For Annette Walklate an apprenticeship scheme was a vital key to fulfilling her dream to “give something back” to the NHS.
She had suffered a number of family bereavements and was deeply grateful to medical staff for looking after her relatives before they died.
She wanted to become a fully-qualified registered nurse to show her gratitude but knew she would never be able to afford to dip out of her job and take a full nursing degree.
Then, while she was working as a healthcare assistant, she was made aware of a course at Staffordshire University that would put her on the way to achieving her ambition.
Annette, now 58, signed up to take a two-year Foundation Degree in Acute Care for which she could study in parallel with her job, on day release.
Two years later, an opportunity rose her to enrol at the University again for a “top up” Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA), with support from the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust where she was working.
On completion of the degree next month Annette will qualify as a Band 5 Registered Nurse and she will begin working in the critical care unit of Royal Stoke University Hospital – the very same unit that helped her father after he was involved in a road accident.
“Without an apprenticeship I would definitely not be where I am now,” said Annette, pictured above, who lives at Lightwood. “The RNDA course is allowing me to fulfil my dream of giving something back to critical care.
“Apprenticeship schemes make it possible for you to do your learning while you are still being paid a salary.
“For my RNDA I did two days a week studying and the remaining hours on placements in the health service.
“The study time I have spent at Staffordshire University has been really enjoyable and I have built up a huge circle of friends.”
Thank you so much.
Fantastic apprentice who has worked hard to achieve her goal. Well done Annette.
Thank you for all your support.
Fantastic Annette you deserve this degree so much and you are going to make a fantastic nurse. Xxx
Thank you Dawn x
Well done Annette from all of us behind the scenes in the central Apprenticeship Team here at Staffordshire University! Some of us were lucky enough to hear you share your journey at our Apprenticeship Celebration Evening last year, such an inspiration and what an achievement – well done and thank you for letting us all play a little part in your success!
Annette you should be proud of yourself and your achievements.
Promotion within the organisation is the way forward as you know what’s expected and the realisation needed to achieve that.
I know how much hard work it is in the 4 years of Training and maintaining a work life balance so well done.