Gracious Nyaradzo Chipeture is a Student Nurse Apprentice at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and is currently undertaking the 18-month Registered Nurse (Adult Nursing) Degree Apprenticeship at Northumbria University.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I have always been drawn to healthcare. Most of my family are in this field and I enjoy making a difference in people's lives.
Five years ago, I was working as a bank support worker helping people with learning disabilities while studying at college. My time there helped me to understand the impact my support could have on people’s ability to live independent lives and ultimately helped me to decide that I wanted to pursue a career in nursing.
Outside of nursing, I enjoy travelling and learning about different cultures.
Why did you decide to undertake a degree apprenticeship?
Before college my plan was to go straight to university to study adult nursing. Then, during a careers day I found out about the degree apprenticeship, and I decided to apply for that route instead when I got my results. My first step was completing a Foundation Degree as a Nursing Associate, also via an apprenticeship route.
I chose to do an apprenticeship because I liked the idea of combining quality learning at university while also developing new skills and qualities working side by side with experienced healthcare professionals for such a large proportion of my time. There was also the added benefit of being able to earn a degree while being paid and finishing my course debt free.
What do you think of the course and how it is delivered?
The learning experience has been very engaging as the course retained an element of face-to-face learning.
I really enjoyed that our lectures were structured so we had the theoretical learning delivered in the first half of the session followed by seminars for the remaining time to help us develop a deeper understanding of what we had been taught in the first half.
We also had practical sessions for some of the modules and this made it easier for me to connect what I was learning at university with real scenarios within clinical placements.
What has your overall experience been like at Northumbria University?
I have really enjoyed my time studying at Northumbria University. The learning materials are very applicable to clinical practice during placement times and the lecturers are so supportive and approachable.
Throughout my training I have had a chance to work with nurses and specialised teams which has allowed me to translate what I have learned in university into clinical practice. This has really helped me build my confidence and I have learned to use critical thinking skills, all of which is essential as I get closer to qualifying as a registered nurse.
It has been great to study at Northumbria University through my trust, it is a renowned university known for providing strong nursing courses with skills and experience relevant to the current nursing practice.
What advice would you give to someone considering a degree apprenticeship?
I highly recommend it. I’d just say go for it.
Use an apprenticeship as a stepping stone into your chosen field of work by thinking about how it can contribute to your long-term goals. Don’t expect to know everything when you start, this is a really great opportunity to learn on the job.
What are your future plans?
Following successful completion of my degree I hope to secure a staff nurse job in an acute area to gain some experience and to build both my foundational knowledge and my confidence in managing acute conditions. I also have a particular interest in working with those patients who face health inequalities.
In five years’ time, my goal is to be working as a specialist nurse potentially focusing on sickle cell disease.
About Northumbria BSc (Hons) Registered Nurse (Adult) Degree Apprenticeship
Northumbria University’s 18-month Registered Nurse (Adult) Degree Apprenticeship is designed to open up nursing careers to more people and give individuals with previous clinical experience the opportunity to graduate as registered nurses within a compressed time frame.
Through a concept-based curriculum where learning will reflect real-life experiences, apprentices will be introduced to the key concepts of nursing, which are supported by the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) ‘Future Nurse’ standards. The programme will prepare apprentices to become a Registered Nurse that is capable of prioritising people, practicing effectively and promoting professionalism.
For more information visit here.
Northumbria University Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is also available for those wishing to pursue paediatric nursing. Find out more here.
For enquiries about our degree apprenticeships and how we can work with your business, please contact business.enquiry@northumbria.ac.uk.
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