A 58-year-old Staffordshire nurse who followed her dream by taking an apprenticeship degree has won a special student prize.
Annette Walklate, who wanted to “give something back” to the NHS, graduated with first class honours after taking the apprenticeship route to becoming a registered nurse.
She achieved a BSc in Nursing Practice (Adult) after enrolling on a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship course at Staffordshire University.
She is now a key member of the team at the Surgical Special Care Unit at the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust – and she has received another accolade.
She has become the proud recipient of a Staffordshire University “Shining Star Award for Student Engagement – Department of Nursing”.
The nurse’s degree qualifies her to work in the same unit at the Royal Stoke Hospital where her father received life-saving care after being in a road traffic collision.
Her ambition was to repay her debt of gratitude – and she is currently rising to the challenges of her new-found role which she finds “very rewarding.”
Annette, who earlier in her career secured a Foundation Degree in Acute Care, added: “I am immensely proud of my achievement and wish my mum and dad could have been there to see me graduate.
“I am the only one of six siblings who has been to University and gained two degrees.
“To pass the Nursing Practice degree alone was a great achievement for someone at my age and I hope this has inspired everyone who is wishing to change their career path.”
Thank you yet again Ron for a great article.