It was something I was interested in and I agreed, undertaking the work alongside my ACF role as detachment commander.
I promoted the scheme recruiting 12 people nursing cadet which consisted of young adult volunteers, like me, and army cadets. I designed and co-ordinated the weekend learning sessions, scheme admin, and delivered non-clinical sessions to the cadet cohort. I also provided pastoral care and support for the cadets, marked workbooks and supported cadets on placement.
Just after the placement element of the scheme in early 2023 I sat in on the employability session delivered by Angela Cassells, Future Nurse & Midwifery Project Lead, NHS Lanarkshire. In this session I was introduced to roles available in the NHS. This session contained hints and tips on how to apply for jobs in healthcare and how to write a personal statement linked to the person specifications for the health care roles.
The experience of setting up the nursing cadet cohort, working with them in their learning and then seeing the Angela Cassells session got me to thinking and I realised I wanted a change of career. I spoke to Angela after the session and decided to look further into health care support worker roles.
I reflected on how family members during hospital stays had seen nurses and HCSW’s as “making the difference” but I had ruled out health care after leaving school as biology and I just do not get on. I hadn’t got the grades for nursing, so it was not an option for me and instead I went into a retail role where I’d been for the past nine years.
After feeling inspired by the program and the session I started to look for roles on the NHS Scotland recruitment website. Filtering for HCSW roles I decided to apply for two roles, a school vaccination’s role and a HCSW in the acute medical receiving unit. I was offered interviews for both roles and I used my notes from the employability session to help prepare.
So here I am, a life change in the making. I was offered the second role working on wards with patients who have had strokes, respiratory issues, minor head injuries and high dependency,
I am so excited to being able to make a difference to people. My previous work in the customer services complaints team with a major retailer has given me resilience and developed my confidence no end. This and supporting the nursing cadet scheme made me realise I wanted to be the person making the difference to patients in a clinical setting.
I was offered the post in August, and it took a few weeks for all the pre-employment and occupational checks to be completed but I eventually started in the role in late October.
The first seven weeks in the job have been an eye-opening but amazing experience which confirms I've made the right decision. I'm loving every second of my job and each day I'm learning something new and working alongside some fabulous nurses and other healthcare workers.
Without my involvement in the RCN’s nursing cadet scheme, I probably wouldn’t have decided to change my life and applied for the job. I am hoping this new career leads me onto becoming a registered nurse eventually.
I can see now there is career pathway and I have proved to myself I can achieve my dreams.
