Lisa Tomlinson

"Teesside University is very accessible and responsive so if there are any issues they can be quickly sorted out."

Nursing associates are filling a crucial gap in health care thanks to a successful partnership between the university and the NHS.

And no-one knows better the value of the learning programme than Lisa Tomlinson who is now inspiring others to take her lead.

The band 4 nurse, who left Teesside University with an FdSc Nursing Associate qualification, works in outpatients, orthopaedic outpatients and lung health clinics and the Medical Rehabilitation Day Unit at North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust.

Once a care assistant, then a student, now she mentors others, her resilience a shining light after over-coming countless obstacles in the relentless pursuits of her dreams.

Her journey to success saw her have to re-sit functional skills after her original certificates were destroyed.

But after 15 years working as a care assistant for the Trust she was determined to become a nurse overcoming three serious health scares.

In 2007 she overcame cervical cancer, aged 31, only to see it return in 2015 in her appendix, resulting in surgery, and another operation two years ago to remove a benign growth on her liver.

COVID forced her to reschedule her wedding to partner Colin Cowie five times and cancel honeymoons and holidays. The plan is to marry in April.

"I met a great bunch of people at Teesside who are now friends for life and the lecturers were wonderful helping me so much when I felt I was struggling," she said.

Head of the Trust's Nursing Education Jean Angus said Lisa was a brilliant ambassador for a programme that was proving invaluable to health care.

Nursing associates work alongside registered nurses delivering high quality care. Under registered nurses' direction they evaluate, decide on and deliver care, including administering medicines, except for intravenous injections.

Students receive 460 hours of work placements during the year offering diverse experience ranging from children's service to mental health, as well as a 900 hours of academic learning through study days, online lectures and Teams meetings.

Jean said: "It's such a useful role and there is the opportunity to take a nursing degree so they can become registered if they wish. It's also an ideal course for anyone working as a health care assistant wanting to progress."

"It is a very flexible programme and family friendly. Many healthcare assistants may never have studied academically and we ensure they are not overwhelmed and stressed. We get many of our cohort progressing to degree level"

"The Trust has been involved in curriculum development and the various NMC Approval Events, with a large proportion of practice representatives being present at both. These students receive exemplary support from Teesside University, their personal tutor and student services."

"Our NAAs feel supported by the University and that they can link theory to practice due to the current curriculum. They welcome the flexible approach to learning and the support sessions offered."