"Having a direct influence on a person’s health is very fulfilling and I love watching a patient progress and improve from admission to discharge."

I was initially interested in becoming a paramedic after getting my BTEC National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences, but I decided to get some healthcare experience in a hospital first.

I started a healthcare assistant apprenticeship and worked in the A&E department for 13 months. This opportunity gave me a real feel for the health sector and I decided to pursue a career in nursing. When a new cadetship course started at the trust, I jumped at the chance to get a place. This cadetship has allowed me to gain enough UCAS points to apply for a degree in adult nursing, whilst fine-tuning my practical skills.

As cadets, we have placements in various wards and assist with patient mobility, their individual health needs and personal care.  Working with the nursing staff, I may also assist with procedures such as catheter care, monitor blood pressure and temperature, and dietary or fluid intake.

I also help a lot of different healthcare professionals with their daily tasks – everyone from nurses, doctors and healthcare assistants to porters, housekeepers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

I work in many wards around the hospital – the medical, haematology, gastroenterology, surgical, orthopaedics, palliative care, and community and day case departments - which means I’ve cared for many different types of patients, too.

The thing I enjoy most is providing individual patient care. Having a direct influence on a person’s health is very fulfilling and I love watching a patient progress and improve from admission to discharge. I build a rapport with both the patients and their families and this gives me an insight into how they live at home so we can help improve their health, living environment and social circumstances.

Looking ahead, I hope to qualify and register as an adult nurse and progress in my career to become a charge nurse.