Natalie follows her nursing vocation

Natalie Adamson has followed in the family tradition by entering the healthcare profession. Her mother Marie works for Social Services providing homecare for the elderly, her Aunt Juliana Heron was a nursing cadet at Dryburn Hospital, and now Natalie will graduate from the University of Teesside with an Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Child Branch) on Wednesday 28 November. She will also receive an award for outstanding achievement in theory and practice.

Natalie, 23, from Durham also started a new post in October as a staff nurse in the neo-natal unit at the new University Hospital of North Durham. Her post involves providing nursery care for babies, in partnership with their families.

Natalie is originally from Sunderland and came to the Middlesbrough-based University with three ‘A’ levels in Biology, Psychology and English Language from the City of Sunderland College.

She said: “I decided I wanted to work with children when I was studying for my ‘A’ levels. I love working with kids. The Diploma was hard work at first, but some of the areas were really enjoyable. One example was a clinical attachment, where we visited families who had a child with a chronic illness. Students gained permission from three families in the community and arranged to visit them over a period of three weeks. We looked at how families coped with diagnosis and how they became stronger as a family.

“It was difficult but so rewarding, you saw children as individuals. Placements in other hospitals were also valuable, such as Sunderland Royal Hospitals’ Neo-Natal Unit and in the same unit at the University Hospital of North Tees. In addition to the placements I’m also more computer literate.”

Natalie gained her job following her first interview. “I was really pleased to get the post as the interview was quite tough. My parents Marie and Jackson are really proud, they’ll be going to my graduation, I can’t keep them away!”

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