Student inspired by mum to work in NHS ‘ecstatic’ to become registered nurse

Sam Finlay, 23, from Ellesmere Port, chose to study Adult Nursing at the University after ‘falling in love’ with the role of caring for others. The course allowed Sam to be on several “absolutely fantastic” placements in a range of health sectors, working with highly skilled professionals, and has led to him earning a first class honours degree.

Sam explained why he chose to study Adult Nursing at Chester and his experiences throughout the course.

He said: “In 2020, during the pandemic, I was ‘furloughed’ from my job in retail. My mum worked in the NHS as a radiographer and I really admired her going out to work at such an uncertain time, just to help others. In May 2020, I was successful in applying for a temporary job as a community care assistant.

“I did this job for approximately two to three months before I was able to return to my previous retail job, however, when it came to it, I didn’t want to leave the care profession. I had fallen in love with the role of caring for others, like it was something I was always supposed to do.

“I handed in my notice for my retail job and pursued a career in care/nursing. I was studying a Level 3 Health and Social Care course at Cheshire College and acquired a job as a nursing assistant within the Countess of Chester Hospital. My mum planted the seed of pursuing this career further and encouraged me to apply and take my career further in becoming a registered nurse.

“I wanted to continue my nursing journey. I had friends from the wards who told me great things about the University of Chester so took their advice. The simulation suites looked brilliant and I felt like this was the place for me.”

The hard work came with some tough challenges, including the loss of his partner’s sister to cancer at the age of just 22. Sam said: “This was such a challenge for me, my partner and our families. I have recently become a trustee of a charity – along with my partner who is the director – known as ‘Leah’s Little Sunflowers’. Our aim is to support young people living with cancer, and their families. We do this in the way of support through direct message at the moment, with a view to start fundraising for local hospital wards.

“My grandad has also struggled with his health prior to my starting the course and during the course, and seeing his deterioration during my studies has been particularly hard.”

Sam added the workload was challenging, mixing assignments with full-time placements and working part-time as a nursing assistant to pay the bills. He added: “Despite this, I have had absolutely fantastic placements with a diverse range of experiences, including dialysis, rehabilitation, intensive care, community nursing, vascular surgery and respiratory medicine. I have worked alongside some fantastic, highly skilled professionals and each one of those has shaped me into the nurse I am today.”

Sam also praised the help of University staff: “The support services from the University, ranging from academic skills to wellbeing services, have been invaluable to me. Particularly my personal academic tutor, Vicky Ridgway. She has been a lifeline to be during the challenges I have faced, guiding me with what to do when things have happened, and how to navigate the degree whilst also navigating life.

“During my course, I have met some friends for life, and some amazing professionals who I really look up to. Some of the people teaching this course are amazing people with a huge range of knowledge.

“I feel absolutely ecstatic to have finally completed the course, and unbelievably proud of myself that I will finally be able to call myself a registered nurse, within the Intensive Care Unit at my local hospital. I feel so privileged that I will be working amongst such highly skilled professionals. It is something I have worked unbelievably hard for, and despite the challenges I have faced, is something I would do all over again in a heartbeat.”

Feedback from Sam’s placements included the comments: “I have found Sam to be a pleasure to work with, he’s always willing to help any team members. He will be an amazing nurse and shows true compassion and care to everyone he meets,” and “He was a pleasure to have as a student for the day, very pleasant in manner and clearly wishing to learn.”

In addition to being a registered nurse, Sam plans to present his dissertation work to a group of nursing education professionals from the region, and to the NHS trust he works in, with a view to introducing his service improvement of a drug addiction specialist nursing service into practice.

Professor Vicky Ridgway, Associate Dean for Partnership, Enterprise and Portfolio Development at the University of Chester’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society, said Sam had been on a “transformative” student journey, achieving a first class honours degree, adding: “He is a real asset to the University and his future profession.”