Publish date: 12 May 2023
Nina, a registered nurse in paediatrics, tells us about their career journey
I trained as a paediatric nurse at 36 years old, nursing was something I had always wanted to do but my life had just not gone in that direction.
When my youngest child was just about to start nursery I found out about the 2 year masters course as a route into nursing. This was a much more realistic option for myself both financially and practically to be able to qualify in 2 years. I had an undergraduate degree in health studies, 10 years experience of health informatics and I went to work in a dementia care home to ensure I met the requirements for the accelerated course.
The course was intense, masters level learning coupled with placements, having 2 young children and needing to do bank healthcare shifts to survive financially, it was tough. But I was determined and sure that I wanted to qualify more than anything. I qualified in March 2020, and started work the week before the covid 19 lockdown. What a time to start!
However, I have never regretted my decision and I love my job. I work with an incredible team who support each other relentlessly. I have grown and developed so much. I love how challenging and interesting my work is, I am learning constantly and I am never bored. I really enjoy working with children and their families and I cannot think of a more rewarding way to spend my life.