I just realised that I鈥檇 already got everything needed to be a nurse 鈥� I only had three official assignments to go, and then I鈥檇 be properly qualified. It was amazing.

鈥淚鈥檓 always really positive with patients and tell them 鈥榶ou can do it鈥�, so it was great to finally take my own advice. I鈥檓 beyond excited as well that I鈥檝e just secured a band six developmental role, which is a huge achievement.

鈥淚鈥檝e worked my way up through healthcare, had some outstanding study support, and I know this is what I鈥檓 meant to do. If you have a dream career, go for it 鈥� I鈥檓 beyond happy that I did.鈥�

鈥淎lmost overnight, the speed of our work accelerated as we were required to facilitate vaccine trials on top of our ongoing portfolio,鈥� he said. 鈥淎fter a career in the army and then joining the NHS in 2005, I developed lots of leadership skills and I鈥檓 pleased with where it鈥檚 taken me in my career. But I knew I wanted the academic understanding to underpin my day-to-day work, and the apprenticeship has given me all of that and more.鈥�

Mike started the apprenticeship in January 2021, and is set to graduate in August 2023.

鈥淧eople often think apprenticeships are for early career, but my study has been invaluable to my senior leadership position,鈥� 

he continued. 

鈥淐OVID-19 has been an unsettling time for everyone 鈥� even more so for anyone in or around healthcare, as they鈥檙e dealing with it professionally as well as personally 鈥� and quick decisions have been needed to get things done efficiently and fairly." 

"Starting the apprenticeship in January 2021 felt like challenging timing, but it鈥檚 actually helped me to understand people鈥檚 behaviours and the theory behind them in order to make the right calls for everyone.鈥�

The CRN SWP covers Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, and is responsible for recruiting to some of the UK鈥檚 most impactful clinical trials. One of their latest trials looks at antiviral medications for COVID-19, helping to prevent symptoms from worsening and stopping hospitalisations.

鈥淭he work of the CRN is just part of what makes the South West a real go to for national clinical trials. It鈥檚 been a privilege to help work get to this stage, but it hasn鈥檛 been without its challenges. I鈥檓 very lucky that the academic support on the apprenticeship has been incredible, and having the opportunity to network with peers and see how others approach certain scenarios has been really useful too.

鈥淲ithout a doubt, the pandemic has been one of the most challenging times of my professional life. But I know I will look back at it with pride in what we were able to do 鈥� and a great deal of my confidence has come from the degree apprenticeship at the 抖阴短视频.鈥�

鈥淚 was working as an assistant practitioner resuscitation skills trainer teaching adult and paediatric basic life support, when the weekly bulletin from our Chief Executive came around,鈥� 

Ali said. 

鈥淚t mentioned about the opportunity to apply for a registered nurse degree apprenticeship, which would be supported by the Trust, and I was intrigued. The further I got into the application process, the more I realised how much I wanted to do it, so I鈥檓 delighted I was accepted.

鈥淓nrolling in December 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, felt strange to begin with. The nature of this degree apprenticeship is that I鈥檓 full time for 18 months, so we do a mixture of full-time study and placement. It felt strange being at home during these unprecedented times, but I realised that doing the academic work, completing the placements, and ultimately improving my knowledge and skills would be hugely beneficial for both me and the people I care for.鈥�

Ali鈥檚 outstanding work on placement and beyond won her the Health, Care and Public Services Apprentice of the Year category of the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards. 

The nomination praised her work as a Collaborative Learning in Placement Practice Champion (CLIPP) at RCHT, as well as recognising her as the first student to have received the Trust鈥檚 鈥楲earning from Excellence' award. The award also praised her keenness to complete the training to volunteer with the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Ali said: 

鈥淚 was really proud to win at the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards, though it came as a big surprise I鈥檓 really grateful to RCHT for supporting my degree apprenticeship, as my whole learning experience so far has been amazing. The students, lecturers and placement teams I鈥檝e worked with have all been so supportive, and I can鈥檛 wait to qualify this year.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檇 completed a higher national diploma during my time in the NHS,鈥� 

Debbie said. 

鈥淎nd I saw the apprenticeship opportunity on the hospital website. I thought, 鈥業鈥檓 too old for this, who would want me? I鈥檓 not even sure I am capable鈥� and the deadline was quite tight too, so I didn鈥檛 expect to get in. But I was ecstatic to be accepted.

鈥淢y previous qualifications meant I started the degree in year two, and being subject to various national COVID-19 restrictions at the time, the majority of teaching was online. I quickly had to learn how to use video calls and various other resources on top of utilising study skills. Thankfully I was well supported and I鈥檝e been pleasantly surprised at the academic results I鈥檝e been able to achieve. I鈥檓 definitely more of a critical thinker than I realised!鈥�

With placements a key part of the degree, Debbie has experienced community nursing, working on an endocrine ward, and mental health unit.

鈥淓verything has been completely eye-opening,鈥� 

she said. 

鈥淵ou have an idea of what you think something will be, and it鈥檚 rarely the case. The people I鈥檝e met and learnt from, patients and staff alike, have been inspiring.

鈥淩oyal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and the 抖阴短视频 have been so supportive, and I鈥檝e had some really impactful experiences. This is honestly the most amazing thing I鈥檝e ever done. To think I鈥檒l have a degree decades after leaving school is something I鈥檓 immensely proud of. I know I鈥檝e got a few months left before graduating but with my work ethic and experience, I鈥檒l do it. I鈥檓 lucky enough to have already secured a job in day surgery at Royal Devon and Exeter鈥檚 Heavitree Hospital, and I can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥�