Jennifer said: “I saw a poster advertising the professional nursing course. I knew that this was a course I would thrive in and that it would give me the confidence and knowledge to work with children and young people within the perioperative area.  

“So, I applied, and I was delighted to be accepted. The two-year course is dynamic with a variety of teaching methods. Not only do you get the theory and practical skills and knowledge, but you also get to push yourself to achieve your goals through various assessments. The support that you receive whilst you are on the course is second to none with all the lecturers on hand for advice.” 

However, Jennifer encountered setbacks along the way. She lost her grandfather, Stanley in her second year and she had to contend with the covid pandemic. She had to think differently to achieve the same results as pre-covid.  

Jennifer said: “Whilst on placement we had to deal with covid and especially during the height of the pandemic we all had to work together in order to achieve safe patient care whilst taking all learning opportunities available. It was a challenging time, but I learned so much. 

“The last two years have been a challenge, but I would recommend this course to anyone thinking about a career in nursing and to just go for it. You do not need to have nursing knowledge beforehand and I learned so much from my fellow students who all came from different career paths. The children and young people really make my day and I feel proud to be able to provide holistic care to not only them but also their families.” 

Jennifer has successfully gained employment as a Deputy Sister at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.